I’d been trying to stay as unattached as possible since I planned on leaving. But after last night, my feelings about leaving had changed. Maybe I owed it to myself to stick around and give whatever was happening between me and Cullen a real shot.
Ruby came back into the kitchen holding a teary-eyed Callie. “Those teeth have been bothering her something awful. I put one of those teether rings in the freezer. Do you want to grab it and see if that helps?”
“Sure.” I found the ring and took it over to where Ruby sat at the table.
Callie pushed it away then held her arms out to me.
“Aw, isn’t that sweet? She wants you, hon.” Ruby passed her over while Callie smacked her lips.
I wrapped her in my arms and gazed down into her big, round brown eyes—the same color as her daddy’s. Her weight settled against my chest and something in me clicked into place.
“Mmmm. Ahhhh.” Callie wrapped my hair around her finger and smiled up at me.
“Is she trying to say ‘mama’?” Ruby’s eyes lit up. “Come on, angel. You can say it. Maaaa-maaaa,” Ruby coached.
“Mmm-aaaa-mmm-aaaa,” Callie parroted back. Heat flooded my eyes. Wanting and warning slammed into each other so hard my knees went weak.
My heart screeched to a stop. “Don’t teach her that.”
“Why not, hon? I heard Cullen was going to ask you to stay. I’m assuming you said yes since you’re here this morning.” She smiled at me like everything was exactly as it should be. But it wasn’t. I couldn’t be a mama. Hell, I could barely take care of myself.
“When did he tell you that?” Clearly Cullen had mentioned it to Ruby before he brought it up to me. Had he totally played me? He’d asked me to stay, then sank into me, sealing the deal. Until Callie started school, he’d said. And I’d been stupid enough to think he actually wanted me, not just someone to watch his daughter and make his life easier with the added benefit of a fuck buddy for the next four years.
“Well, he said he wanted to ask you to stay last week. I said I’d be more than happy to take Callie for the evening so the two of you could talk.” She brushed one of Callie’s curls away from her cheek. “I’m so glad you’re going to be here for the two of them.”
“Right.” The only thing that seemed to matter to everyone was getting Cullen through the next few years of fatherhood. Had he even considered how Callie would feel when he didn’t need me anymore and dumped me? Or how I would feel after he’d gotten what he needed from me and sent me on my way?
A man like Cullen didn’t commit. He took what he needed without giving any thought to anyone else. I was glad he’d decided to be a father to his daughter, but he’d overplayed his hand if he thought he could trick me into staying to help him. And I’d fallen for it. That was the worst part. I’d actually believed he wanted me, not just a body to warm his bed and care for his little girl until he didn’t need help anymore.
“Do you want to feed her before you leave for the contest or do you want to do it there?” Ruby asked, oblivious to the tornado of thoughts swirling around in my head.
“I’ll do it there.” I kissed her curls, breathing in the scent of baby shampoo, then stuffed the ache down deep where I keep the rest of my mistakes. I grabbed Callie’s things, shoved them into the diaper bag, and headed out, trying to ignore the way my chest had warmed when she looked up at me and mumbled her first word.
CHAPTER 10
CULLEN
The sun was shining bright overhead when I spotted Rose heading my way. She had Callie in the stroller and wheeled her right down the center of Main. I’d been thinking about her all morning but seeing her in the flesh cemented every promise I’d made the night before. This was the beginning of what I hoped would be a long life for the two of us. Hell, maybe even more kids together. Callie ought to have a baby brother or sister, preferably with Rose’s smile.
“Hey, how are my girls this morning?” I walked toward them as they got closer, leaning down to give Rose a kiss. Now that I’d gotten my head out of my ass and figured out what I wanted, I didn’t care who saw us together. I was done hiding. If falling for my daughter’s nanny made me a cliche, I was ready to embrace it with open arms.
Rose didn’t kiss me back, but she was probably just uncomfortable with a public display of affection. We could work on that.
“Your daughter’s still teething. Sounds like she gave Ruby a hard time last night, though I don’t think she’d ever complain about it,” she said.
In a pair of jeans that hugged her curves and one of my flannel shirts knotted at her waist, Rose looked good enough to eat. And I planned on doing just that as soon as I got her home later.
“Come here, little one.” I unbuckled Callie and pulled her into my arms. She rubbed her palm over the scruff on my cheek then looked at Rose.
“Mmm-aaaa.” Her arms stretched out, reaching for Rose.
“Did she just say?—”
“No.” Rose crossed her arms, preventing me from passing over the baby. “She’s just mumbling.”
“What’s wrong, sweetness?” Apprehension swirled through my gut. The tenderness we’d shared last night was gone. Even though we only stood a couple of feet apart, it seemed like a gulf had opened between us.
“I can’t do this.” Rose stared at her feet. “Last night you asked me to stay. I really thought you meant it, but I have to look out for myself before I blow apart both of you,” she said, her voice tight. “It’s better for me to leave now than rip out Callie’s heart later.”
