Read Randall Wedding for Free Online Page B

the sofa. He’d just taken a big bite when he looked down and saw Angel asleep in the carrier.
    “What the hell?” he managed.
     
    “D ON’T HURT MY BABY !” Isabella shrieked from the door to the bedroom. She rushed forward, but Russ was already holding Angel.
    “Hey! I wouldn’t hurt a baby. But no one told me there was a baby,” the stranger said, glaring at Russ.
    “Sorry, Nick. I didn’t think it would be such a surprise.” Russ turned to Isabella. He opened his mouth to speak. Then he closed it again, his gaze going from her head to her toes. She’d put on a navy pantsuit with a striped knit top under the jacket and navy shoes. She wore makeup and had forced her wayward curls into a French knot, all sleek and sophisticated.
    “Wow. That’s a big change, Isabella.”
    She stiffened. “I don’t do lawyer interviews in my pajamas.” She held out her arms for her baby.
    “Look, she’s still asleep. Let’s put her back in the carrier and put it in the bedroom. That way she won’t wake up.”
    Reluctantly she nodded.
    After he came back to the living room, he pointed out her cake and a glass of milk. “Thought you might need a little energy.”
    Surprisingly, she felt hungry for the cake. Maybe because it was chocolate. “Did you make it?” she asked the stranger.
    “No, Red did.”
    “Another member of your family?” she asked as she looked at Russ.
    “Sort of. Now, do you want me to go in the bedroom and leave you alone with Nick?”
    She cast Nick a look. He was an attractive man, but she didn’t feel as confident of him as she did Russ. “No, you can stay.”
    Russ and Nick exchanged a look, but Russ sat back down and continued eating his chocolate cake. When she took her first bite, she understood his enthusiasm.
    “Do you mind if I record our meeting?” Nick asked, putting a small tape recorder on the coffee table.
    “No. That will be fine.”
    Nick picked up the tape recorder, announcing into it the date and time and the participants. Thenhe looked at Isabella. “Are you Isabella Paloni, great-niece of Maria Paloni, deceased resident of Rawhide?”
    “Yes, I am. I got married about eleven months ago, but after my husband’s death, I took back my maiden name.”
    “Were you aware that you are the beneficiary to Mrs. Paloni’s estate?”
    “She wrote me that she was leaving me everything.”
    “Is that why you came here?”
    “No! I came because I didn’t even know she existed. When I received her letter, I called her. She invited me to come.”
    Isabella’s eyes filled with tears.
    “Have a drink of milk,” Russ said softly, leaning toward her. When she did so, he said, “Good girl. Now eat some more cake.”
    Nick turned off the tape recorder. “Want to wait a few minutes?”
    “Please.”
    “How old is your baby?” Nick asked. To her surprise, he looked interested.
    “She’s six weeks.”
    “Her father passed away before she was born?”
    “Yes,” she said, glancing at Russ.
    “My wife is expecting in seven and a half months. We just found out at Thanksgiving.”
    Russ looked surprised. “I didn’t know. Congratulations, Nick.”
    “Thanks. I don’t exactly know what to expect. I’ve never been around babies.”
    “You’ll learn quickly,” Isabella said, relaxing a little.
    “Well, my twin and his wife, my wife’s sister, just had twin babies about a month ago, so I’m learning a little.”
    “Twins?” she asked in horror. “I don’t know how anyone manages. I got punch-drunk waking up every four hours with Angel.”
    “That’s her name?” Nick asked.
    “Actually, her name is Angela, but I call her Angel most of the time.”
    “Ready to start again?” Nick asked. “Maybe after we finish I can see Angel. I’d like to bring my wife over to see her, too.”
    “I think Mom and Anna brought enough food for dinner tonight,” Russ said. “Why don’t the two of you join us?”
    “That would be great,” Nick replied. “Sarah is tired of my