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Amy sat upright in the bed the moment she heard the front door open and then close. Her heart was thundering like mad as she pricked her ears, hoping to catch sounds other than Creampuff and Princess' barking.
And then, as though she were dreaming, her husband suddenly appeared in the bedroom doorway - and in his arms, he held a soundly sleeping Mandy.
She started to rise from the bed, bursting into tears as she outstretched her arms. She couldn't believe it... It really *was* her - their little girl was back, safe and sound, and home.
The blond man put out his hand, stopping her. He shook his head, hushing her as well.
"There will be plenty of time for that," he protested. "She's sick, Ames. You can't afford to catch anything."
The redhead blinked as the tears streamed down her cheeks. Her baby was sick?
"Oh, God... What's wrong with her?" she asked, frantic.
"I'm not sure... Probably a stomach virus," Adam replied. "She has a fever, and she told me she threw up last night."
"Oh, no." Damn Matt to hell! He'd taken Mandy, and she'd gotten sick when she'd been with him. She hoped it wasn't the flu.
"I'm going to put her to bed," the tall blond man whispered. "Please, Ames... Stay here in bed."
Reluctantly, the redhead settled back and nodded.
Satisfied, Adam backed out of the doorway, carrying his daughter to her own room. She was out like a light and had been that way since about thirty minutes earlier, when he'd been driving home.
Gently, he lowered the child onto her bed and began to undress her. Without waking her, he dressed her in a pair of warm pajamas, then tucked her under the blanket. Worry swept through him as he touched her forehead again. It was still warm - no warmer than it had been earlier, but the poor kid definitely still had a fever. Sighing, the blond man grabbed Mandy's favorite stuffed dog from the pillow and tucket it into the side of her right shoulder. Afterward, he gazed down at the child for a moment before kissing her on the forehead, then slowly and silently left the room.
Adam closed the door halfway as he stepped back into the hallway. He decided if she weren't at least somewhat better tomorrow, he would take her to the doctor.
He returned to the master bedroom, where his wife was still laying in the bed, tears still on her face. Amy looked pensive to the point that she didn't even seem to realize he had come back.
"Baby?"
She turned to meet his green eyes, reaching up for him as he sat on the edge of the bed. He wrapped his arms around her, and she sobbed against him.
"She's back home," she murmured. "Oh, thank God!"
"Yes, she is," he said softly, pressing his face into her long red hair. "And if she's still sick tomorrow, I'll take her to the doctor." His features hardened, and he was glad that for the moment, Amy couldn't see his face. Visions of Matt Hardy flitted through his head, and he wanted to kill the bastard.
He couldn't believe what had happened. Apparently, Hardy had taken Mandy to that Toys 'R Us, and he'd just abandoned her there. If it weren't for that young woman, Denise, who worked there, he couldn't imagine what might have happened to her. He didn't *want* to imagine what could have happened.
As though perfectly reading her husband's mind, Amy pulled back enough to gaze into his face and question him.
"What happened? Did she wander off and get away from him, or did something else happen?"
Adam swallowed hard and raked one hand through his long blond hair. If he told her the truth, how would she take it? He didn't want her more upset than she'd already been these past few days. The stress had put a strain on the baby, and he would be damned if she were to... He couldn't even finish that thought.
"She was in a Toys 'R Us," he said evenly. "Alone. The Assistant Manager called me to come get her when she knew for sure that I was her father."
"I know that, Adam," the diva said. "But why was she even there? Please tell me - I have to know." She raised one hand, placing it on his cheek, her fingers caressing the stubbled skin. "I won't freak out, I promise." She knew he was worrying about how she would react.
"She..." Adam sighed and went on. "... Matt walked out. He took her into the store and just left her there. Mandy said she was with a little boy for awhile, and then they were about to close when the Assitant Manager found her."
The redhead's heart felt as though it had frozen over in her chest. She couldn't believe Matt would actually do such a horrible thing. Mandy could have been picked up by a child predator! She felt so immeasurably grateful toward the woman who had found the little girl and called Adam. She couldn't even speak. Instead, she settled back against her husband, allowing him to cradle her in his strong arms.
She had never felt more scared to death in her life... But Mandy was back home, safe and sound except for being sick. However, one thing was absolutely certain...
... Matt had to pay for his actions.