Free It's Only Make Believe by Roseanne Dowell Page A

in this morning.”
    The grin on Anna’s face faded. The back door opened and Louise came in, carrying a six, maybe seven-month-old baby. She froze in her tracks. Fear showed through her dark eyes before she lowered them.
    Apparently the girl thought she’d be gone.
    “Good morning, Louise.” Michele watched as Louise pulled the baby close in a protective manner.   Was she afraid Michele might take the child away?
    Louise kept her eyes lowered, as was her habit when she spoke to Michele. “I’m sorry, Miss, I...”
    Anna went to the girl and began talking to the baby.
    Michele approached Louise, drawn by the baby. “She’s beautiful, Louise. Is she yours?” The baby reached chubby arms out to her. “May I?” Michele held her hands out to the baby.
    Louise appeared reluctant, but let Michele take her. “What’s her name?” Michele cradled the child, enjoying the warmth, softness, and smell of baby powder.
    “Mikayla, I call her Miki.” Louise’s voice was little more than a whisper and avoiding looking at Michele.
    Poor thing was embarrassed. No wedding ring so she probably wasn’t married. Curious about the situation, something told Michele now wasn’t the right time to ask.
    She looked at the clock. “Oh, time to go.” She handed the baby back to Louise and turned to leave.
    “Miss.” Michele almost didn’t hear Louise, she spoke so quietly. “It is okay, I brought her to work. My babysitter is sick. I had no one to leave her.”
    Michele stopped in the doorway. “No problem, Louise, you can bring her anytime.” She turned to leave, stopped. “Oh, and Louise Mr. Lawson is sleeping, you can ignore the blue guest room today.” Michele noticed Louise shrink back as if in fear. “It’s okay, Louise. Anna, you tell Mr. Lawson I gave Louise permission to bring Miki.” Anna wasn’t afraid of Brad and after last night had him wrapped around her little finger. Louise sighed and seemed to relax. Michele smiled at them and left.
    She met Brad in the hall. “Brad!” She hadn’t expected to see him awake and dressed so early.
    “I hoped I’d catch you before you left. How about meeting me for lunch today, say around noon?”
    Michele couldn’t keep the delight and surprise out of her voice. “Sure, where do you want to meet?”
    Brad came toward her and stood in front of her. His gaze met and locked on hers. Heat rose to her face as he stared at her, open lust showing in his eyes. He reached up and stroked her hair, his hand stopped behind her head, pulled her toward him, and his lips came down to meet hers in a crushing kiss.
    She dropped her keys. Her arms came up involuntarily around him. A moan escaped her lips. The thought that he might have been with Ruby last night filtered through her mind and left just as quickly. Someone in the other room coughed, probably Anna. She pulled away, knowing her face blazed with the heat she felt inside.
    “Where do you want to meet me?” Michele pulled herself together.
    “Oh, uh, come to the office, we’ll go from there.” He dropped his hand to his side letting her go.
    “Okay, see you later.” She turned to leave. A baby’s cry stopped her. Brad looked toward the sound.
    “Oh, that’s Louise’s baby, Mikayla, Miki. I told Louise it’s okay to bring her to work. I have to run.” She came back and planted a kiss on his cheek, wishing she could stay home with him, wanting the warmth and comfort of his arms around her. “See you at noon.”  She almost danced out the door. Her husband wanted to take her to lunch.
     
     
    *** 
     
    Brad stared after her, reluctant to let her go. She had no idea how he hated to leave her last night. Problems with the Edgehurst campaign were becoming a thorn in his side. The man was intolerable, arriving in town late at night and insisting on doing business well into the middle of the night. If he didn’t have to go to the office now, he’d ask Michele to take the day off, spend it together, maybe even do some