Three Makes a Family--A Clean Romance Cari Webb (short books for teens txt) 📖

home without Molly. He wanted to thank her. Wanted to kiss her. But he’d vowed to withdraw. After all, once he returned to his old life, his world would be in perfect balance again. And his focus would be on work, where it belonged.

He loved his work. Doing his best to uphold justice meant everything to him.

He accepted a smiling Hazel from Molly.

Hazel’s big blue eyes locked on his. Her cheerful babbles joined the spring breeze. And her drool dripped onto his favorite courtroom shoes as if Hazel had just claimed him. As if he mattered very much to such a precious little girl.

Drew tucked Hazel against his chest and denied the surge of joy she infused him with every time he held her. As if she gave his life meaning. He liked kids just fine. Any kid really. Kids made him smile and laugh. Kids made him happy.

That hardly meant he wanted his own. Hardly proved Hazel was anymore special to him.

Besides, he was committed to his job. Ex-girlfriends had accused him of being emotionally unavailable. A workaholic and distant even when they were in the same room together. Not exactly glowing praise. Or high recommendation for him as a partner.

Clearly, he was better staying in his professional lane where he knew how to succeed. After all, failing Hazel and Molly wasn’t acceptable.

Drew waited for Molly and together they walked up the driveway to the front porch. An ornate wreath of brightly colored ribbons and sunflowers adorned the door, welcoming spring and its visitors.

Lorrie Cote opened the door and introduced herself to Drew and Molly, then aimed her warm smile at Hazel. She blew Hazel air kisses. “It’s been a few years since I’ve had a baby in the house. Do you think she’d mind if I held her?”

Hazel lifted her head off Drew’s shoulder and patted her palm against her mouth. Lorrie’s soft laughter carried across the pretty porch.

Molly handed Lorrie a llama-and-heart-print blanket. “It’s her favorite.”

Lorrie draped the blanket over her shoulder with the fast, precise movements of a seasoned mom and held out her arms to Hazel.

Hazel dropped into the woman’s arms and continued trying to blow air kisses.

“The books all talked about babies at this age being wary of everyone but their mothers.” Molly patted Hazel’s back. “Yet this one doesn’t seem to have much of a problem.”

“Except with the nanny candidates,” Drew corrected and glanced at Lorrie. “I think Hazel knew before we did that none of them were the right nanny for her.”

Lorrie smiled and tapped her finger on Hazel’s nose. “That’s because she’s smart and discerning. Babies have a good sense of things.”

And Drew hoped Hazel sensed she had the task of distracting Lorrie. He wasn’t there to pressure Reuben, but he wasn’t prepared to leave without Cote’s consent to testify either. If Hazel and her big blue eyes could inject her daily dose of adorable into the room, perhaps everyone would be in a more accommodating mindset. And the afternoon would remain stress-free for all the parties involved.

Lorrie carried Hazel inside the house. Drew and Molly followed the pair into a compact kitchen connected to a tidy family room. Lorrie transferred Hazel back to Molly. “My father’s room is down the hall. Let me make sure he’s feeling up to company.”

Molly sat at the kitchen table, propped Hazel on her lap and pulled a fabric book about forest animals out of the diaper bag.

Drew paced in a small circle, his gaze skipping from the stained coffeepot to the dull counters to the hand-drawn crayon art of a happy stick-figure family taped on the refrigerator. “We have to come back if Reuben refuses to talk to us today.”

“We will,” Molly assured him.

Hazel scrunched a page of her book, babbled and kicked out her legs in joy. The tension inside Drew released. He moved to stand beside Molly and glanced over her shoulder. Hazel tugged on a flap and cheered for the soft fox underneath. Again, the stress squeezing his spine eased. He wanted to believe it was only the Hazel effect. But he knew Hazel’s mother played a part too. Having Molly beside him calmed him. Surely, because he knew her talent and skill as an attorney. She most likely calmed all her clients.

But was he just a client? Drew paced away from the truth. He’d already vowed to stay in his professional lane. That included with Molly. He glanced down the hallway. “I don’t think Reuben is going to see us.”

“Or he’s getting ready to see us,” Molly countered.

Drew pressed his palms over his eyes. “We have to convince him to testify.”

“Drew, look at me.” Molly’s matter-of-fact voice ordered him to comply. “The man down the hallway is critically ill. He’s also a decent man and a loving father and he will protect his family at all costs. He’s already proven that by coming forward to exonerate Van.”

Drew nodded and his gaze slid to Hazel. He wasn’t Hazel’s biological father or even her stepfather, yet he was beginning to understand a parent’s protective instinct. The one that made someone want to move the universe to safeguard his or her own child.

Molly shifted and smiled when Lorrie reappeared in the kitchen. “Is your father up for a visit?”

“He is.” Lorrie reached for the blanket Molly had draped over the empty kitchen chair. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to keep Hazel company while you three talk.”

“Are you sure?” Molly stood and adjusted Hazel on her hip.

“If I’m honest, I’m being selfish.” Lorrie’s one-sided grin hinted at her playful, lighthearted side. “I’d like to hold this bundle of joy for a little while and remember what it was to be innocent and full of wonder.”

Molly transferred Hazel into Lorrie’s open arms.

“We won’t take too much of your father’s time,” Drew said.

“I appreciate that,” Lorrie said. “You should know my father leans toward a more outdated code. He still puts stock in firm handshakes and solid eye contact. And he distrusts cell phones