Avelyn and the Alien Daddy (Intergalactic Brides 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tried to scoot across the floor. It was the second time Avelyn had seen her try to crawl, but she thought Lily was still a little young to be crawling. But what did she know of alien babies?
    “Has she been doing that often?” Victoria asked. “She’s only five months old.”
    “This is the second time I’ve seen her attempt to crawl.”
    Victoria rubbed her slightly rounded belly. “I hope Terran children aren’t so advanced that they crawl and walk before human children. I’m not quite ready to chase after this one yet.”
    “I already packed her diaper bag, just let me get it from her bedroom.”
    Avelyn left to retrieve the bag and heard Lily begin to fuss. Worried, she hurried back to the living room. Lily sat up, holding her arms out toward Avelyn with huge tears streaking her face.
    “I’ve never seen her do that,” Victoria said. “I mean, yes, I’ve seen her fussy plenty of times, but she’s never gotten upset because someone left the room.”
    “Are you sure you want to take her?” Avelyn asked, lifting the baby into her arms.
    “Positive. It will give you a bit of a break until Thrace comes home, and hopefully prepare Evie for what life will be like with a baby in the house.”
    Avelyn wasn’t sure she wanted to let go of Lily, but eventually she handed her over to Victoria. The woman had already raised a child and had another on the way. That was way more experience than Avelyn had, so surely Lily would be all right. She doubted that Thrace would have given his permission for Victoria to take his daughter if he didn’t trust that she would keep the baby safe.
    “I’ll bring her back after dinner. That will give you some alone time with Thrace.”
    “Alone time?” She felt her eyes widen. “Why do we need alone time?”
    “Oh, I… “ Victoria faltered. “I’m sorry; I just assumed you would want time alone with Thrace before you became his bride and a full-time mother. Xonos told me that you couldn’t keep your eyes off one another, so I just… “
    “It’s all right. It was a simple misunderstanding.” Thrace couldn’t keep his eyes off her? She tingled all over at the thought of the big alien being half as infatuated with her as she was with him. “I’m not here to be Thrace’s bride. I came here to be his nanny.”
    “I’m so embarrassed. Xonos never said anything about you being the nanny, and I know Thrace has wanted a mate for a long time. I just thought he’d found someone while he was out of town. None of the brides who have come through the station here have wanted anything to do with him, not after… “ She glanced down at Lily.
    “Not after they realize he’s a father?”
    “Right.”
    “Well, they’re a bunch of idiots. Lily is the sweetest baby ever. Other than when we first met, I’ve never seen her truly upset about anything. She fusses a little when she needs her diaper changed or when she’s hungry, but otherwise, she smiles all the time.”
    “You must be a miracle worker. I love Lily, don’t get me wrong, but she has screamed the roof off every place she’s been in since Thrace discovered her abandoned at the station. She’ll quiet a little when I hold her, but for the most part, it doesn’t matter whose arms she’s in, she’ll still scream.”
    Avelyn reached out and stroked Lily’s baby soft cheek. “We get along just fine, don’t we, Lily?”
    The baby cooed at her and held out her arms.
    “Uh oh. It looks like I’d better take off with her if I’m going to get out of here with a baby in my arms. My daughter fell asleep in the limo downstairs and the driver offered to sit with her. I don’t want to abuse that kindness.”
    “I look forward to meeting your daughter. If you have any problems with Lily, please don’t hesitate to bring her home. I really don’t mind having her around.”
    Truth of the matter was that she didn’t have the first clue what she was going to do without Lily in the suite with her. The little girl kept