The Baby's Guardian by Delores Fossen Read Free Book Online Page B

that Gavin Cunningham, the man who kept calling Ms. Carr. He’s at his residence, and I want someone over there immediately. Let me know what you find out.”
    Shaw brought the car to a stop beneath the canopied entrance of the Riverfront Hotel. There was a man dressed in a suit in front, apparently waiting for them, and he got into the car and drove away after Shaw and she exited. Shaw ushered her inside the lobby whereanother person, probably a plainclothes officer, handed Shaw a room key.
    “I’m still not safe, am I?” she asked as they got on the elevator.
    “You are now.” Shaw didn’t say another word until the elevator stopped. He didn’t waste any time. He hurried her to the room and got her inside.
    “Get some sleep,” he said, pointing to the only bed in the small room. He closed the door.
    Sabrina glanced at the bed, at the small no-frills standard hotel room, and then at him. “Will the officer in the lobby be able to stand guard outside my door?” Suddenly, the thought of being alone—and unprotected—was terrifying. She slid her hand over her belly.
    “No.” And Shaw didn’t add anything to that for several long moments. Then he reached back and set both locks on the door. “The officer is arranging to have some clothes and toiletries sent up, and then he’ll report back to headquarters. We’re short staffed on the investigation. There are a lot of witnesses to interview. A lot of women who’ll need protection.”
    “Including me,” she mumbled.
    He nodded. “I’ll be staying with you. Until we catch the gunmen, you’ll be in my protective custody.”
    Sabrina’s mouth dropped open. “You’re going to stay here, with me, alone? ”
    The muscles stirred in his jaw. “Yeah. Now get some rest.”
    Fat chance of that. “But you must have a ton of work to do. Surely someone else can do this.”
    Even though she wanted Shaw to be the one. Well, sort of. She knew he’d do anything to protect the baby,and that was a huge plus, but being in such close quarters with Shaw would only make her remember that he was indeed a hot cop.
    Sabrina cursed herself. Damn hormones. Through much of this pregnancy, she’d been thinking about Shaw, and she hadn’t thought of him as her baby’s father, either. But as a lover.
    As if that would ever happen.
    Still, her hormones had persisted.
    Like now, for instance.
    Yes, she was so tired she could hardly stand, but she felt the trickle of heat go through her, and she wished they were friendly or intimate enough for him to hold her.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked. “You’re breathing hard.”
    “Am I?” Sabrina tried to fix that, but she didn’t think she was successful. “I have to go to the bathroom.”
    And she got away from him as fast as she could. She used the facilities and went to the sink to wash her hands and toss some cold water on her face.
    “He’s Fay’s husband,” she reminded herself. But her body only reminded her that Fay was dead, and her friend would have been the last person to want Shaw and her to stay apart.
    Take care of Shaw for me.
    That was the message Fay had left on Sabrina’s answering machine. The moment Sabrina had come in from work and heard the weakened voice and the slurred words, she’d known something was horribly wrong. She’d tried to call Fay, of course, but it was already toolate. Shaw had answered the phone to say that Fay had just died in his arms.
    She blinked back the tears, and the old memories. Shaw had been so angry. So hurt. Heck, he was still angry and hurt after all these months.
    The baby kicked, a flurry of flutters, and she smiled in spite of the mess she’d made of her life. Then, she braced herself and went back into the room.
    Shaw glanced at her, but he didn’t have time to say anything because his phone buzzed. “Captain Tolbert,” he answered.
    Since this would likely be the first of many calls about the investigation, Sabrina went ahead and kicked off her shoes and pulled back