Miranda took the first deep breath her lungs would allow during the last hour.
The exact amount of time Andrew Noble had been in the restaurant.
An ember of disgust flared inside her. People struggled to make ends meet while men like Andrew Noble spent money they hadnât even worked for. A poster boy for the idle rich.
An incredibly good-looking poster boyâ¦
Miranda tried to shake the thought away before it took hold and formed an image of perfectly chiseled features, tousled black hair and eyes a warm palette of soft greens and browns.
Too late.
A Tiny Blessings Tale: Loving families and needy children continue to come together to fulfill Godâs greatest plans!
FOR HER SONâS LOVE
Kathryn Springer (LI #404)
MISSIONARY DADDY
Linda Goodnight (LI #408)
A MOMMY IN MIND
Arlene James (LI #412)
LITTLE MISS MATCHMAKER
Dana Corbit (LI #416)
GIVING THANKS FOR BABY
Terri Reed (LI #420)
A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER
Jillian Hart (LI #424)
The last time Andrew Noble visited Chestnut Grove had been eight months ago, when heâd shown up to surprise his cousin, Rachel, on her birthday. This time, it was to fire her.
He hoped the bouquet of peach roses tucked in the crook of his arm would soften the blow.
Andrew bypassed the spacious reception area of the Noble Foundation and veered toward the stairs that led to the suite of offices on the top floor of the building. Rachel didnât know he was in town and Andrew didnât want anyone to warn her. For what he had to do, keeping the element of surprise might be in his favor. He hoped sheâd be so happy to see himâand the bouquet of her favorite flowersâthat sheâd cheerfully hand over the Foundationâs checkbook.
Right.
Even though they had practically grown up together and were more like siblings than first cousins, the Noble Foundation was Rachelâs baby. Her parents, Beatrice and Charles, may have founded the organization, which raised money for worthwhile charities, but Rachelâs energy, drive and creativity had pushed its reputation and influence beyond the boundaries of Virginia. At the moment, her commitment wasnât in question; her energy level was.
It was the reason his mother, at the urging of his aunt Beatrice, had tracked him down at a friendâs beach house in Malibu the day before.
Andrew wasnât sure if he should be flattered or insulted that his name had been the one pulled out of the family hat.
Rachel was expecting a baby at the end of the summer and according to Eli Cavanaugh, Rachelâs husband, sheâd been feeling unusually fatigued over the past few weeks. Eli had finally gotten her to admit sheâd experienced some bouts of dizziness, too. Even though pediatrics, not obstetrics, was Eliâs specialty, heâd shared his concern with Beatrice, whoâd shared it with Andrewâs mother. Theyâd decided someone needed to step in and temporarily ease the reins of the Foundation out of Rachelâs capable hands.
That someone was him. Apparently, the old adage âdesperate times call for desperate measuresâ held some truth.
Andrew exhaled in relief when he saw there was no one at the desk that guarded the entrance to Rachelâs corner office. The staff had a tendency to protect Rachel as if she were the Hope diamond.
He pushed open the door, expecting to see his prototype-for-the-Type-A-personality cousin hard at work. What he saw instead made his blood run coldâ Rachel sound asleep in the leather chair, her bare feet propped up on the desk. At nine oâclock in the morning.
He coughed lightly.
Rachelâs body jerked and she bolted upright, wide awake.
âAndrew!â
With a cry of delight, Rachel pushed herself out of the chair and waddled into his arms. âWhat are you doing here? The baby isnât due for another few months. Or are you planning to pull another one of your famous disappearing acts on us again?â
Andrew planted a kiss on her cheek, not missing the purple shadows under her eyes and the lines of fatigue bracketing her mouth. Guilt kicked in as he realized his aunt hadnât exaggerated Rachelâs condition. He didnât know anything about pregnant women, but even to his inexperienced eyes she looked completely worn out.
He decided honesty was the best policy.