Nobody's Baby Read Online Free PDF Page A

of her making her way though reporters. “What’s up with this?”
    The headline read, “ hawthorne surrogate upset after meet with family. ” How misleading. She’d been upset because they were blocking the entrance to her half of the duplex. Kate snatched the paper from him. Good grief. Her stomach was huge.
    “Is the family giving you a hard time? Is that guy out there to protect you or to keep tabs on you?”
    “Oh, don’t you start believing the gossip, too. Rio sent him over to keep the press away.” That wasn’t entirely accurate, but her brother didn’t need to know that. He looked genuinely concerned for her. Maybe he was gaining some maturity after all.
    “Who’s Rio?”
    “The baby’s uncle and guardian, now that ... well, you know.”
    “Yeah, it was on the news last night. Tough break. You okay?”
    “I’m adjusting. The baby is fine. In a few weeks, Rio will take charge of his nephew and I’ll start classes as planned.”
    “Good. Zach figured you’d be wigging out, afraid of getting stuck with the baby.”
    No way she was admitting any such thing. Dean would tell Zach, feeding his belief that she was repeating history. Just because she’d played the role of mom to her brothers didn’t mean she was abandoning them by pulling back a little, regardless of what Zach thought. She smacked Dean lightly on the six-pack abs he was so proud of. “Betcha I can still graduate before you do.”
    Dean frowned, his blue-gray eyes smoky with concern. “You sure you can do an accelerated program after popping out a baby? You don’t look so good, Kate.”
    She supposed he meant well, but his lack of tact made her want to smack him harder. “Gee, thanks, Mr. Charming. Your foot-in-mouth disease must be real popular with the girls.”
    “Whatever. I do okay.”
    Kate had no illusions as to his meaning. “You’re using protection though, right? You can’t be too care—”
    “I know. I know. You tattooed it on my brain. I’m careful, okay?”
    “Okay.” She pulled him down for a quick hug but her belly got in the way.
    Dean pulled back with an exaggerated shudder. “It’s so weird seeing you pregnant. I know you were doing a good thing for those people, but now ... Isn’t it going to be hard giving him up to this guy?”
    “This fetus was never mine, so no. I’m looking forward to the freedom. Don’t get me wrong. I love you and Zach and I don’t regret keeping us together, but I’ve had enough responsibility to last me for years to come. Now it’s time for what I want. I don’t know why Zach can’t understand that.”
    “He’ll come around. I think he just feels guilty that you put your life on hold for us.”
    “You understand though, right? I don’t have a scholarship like you guys. This delivery will give me my chance.”
    “I heard that.” Dean nodded and ducked his head.
    Kate recognized the move. “What’s bothering you?”
    “Not just me. Zach had the same thought. This is blowing up. If Mom sees the papers and realizes you’re connected to money, she’ll be calling with another sob story.”
    “I wouldn’t fall for it if she did, but it’s unlikely she’ll see anything. Last I heard, she was cruising the Mediterranean on some rich guy’s yacht.”
    A sound of disgust puffed from Dean’s lips as he checked his cell. “Time’s up. I have to get back for my next class. I’ll tell Zach you’ve got the Hulk standing guard and relay Mom’s situation so he can chill.”
    “The Hulk has a name. It’s Toby, and we were just about to enjoy a morning walk.” She reopened the door. “Don’t be a stranger.”
    Dean skirted around her as if her belly had cooties. “Same. See ya.”
    He ran past the reporters, giving them little chance to catch his likeness with their cameras. Kate sighed. A year ago, he would have hugged her goodbye. Even though they were siblings, she, Dean and Zach had faced a lot more than teen angst together. They’d all grown up too fast, but