Page 12 of Nick's Baby

For the second time Nick was calling her a snob and she didn't like it. Her mouth firmed, her frown widened and she glared at him. "You know you have a very nasty habit of putting people in their places, don't you? And they say the rich are snobs. Perhaps you should take a good long look at yourself."

He grinned. She grimaced.

"Look, all I want to do is talk. Give me a chance."

She glanced at his half eaten sandwich with open desire.

"Want some?" He offered.

She grabbed the sandwich, breaking it in half and handing the other half back to him. He watched her as though he couldn't believe she would take the sandwich.

Then he did the unthinkable, he ignored her. Not used to being ignored she bristled. Well, two could play at that game. Finishing the sandwich, she crossed her arms and waited. Why couldn't he see that she wanted to help him achieve his goal while attaining her own? They could have a beautiful child together. It wasn't a fantasy, it was fact. What was wrong with that?

"So, why are you following me? I've told you, I'm not interested. That should be plain enough. You had a whole room full of applicants. So what gives, why me?"

She bit her lower lip. "I can't answer that." Honesty seemed best at the moment. She paused, trying to find the words.

"Yes I can. I sympathize with you and your neighbors over the zoning law. It's unfair, in some ways. Progress often is. Look Nick, I trust you. I don't trust easily. You've been honest with me, so far. I like you. I like your attitude."

It was the truth. Still there was more to it than that and she knew it. Smart enough to know they came from different worlds, and a relationship would never work, she couldn't just blurt out this unbelievable attraction she had for him.

"Yeah, and you like giving to charity?" He shot her a thunderous look. "No thanks lady, I'm not a charity."

"You're deliberately putting words in my mouth. I never suggested you were. If you weren't so pigheaded you might realize you've got exactly the qualities I want in the father of my baby."

"Just go to the damn sperm bank? Can't they pick the best sperm or something? A genius or something? I've got problems of my own. I don't need any more."

Now the men were looking from her to him and back.

Kelsey pulled her gaze from Nick to their audience. She smiled, determined to make them all realize she wasn't shaken.

"But then I'd never know anything about the father of my baby. Why do you think I'm taking such pains with this in the first place? Do you think I'm approaching this frivolously? I've got to know something about him. Like him. He's got to be a person I respect. And I respect you Nick. Don't you see? He has to be special in some way."

"And you think I'm—special?" Nick's head jerked up, a hint of a smile played at his lips again. "You know nothing about me. Why a poor schnook like me? Why not a rich guy with a pedigree? Besides, you gotta admit an Irish, Italian would be murder."

Exasperated, she felt like throttling him. "Yes, I do think you're a special kind of person. Pedigrees are not what I'm looking for. It's a quality, a spirit, a certain kind of character. And you're right, I don't know you. But I know what I like. I can help you. What you want is attainable. Taking care of your family is a noble gesture, and I'd like to be a part of it. That zoning law is putting families on the street. Decent families who have nowhere to go. Innocent children without a home. Won't you listen, for your families' sake?"

The money she kept promising should make him come around. Somehow, she had to convince him it was his one and only chance. Ten minutes passed and she was still talking. He was definitely a hard sell.

"We can help each other Nick," she persisted.

He finished his sandwich, and stood up, and she did the same. He towered over her by several inches, although she wore heels. She lifted her chin to meet his gaze evenly. Something smoldered in those dark Italian eyes, fusing her to the spot. She could almost feel the heat between them.

"Beat it. Okay? I can't say it any plainer. I do need money. You've got me on that one. But I won't sell my kid down the river, to do it."

"There's a call for you, Leonetti. I thought I told you no personal calls." Hatch bit down on his cigar once more and drooled onto his less than white shirt.

Nick stomped into the small office, grabbed the receiver off the wall phone, and gave a quick demeaning glance over his shoulder at Kelsey. She hadn't budged, and the men were crowding around her. She refused to let it rumple her. She wasn't leaving.

Minutes later he stormed out of the office, and approached his boss.

"Look Hatch, I've gotta go."

"Go? Hell, you just got here, Leonetti. What do you think this is a bridge party? Get your butt to work or you're fired!" Hatch yelled taking one last chew on the cigar.

"You don't understand, and I don't have time to explain. It's my little brother, Tony. He got in some kind of trouble at school. I've gotta go."

"Oh Nick, I'm so sor—" Kelsey began only to be cut off by the big man.

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