Fossen Delores - Christmas Guardian

Christmas Guardian Delores Fossen

Table of Contents

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Copyright

About the Author

To Dakota and Danielle

Prologue

Jordan Taylor heard the pounding, but it took him a moment to realize it wasnt part of the nightmare hed been having. Someone was banging on his door.

He checked the clock on the nightstand. Three in the morning. He cursed, threw back the covers and grabbed his Sig Sauer, because visits at this time of morning were never good.

Jordan, open up! a woman said. Not a shout, exactly, but close.

He recognized that voice and cursed again. Shelly Mackey, his ex, both as a business associate and a girlfriend. He wouldnt need the Sig Sauer. Well, probably not. Since he hadnt seen or heard from Shelly in months and since her voice sounded a couple of steps beyond frantic, Jordan decided to bring the gun with him anyway.

You have to help me! Shelly insisted. She continued to pound on the door. Please. Hurry.

That got him moving faster. Shelly wasnt the drama queen type. Jordan didnt bother to dress. He pulled on only his boxers and raced out of his bedroom.

Her voice wasnt coming from the front of the house, he realized, but from the door off his kitchen. Jordan sprinted that way.

But the pounding stopped.

He stopped,

too, just short of the door. He waited a moment. Listened.

And heard nothing.

Shelly? he called out.

Still nothing. That gave him another jolt of adrenaline. Shelly was likely in big trouble.

Jordan lifted his gun as he reached for the doorknob. Then, he heard it. The sound of a car engine.

Someone was driving away. Not fast. More like easing away, the tires barely whispering on the brick driveway that encircled his house. Jordan unlocked the door, jerked it open, but he caught only a flash of the bloodred taillights before the car disappeared into the darkness.

With his gun aimed, he shot glances around his heavily landscaped yard. He didnt see anyone, but the soft grunt he heard had him aiming his attention lower. To the porch.

There was a basket with a blanket draped over it.

What the hell? he mumbled.

Jordan kept his attention on the yard, just in case the someone or something that had caused Shelly to run was still out there. He stooped down and lifted the corner of the blanket.

A baby stared back at him.

Jordan had never remembered being speechless before, but he sure was now. He looked beneath the blanket again, certain he was mistaken.

No mistake.

The tiny baby was still there. Still staring at him with eyes that seemed to ask who are you and why am I here?

Jordan wanted to know the same thing.

He grabbed the basket, brought it inside so he could set it on the floor and shut the door. He also reached for his phone and jabbed in Shellys number. Each ring felt like a week-long wait.

Jordan, she finally answered. He didnt know who sounded more frantichim or her.

Talk to me, he snarled.

Someones trying to kill me.

Despite the baby-in-the-basket bombshell, he wasnt immune to the fear he heard in her voice. Where are you? Ill send help, and then you can come back for the little delivery you left on my porch.

Im sorry. I didnt want to do things this way, but I had no choice. Theyre after me, because of the baby. Hes in danger, Jordan. The worst kind. And I need you to protect him.

Him. A boy.

Then it hit Jordan. He threw back the blanket and had a better look at that little face. Dark brown hair. Dark brown eyes. About two months old at the most. He quickly did the math. Hed last slept with Shelly nine or ten months ago. Break-up sex. And he hadnt seen her since.

Jordan groaned, and because he had no choice, he sank down on the floor next to the basket.

Ive sanitized my office, Shelly continued, her words rushing together. Actually, I burned it to the ground. They wont find anything there, but I dont want them tracing the baby to you. Dont let anyone know you have him. Please. There can be no chain of custody when it comes to him, understand?

No. He didnt. But he focused on Shelly and her safety. Tell me where you are so I can help you.

You can help me by taking care of the baby. There are no records and no paperwork to connect me to that child. It has to stay that way. Ive created a phony trail for us, too. If anyone digs into our connection, theyll find proof you fired me because I was embezzling from your company. The documentation will imply that were enemies and that youre the last person on earth that Id ask for help.

This conversation was getting more and more confusing. Is this baby mine? Jordan demanded.

Silence. He knew she was still on the line because he could hear her breathing. Just protect him, please, she said moments later. A person might come looking for him. If she uses the code words, red ruby, then you can trust her.