“Well?” she said.
“It’s just … oh, hell.” He looked up, appealing to her supposed expertise. “He’s crying a lot.”
Cari froze and looked at him quickly. Brian had hated it when their baby had cried. In fact, it seemed to drive him a bit crazy when it happened. Her heart beat a little faster, but she took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. Max wasn’t Brian. He hadn’t said he couldn’t stand it, just that it worried him.
Okay, start over again.
She nodded a little stiffly. A baby crying wasn’t really unusual. But if it was happening to the point where Max was worried, she was going to delve into it a bit.
“No fever?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Gas?”
He made a face. “I don’t know.”
“Does the nanny hold him against her shoulder and pat or rub his back?”
He thought for a minute, then nodded. “I’ve seen her do that a time or two. But not for long.” He frowned. “I don’t trust the nanny. She’s obsessed with making sure she doesn’t spoil him. It’s like she thinks we’re raising a Spartan kid or something. She doesn’t want to make him too comfortable, as if he’ll get too soft if he’s happy.” He grimaced. “So she lets him cry.”
Cari was sure he was exaggerating, so she didn’t take him too seriously. She closed her eyes, thinking, then opened them again and shook her head.
“You know what it probably is? He misses his mom.”
Max searched her eyes. To his relief, Cari was taking his worries seriously. She was frowning, thinking over her instant diagnosis. She looked down at him.
“Did you get in a good supply of formula?”
“Of course.”
She nodded again, then her eyes widened. “Oh, maybe he was being breast fed. The formula might not agree with him. Maybe that’s why he’s crying.”
He groaned, looking miserable. “But Cari, there’s nothing I can do about that.”
“Of course not. He’ll just have to get used to the formula.”
“How long will that take?”
She had a hard time holding back a smile. His face was a picture of tragic helplessness. He was a man of action. He wanted to do something to make everything better. But he was being told there was nothing he could do, and that was maddening to him.
“Of course, the best thing would be if the baby’s mother came back. You haven’t found her yet?” she asked, knowing it wouldn’t be a welcome question at all.
He gave her a baleful look. “Why would I want to do that?”
She stared at him, hoping he was just being flip. “You know darn well you have to do that.”
His sigh was impatient. “Yes, I know. I’ve got people looking into it. We’ll find her.”
She frowned. His “people” had been pretty good at finding out where she lived and worked, but she was pretty easy. A woman who went off without telling anyone where she was going was probably going to be a tougher case.
“I hope you really mean that. It’s important. What if she comes back and her baby’s not in the apartment? Can you imagine how frightened she’ll be?”
He looked at her as though she’d lost her bearings. “Cari, this is a mother who walked out and never looked back. What makes you think she’ll care that much?”
“She’s a mother. I know what that’s like.”
To think a woman could walk out on her baby was incomprehensible to her. She’d lost a baby once herself. It had almost destroyed her life. “You don’t know why she disappeared. Maybe something happened.” She shrugged, getting into her speculative mode.
“Maybe she was kidnapped. Maybe she’s unconscious in some hospital somewhere. Maybe she bumped her head and has amnesia.”
He grimaced, not buying a bit of it. “Or maybe she went on a hot date and forgot she had a baby waiting at home.”
She swallowed hard, shocked he would say such a thing. The cynicism reminded her of some of the terrible things Brian would say, and she didn’t want to think he might be anything like her husband.
“You don’t have a very high opinion of women, do you?” she challenged.
He looked up as though surprised she was taking his offhanded remark seriously. “That’s not the point. And yes, I have a very high opinion of women. Some women.”
His mother. Whoopee. She was appalled.
“No matter what kept her away, when she comes back to her senses, she’ll want to know where her baby is.”
“That’s probably true. For what it’s worth.” His wide mouth tilted at the corners, but there was no humor in his dark eyes as he looked up at her. “You forget. I know Sheila. I never understood what Gino saw in her, and I was glad when they broke up. And I was the one who took her phone call when she tried to shake us down for money. I’m afraid that experience has made me a little cynical where Sheila is concerned.”
There was certainly no point in arguing about this. He knew the woman. She didn’t. But the baby needed to be protected. At the same moment she had that thought, so did he.
“Listen,” he said, rising from the stool and moving toward her. “I can pay you double whatever you’re making here. I could really use the help.”
She shook her head with vigor. She couldn’t even allow herself to imagine such a thing.
“No,” she said firmly. “Never.”
“Cari …” He took her hand in his and she stared down at those wonderful fingers. The nails were so even, so beautiful. He had hands like an artist. She could hardly breathe.
“Cari, listen. It wouldn’t be for long. Just until the DNA testing is completed. Then I’ll be taking him to Venice with me and I won’t need you anymore.”
Her gaze jerked up and met his. Did he have any idea what he’d just said? But she supposed he didn’t look at it quite the way she did. She yanked her hand out of his and turned away.
I won’t need you anymore.
Wasn’t that just like a man? Oh!
“Max, you’d better leave. I’ve got work to do.”
“Cari …”
“I’m serious. Go. I’m not going to work for you. Not ever.”
“Not ever.” He repeated it as though he couldn’t believe she’d said that and turned to go, then looked back. “By the way, the police found my car. It was only a few blocks from where it was stolen and they didn’t damage anything. So that’s okay.”
“I’m glad.”
He nodded, then shrugged and turned to leave again.
“But Max.”
He turned back, one eyebrow raised.
“Max, please take care of the baby. And find his mother. It’s really important.”
He was on the verge of pointing out that she could help make all that happen, but he bit his tongue, knowing it would be too much like begging.
“Okay, I’ll take that under advisement.”
“Good.”
Their gazes caught and held. For a moment