Luke tried to tamp down his frustration. “He can nap here.”
Sophie hugged herself and tucked her chin into her jacket. “But wasn’t the whole point of bringing him so he could interact with your family?”
“And he can hardly do that if he’s at your house.”
“It’s my sister’s house, and he can’t interact with your family if he’s asleep.”
“Then we’ll wake him up.” He moved toward the car.
She raised her hand, stopping him. “You obviously don’t know how cranky he can be without his nap.”
“And I’ll never know if you don’t allow me to spend time with him.”
She narrowed her eyes, tightened her jaw, and bit back a retort. But then, as if an inner voice had whispered something in her ear, her shoulders sagged. He could almost see her hostility draining away.
“You don’t have to come,” he said.
A dozen conflicting emotions raced across her face before she said, “I’ll come. If he becomes a bear, I’ll take him home.”
“Or we can find him a quiet bedroom where he can lie down for a nap.”
She visibly swallowed. “That could work, too.”
He smiled behind her back, feeling victorious as she opened the door and reached for Jamie. “Here, let me,” he said, brushing past her. He fumbled with the car seat’s clasps.
“Like I said, the car seat is a beast.” She hovered behind him.
“I got it,” he growled, pushing the buttons without any luck.
“Do you want me to do it?”
“No.”
“Okay.”
Why did she sound so pleased? He clicked the buttons and the straps fell away. He eased Jamie out of his car seat. The baby felt warm and soft in his arms.
“Here.” Sophie tucked a blanket around the still-sleeping Jamie. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take him?”
“We’re fine.” He strode toward the house.
Sophie trotted beside him in her dress and low-heeled shoes. “It’s just if he wakes up and sees you he might be scared.”
“Because I’m so scary?” he said, his lips quirking. He didn’t know whether to laugh at her or toss her over the cliff.
“Well, yes.”
“Really?”
“He doesn’t know you.”
“He soon will,” Luke said, and even to himself this sounded more like a threat than a promise.
#
Sophie didn’t want to be intimidated by Luke’s aunt’s house, but she was. She had known Matt and Luke were from a wealthy family, but she hadn’t realized… A small gasp escaped her lips when she saw the closest house on the bluff. “Is that…?”
“Yes, Wendy Shorr’s house.”
