Read A Baby for Christmas (Love at The Crossroads) for Free Online Page B

actually assembled some new outfits with things I purchased on my honeymoo—” Candace screamed, causing Solae to jump as two muscular arms wrapped around Candace’s shoulders.
    Solae patted her chest to regulate her heartbeat. Julia sat with a knowing smile and held up her hands in surrender. “I saw them come through the door and Royce looking around. He shh ed me from tipping you off.”
    Them? Was it possible that Hershel was with Royce? Solae not only used to know his shift, but listened faithfully to the emergency scanners for when his engine house was dispatched. Not anymore. Royce tickled Candace with kisses behind her ear. Immediately, the two forgot they had an audience. “How did you know I was here?”
    “GPS tracking on our phones, babe, remember?” Royce wiggled a brow at the same time Lindsay saw him.
    “Daddy! Daddy!” She barreled out of the play area with her arms stretched open.
    Royce heaved his daughter up and delivered a juicy kiss to her cheek. Lindsay giggled but didn’t let go of his neck.
    Rejoice with them that rejoice , the Bible said. What a happy ending. Solae held her breath when she caught Julia nodding at someone standing nearby. Was it Hershel? She was scared to look. No doubt if Solae had not walked away, she would be lovingly subjected to the same treatment.
    “Hello, Captain Kavanaugh. You can’t speak?” Julia teased.
    “Julia, Candace….Solae.” Hershel’s baritone voice spoke with authority. Gone was the cooing he reserved for her, but she shivered anyway, which meant one thing—he was looking at her.
    “Hershel,” she mumbled without making eye contact with him. She stood. “Ah, I’m going to get another order of fries. Anybody want anything?” Solae didn’t wait for their answer or orders as she hurried to get away from Hershel’s presence.
    She waved at a few firefighters she recognized. By the time she made it to the counter to order, the crowd had formed. That’s when she realized that her purse was at the table and she didn’t have enough money in her pocket for the parfait and cookie she decided to buy instead. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m short. Will you take off the cookie?”
    The cashier was about to do that when a customer behind her intervened. “I’ve got this pretty lady covered.”
    Glancing over her shoulder, Solae was about to decline his generosity, but her words were caught in her throat. The only thing she could do was stare into his hazel eyes and linebacker build. She swallowed, then forced out, “That’s okay.”
    He displayed a cocky smile. “I insist.”
    “No, I insist that I’ve got this, man, thanks,” Hershel intervened, coming from out of nowhere. As if he had the right, Hershel slipped an arm around her waist like she belonged to him. As if paralyzed by his touch, she didn’t resist it or refute his offer.
    Time froze as they stared at each other. Solae wondered at his thoughts as her mind was jumbled with all kinds of reactions to what he just did. Fighting against the mental hold on her, Solae broke the trance and looked away. A few firefighters seemed amused by their interaction.
    “Thanks.” She took her items from his hand. “I’ll pay you back.” She made a beeline to the table where Julia seemed to be watching them with interest. Royce and Candace were watching each other.
    “I don’t need your money,” he called after her.
    But do you need me? she wanted to ask him, but probably wouldn’t get a straight answer. When she sat, she was shivering.
    “Oh hi, Solae.” Royce took note of her as if he was just seeing her as he stood from his squatting position in front of Candace. “Well, you lovely ladies, I better grab a sandwich and head back to the station. I just hadn’t seen my wife since—”
    “Yesterday.” Candace grinned.
    “Yeah. More than twelve hours ago.” He winked.
    As Royce joined his crew at the counter, Solae came to the realization that being around Candace’s brother-in-law wasn’t