Journey of the Magi by Barbara Edwards Page B

old. In another minute, her mother had removed her wet boots and wrapped the girl snugly in the blanket. She turned to the baby.
    Lifting the loudly complaining infant to her shoulder, she caught Dan’s gaze and gestured him over. “I guess I need your help after all. Can you hold the baby for a minute?”
    Holding a baby wasn’t any different than holding a puppy or kitten, but this squirming bundle surprised him. The infant jerked and kicked, stretching out its arms to wave two tiny fists. He’d never felt anything more alive.
    The crinkled little face wound up for another yell.
    “What’s his name?” Dan laughed. Startled, the child opened wide blue eyes to stare up into Dan’s face. They studied each other until the baby glimpsed his mother. He let out a hungry scream loud enough to shatter crystal.
    “He’s Nicholas and this is Holly.”
    Dan turned to hand her the baby. She’d removed her coat and hat. His arms stilled and he couldn’t breathe.
    Winter-wheat blonde, her thick hair curled onto her shoulders and was held behind her ears by two small combs. Her eyes shone the beckoning blue of a placid lake at sunset.
    With her head reaching the top of his shoulder, she’d be the perfect height for dancing or cuddling. He managed to inhale.
    She needed fattening up. She was thin to the point of skinny. He wondered if she didn’t eat enough, until his gaze dropped to her full breasts. When a rosy blush rose painted her cheeks, he silently groaned.
    He swallowed again as she took the baby from his grasp.
    “I need to feed him,” she whispered.
    “Do you want me to warm his milk?”
    She paused before her soft mouth turned up in a gamin curve that reminded him of pixies and elves: cute and delicate and other-worldly.
    “I don’t think so.” She ducked her head while she arranged a receiving blanket over her shoulder and fumbled with the top button of her blouse.
    Dan’s cheeks blazed with heat before he retreated behind the counter. She was breastfeeding the baby.
    ****
    Noel Martin wondered if she’d blown the job she desperately needed. She snuck a sidelong glance at the tall man behind the counter and crossed her fingers.
    He’d been nice and his warm smile set her at ease, but she’d embarrassed him. Men didn’t take well to being embarrassed. She sighed and turned Nicholas to suck noisily on her other breast.
    Something about the male of the species, she decided. Her dead husband had been like that. Taking offense at little things that didn’t mean much to her at all. She hadn’t thought about his reaction. Another fault her husband had pointed out regularly.
    A long distance trucker, he was gone more than home. Although he brought in a steady paycheck, he didn’t share his feelings or want to know hers. Maybe that was why she never felt a twinge of loneliness after his demise. Even six-year-old Holly rarely mentioned him.
    Noel gazed fondly at the little girl leaning against her side. Her children were both her joy and the reason for her lingering resentment. Her husband hadn’t paid his life insurance and his death left them desperate.
    She lifted Nicholas onto her shoulder before she slanted a glance at her prospective employer. Something about him reached into her heart and squeezed. He polished the heavy glasses with care, his grip strong and sure.
    He was no Mel Gibson or Tom Cruise. His features were harsh as the northern Minnesota winter blowing down from Canada. His cheekbones stood out stark and hard as the frozen drifts while his large nose projected over a strong full mouth. Only his brown eyes earned another glance. Set deep under heavy brows, they were soft and warm as a teddy bear’s fur.
    While she nursed the baby, the bearded guy paid his tab and left. The giggling couple, with their arms twined around each other, looked in love.
    Noel envied them as they shared the warmth of their embrace as they braved the storm. With a hollow feeling she turned back to Dan. Gently rubbing