Whispered Promises

“I’m not.”

Caitlin blinked. “What do you mean, you’re not. I don’t remember inviting you to stay here.”

“You didn’t.” He was not ready to tell her about the contents of the letter her father had left for him. “I’ve decided to stick around to make sure you’re all right.”

Caitlin frowned. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m capable of taking care of myself.”

“Evidently your old man didn’t think so,” Dex said, gently pulling the comforter and going about tucking her in. “I made him a promise, Caitlin, and I intend to keep it.”

Caitlin yawned again. “I don’t need you here.”

“Go to sleep, Caitlin.”

“No. I’ll be fine. My father always thought of me as his little girl, Dex. You’re the one who thought of me as a woman,” Caitlin said sleepily, barely able to keep her eyes open. “Don’t you remember, you made me a woman.”

Despite his anger, a part of Dex could never forget. “Yeah, Caitlin. I remember, now go to sleep. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

“Mmm…” she replied, drifting off into sleep.

Dex’s eyes softened as he watched her fade into blissful slumber. Reaching out, he removed a wayward strand of hair from her cheek. Her earlier words assailed him with pleasant memories. “You’re right, I made you a woman. My woman. ”

He went to the foot of the double bed, deeply disturbed by the strong emotions stirring within him. His gaze took in the feminine body nestled beneath the bedcovers. He fought a sudden wild impulse to climb into the bed beside her.

Glancing around the bedroom, his eyes caught sight of a brass picture frame on Caitlin’s dresser that held a copy of the same photograph in her father’s room. Moving to the dresser, he picked up the frame and again studied the photograph. Emotions welled deep within him. His daughter, a part of him and a part of Caitlin.

He couldn’t help but think about the things he had missed out on. Things like watching Caitlin’s belly swell while carrying his child. Being a doctor, his brother Justin had delivered his own daughter a few months ago. Although Dex knew that he himself lacked the medical qualifications needed to accomplish that same feat, nothing on earth would have prevented him from being in the labor room with Caitlin, and to have been present when Jordan was born. He wished he could have heard his daughter’s first words and seen her take her first steps.

A faint noise drew his attention back to Caitlin. She had turned in sleep, facing him. Compelled by a need he didn’t understand, Dex moved to stand by the bed again. Without conscious thought, he reached out and traced his finger across Caitlin’s brow, cheek and chin, feeling the velvety softness of her brown skin and being careful not to wake her.

Suddenly, he snatched his hand back. He wouldn’t allow himself to get burned by love again. His life had not been the same since the day he’d met her. How much pain and heartache could one man endure before learning a valuable lesson in life?

He had learned his lesson well. No matter what, Caitlin would never get close to his heart again.

Never.

Chapter 4

D ex tossed aside the magazine he’d been reading when the sound of the doorbell vibrated through the room. Moving quickly, he made his way to the door. Caitlin was upstairs sleeping, and he didn’t want her to awaken. She needed the rest.

He blinked, surprised at what he saw upon opening the door. An older woman stood before him holding a sleeping child in her arms. Dex’s throat suddenly felt tight and dry. He knew without an introduction who the woman was. And he also knew whose child she held in her arms.

His.

“You must be Ms. Logan?” he said, smiling against the sudden lump in his throat. “Please come in.”

The woman’s thin mouth curved into a smile as she stepped inside. Her eyes reflected surprise as they swept over him. “Yes, I’m Mrs. Logan.” She gazed at him with thoughtful curiosity. “You seem to know who I am, but I can’t recall ever having met you before. Although you do look familiar.” She looked down at the sleeping child in her arms and then back at Dex. “Oh,” she said, making the connection. “Jordan looks so much like you. Caitlin always said she looked a lot like her father. You must be Caitlin’s ex-husband.”

Dex nodded. Or her current one, he thought. “I’m Dexter Madaris,” he said, offering the woman his hand in a warm handshake. “Caitlin said Jordan wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.”

“Yes. That was our plans, but…”

The woman’s cheerful chatter faded into oblivion as Dex’s gaze was drawn to his child asleep in Ms. Logan’s arms.

“Mr. Madaris. Are you all right?” The older woman’s eyes, reflecting concern, reminded Dex she’d been talking to him.

“Yes, I’m sorry. What did you say?”

She looked at him closely. “I said Caitlin wasn’t expecting us back until tomorrow, but Jordan began missing her mommy. I see Caitlin’s car in the driveway. Is she home?”

“Yes, she’s upstairs sleeping.”

The woman nodded. “I’m surprised she’s here and not at the hospital. How’s Mr. Parker?”

“He died this morning.”

Ms. Logan’s smile was replaced with a sympathetic frown. “I’m so sorry. My husband and I moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago. Mr. Parker was such a nice man. How’s Caitlin doing?”

“As well as can be expected, under the circumstances.”

Ms. Logan nodded. “Please convey my condolences to Caitlin and tell her if there’s anything my husband and I can do to let us know.” She transferred the bundle from her arms to Dex’s.

“The drive back tired Jordan out. Tell Caitlin if she needs me to babysit tomorrow, I’ll be more than happy to. Goodbye, Mr. Madaris. I’ll let myself out.”

“Goodbye.” Dex’s palms began perspiring as he stared down at his child. Tightening his arms, he cradled her closer to him. His composure crumbled. His surroundings became nonexistent. He was aware of nothing except the sleeping child he held—his daughter, his own flesh and blood.

Seeing her for the first time had a devastating impact on him. Because of his preoccupation, he was not aware of another presence in the room.

“Dex?”

He looked up to find Caitlin standing on the bottom stair. Her nap seemed to have renewed her. Her hair fanned softly about her face and shoulders. Her eyes were minus the traces of puffiness beneath them. Her skin had a satin gloss and appeared to be as smooth as the skin of the child nestled in his arms. She was wearing a cream-colored velour robe and looked absolutely beautiful and seductively innocent.

“I heard the doorbell,” she said, coming toward him.

Dex expelled his breath slowly. “Ms. Logan said Jordan missed you.”

A smile touched Caitlin’s features. “That doesn’t surprise me. Jordan and I are seldom apart, except for when I’m working.” She reached out to take their child from his arms.

Dex stared down at Caitlin’s outstretched hands. He then looked up and met her gaze. “No,” he said in a deep husky voice that did little to hide the deep emotions he felt. “I want to hold her for a while.”

Turning, he went to the sofa and sat down. Tenderly, he cradled his daughter in his arms, holding her close.

Caitlin took a deep breath to ease the awful ache in her chest after witnessing this first-time meeting of father and daughter. She started back up the stairs, but stopped when she heard the sound of her name from Dex’s lips. She turned around. Dex was staring at her over Jordan’s head and was holding his free hand out to her.

A warm feeling touched Caitlin with Dex’s offer of a temporary truce. She walked over to the sofa and placed her hand in his. Gently pulling her down on the couch next to him, he drew her against him.

“She’s beautiful, Caitlin, and I want to thank you for her.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Dex.”