Blue Knight by Tracy Cooper-Posey Read Free Book Online

easier to her mind now—and they tended to huddle in one corner of the dining room, even though the hotel staff faithfully set up most of the dining tables every meal. The beautiful white stonework soared in overhead arches and palm trees lined the walls. The armed guards were ugly punctuation marks between the trees. The white cloth-covered tables dotted the room and smaller arches at either end marked off the dining room from the rest of the hotel’s public areas. There were more armed guards hovering between the arches, to prevent the hostages from wandering. Once breakfast was over, they would be escorted to the lounge areas to spend their time until lunch.
    Olivia watched Jenny and Ernesto talking to the others. Both were smiling and laughing, to the obvious bewilderment of the guests they were talking to. But slowly, the message took hold and the same smile spread to the others.
    No one glanced at the guards. No one gave any overt sign of celebration. But Olivia could see the smile spreading. She had a hard time hiding her own as she watched.
    Defiance. Oh, she was going to like that word.
    Then she saw Daniel looking at her. The warmth in her chilled instantly, for his gaze was cold and hard.
     
     

Chapter Three
    Calli almost resented the intruding knock. She moaned against Nick’s ear and his lips pressed against her throat. “Serves us right for trying to steal private time during business hours,” he said as he let her go. His eyes were sleepy with arousal.
    He turned his head to toward the balcony door. “Minnie?”
    Minnie grimaced. “Sorry, but I really need to talk to you both.” She stepped onto the balcony. “If it’s any consolation, Duardo and I find privacy as hard to come by as you two.”
    Calli grinned. “It doesn’t help to know you share the misery but thanks for trying.”
    Nick kissed her temple and she let her hand rest on his chest, a private gesture she could not indulge in anywhere else in the house, where their formal roles had to be first priority in their lives. She could feel his heartbeat beneath her palm.
    Minnie waved to her right. “You’ll have to pretend that Duardo is standing next to me, but he’s off working so I’m speaking for both of us, okay?”
    Calli actually felt Nick’s surprise in the quick lift of his chest. “Should your father be here, Minnie?”
    She grinned. “I’m a big girl. Besides, I’ve already told him. He’s off getting drunk somewhere, I think.”
    Calli caught her breath. “Minnie….”
    “I’m pregnant,” Minnie said simply. “And I want to arrange a wedding in two days.”
    Nick straightened from his lean against the balcony. “Are you telling me this as President, or as your cousin, Minnie?”
    “Both. I’m going to need Calli to help me pull off the wedding, so I need you as President for that. But it’s a family thing, so I’m telling you as my cousin-in-law.”
    “God, men,” Calli breathed, as her chest unlocked. She pushed past Nick and hugged Minnie. “A baby,” she whispered. “Oh, Minnie, I don’t know if I’m terrified for you, or so happy I could cry.”
    Minnie’s arms came around her hard. “Be both,” Minnie said. “I know I am.”
    Nick cleared his throat.
    Calli let Minnie go and faced him. “I’ll help Minnie as much as I can, but you won’t notice the difference.”
    Nick shook his head. “Last thing on my mind,” he assured her. “I was wondering if I could have a hug as it appears we’re going to be welded even more into family now.” He looked at Minnie.
    Minnie’s eyes widened. Nick wasn’t the demonstrative sort, so this was unusual. She stepped forward hesitantly. “Sure,” she said. Compared to Nick, she was a good foot shorter and tiny. He bent down and simply picked her up and hugged her. Calli saw his eyes close as he held her and wondered what was going through his mind.
    Gently, he put her down again and picked up her hand. “Minnie…”
    Minnie bit her lip. “Nick,