Lost & Found by Kelly Jamieson Page B

kitchen where she talked.
    “Hello?” She paused “What’s wrong?” Again she listened. “Do what, honey?”
    Nate walked into the kitchen to see Krissa leaning against the counter. Her powder blue suit hugged every curve, the short jacket nipped into her waist, the skirt ending just above her knees. He’d seen her legs, of course; she wore shorts all the time, but today those legs ended in a pair of sexy stilettos. Wow.
    “Do you want me to come over? Where’s Eric? Oh.” Krissa glanced at Nate. “I’ll come over, then. Be there in…twenty minutes.”
    She hung up the phone and straightened. “Hi. Gotta go.”
    He arched a brow.
    “My friend Cameron is having a meltdown.” She started toward him, removing her suit jacket as she walked, exposing a silk blouse in shades of blue that resembled a water-color print.
    “What’s the problem?” He stepped aside so she could get though the door. She sighed.
    “The usual. She’s overwhelmed and her husband is out.”
    “Want me to come?”
    She shook her head. “No, that’s okay. Sorry to leave you again, though.”
    He shrugged, followed her down the hall. “Are you sure? I could help.”
    She stopped in the door of her bedroom. He’d been about to follow her in there. Whoa. He was getting way too comfortable there.
    “You’ve had a long day, too,” he pointed out.
    “Yeah. Okay. I’ll just change and we can go.”
    She closed the door and he backed off. She looked so professional, she seemed like a different person than cute, casual Krissa. The sleek hair, the makeup, the suit, the heels…it was kind of intimidating.
    When she emerged, she’d changed into a short denim skirt and a tank top. Still looked damn delicious. She grabbed her keys and purse. “Okay, let’s go.”
    “Does this happen often?” he asked, as they drove.
    “Not often. But it has happened before. Just since the baby was born.”
    “How old is the baby?”
    “Emma’s three months old. The twins are three. They’re a handful. And Emma’s a pretty good baby, but you know…all babies are work. And she’s had these colicky spells.” Krissa shook her head. “She doesn’t stop crying for hours. I think that’s what’s happening. It makes Cam insane.”
    A baby screaming non-stop. What was he getting himself into? Nate grimaced.
    A short time later they pulled up in front of a small cottage on a palm-lined street. It was nowhere near the mansion that Krissa and Derek owned, but it was nice. Not that big. Probably crowded with three kids.
    Krissa rang the door bell but didn’t wait, just let herself in with an easy familiarity. “I’m here,” she called out. Nate immediately heard the harsh, exhausted cries of a baby.
    “Sit down!” a woman’s voice screamed. “Just. Sit. Down!”
    Nate followed Krissa to the back of the house to a family room off the kitchen. The baby’s cries grew louder, joined by the frightened sobs of a toddler.
    A woman stood there, baby in her arms. Tears streaked both the woman’s face and the baby’s scarlet cheeks. The two children sat on the floor, one crying, the other near to tears. A bowl of cereal had been dumped onto the carpet, milk seeping in a circle around it.
    One small boy covered his face with his hands. He looked so forlorn, Nate’s chest squeezed.
    The baby continued to howl, Cameron continued to cry and the twins both began sobbing.
    What a nightmare.

Lost and Found

Chapter Eleven
    Nate glanced at Krissa, feeling lost.
    Krissa reached for the baby and Cam released her.
    “Have you fed her?” Krissa asked.
    “Yes.”
    “Changed her diaper?”
    “Yes.”
    “Okay, then. Go. Go wash your face, change or whatever, and go.”
    Cam stood there. She glanced at Nate who forced a smile. “Go where?”
    “Wherever you want,” Krissa said patiently, giving her friend a small push. “Shopping. A movie. Go sit at the beach for a couple of hours. You have to get out of here. If you can hear the baby crying, you’re too