Read Kane (BBW Billionaire Romance) for Free Online Page B

her skin! She was certain the first time had been on purpose. The man moved like a damn cat!
    “The mute button,” she answered, giving up the search now that she knew he was awake.
    She placed a cup of water inside the microwave and set the cook time for one minute. Pressing the start button, she turned to Kane. He sat on one of the island stools and she offered a flat, half smile that she had to force to her lips.
    He didn’t respond. With almost no light in the room beyond what illuminated the interior of the microwave, she couldn’t read his expression at all.
    An electronic beep signaled the cook time had finished. Daniella poured the water into the bottle, gave it a vigorous shaking then tested the temperature before returning the cup to the strainer.
    Kane still hadn’t said anything beyond his initial question.
    “Is there anything I can help you with?” she asked, something about his shadowy face making her reluctant to leave.
    He didn’t answer. His body remained so stiff and motionless, she thought he might have fallen asleep. Anyone else, she would say that was impossible, but the man’s spine was as rigidly straight as a four-by-four every time she saw him. Maybe it stayed like that when he slept.
    “I need to give Christine the bottle,” she added after it became clear he wasn’t going to answer her.
    Knowing he wasn’t going to say anything turned into a challenge. Like maybe she was missing the right combination of words to unlock his tongue. So, instead of leaving, she made another attempt.
    “The pacifier only works so long before her stomach figures out it’s being fooled.”
    He lifted one finger, a sort of bored permission for her to leave. Her cheeks turned hot in an instant. She left the room as quickly as she could, her gait no longer reminiscent of the walking dead but someone urgent to leave an area before she broke down emotionally.
    Reaching the guest room, she retrieved Christine and a measure of calm settled over Daniella. Cradling the baby, she sat in the office chair, knees bouncing as she lightly rocked. The bedside lamp was set on low and she stared at her niece’s face.
    Beautiful chubby cheeks, greedy lips, delicate brows matched by gossamer eyelashes. The confused tears that had threatened at Kane’s odd silence were replaced with a salty stream of joy.
    This was her baby. Not her daughter, but her baby nonetheless. She would raise her with love. Anyone who couldn’t love Christine would not be a part of Daniella’s life. If she had to leave the country to keep Merl or his buddies from getting their hands on the baby, she would.
    “How does Costa Rica sound?” she whispered as Christine’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the bottle. “Mrs. Henderson retired there with her husband. She supplements her pension with online work. There’s a rainforest and beaches and a beautiful bird with a tail longer than the rest of its body.”
    The bottle empty, Christine didn’t answer. Teasing near the baby’s mouth with her fingertip, Daniella eased the rubber nipple away, brought the baby up to her shoulder and gently rubbed at Christine’s back until a soft burp sounded.
    She returned the baby to the crib then looked at the bottle. The guest room had its own bathroom. She could use its sink to rinse the bottle out. Returning to the kitchen despite the thirty minute lapse in time risked running into Kane again.
    That was kind of ridiculous, wasn’t it? It’s not like he would be there waiting for her. Why? So he could stare silently at her?
    Looking down at Christine, Daniella laughed at herself.
    “Only room for one baby in that crib. Guess that means I’ve got to pull on my big girl panties,” she whispered then headed for the kitchen.
    Leaving the soft light of the bedroom, the hall and kitchen were dark, just the faint glow from the small power lights on some of the appliances. Beyond the hum of those appliances, the room was quiet as a tomb.
    She turned on the