“Can you just mix and match some of your best ones? She loves sweets.”
I closed my eyes, realizing I’d revealed too much.
“Is this ‘she’ Piper?”
I felt more awake processing her words than if I’d drunk five espressos.How on earth…?
“Xander told you.”
“No. Isabeau and Celine filled me in when I brought them a few boxes of pralines. Rumor has it… Actually, it’s better if you don’t know.”
“I agree.”
“Right! I’ll put something together for you. I’ll be in the Quarter later this afternoon anyway. I’m meeting Xander and can drop them off.”
“That’s okay, I’ll be at the office today. Just let me know when you’re around, and I’ll come pick them up.” I hesitated and then said, “Can you not tell my brother?”
“Oh, Beckett. That’s not a nice thing to ask of me,” she said, but I could tell she was fighting laughter. “I don’t keep secrets from my fiancé.”
“This isn’t your secret, though.”
“Hmm, you’re right. Well, then, I won’t tell him anything.”
“Thanks, Bailey.”
“Anytime.”
After hanging up, I downed my coffee and texted Piper.
Beckett: Good morning. How are you? And again, sorry for leaving so fast last night.
Piper: I’m good. Working from home today. Always do on Fridays.
Beckett: I’m home today too. My coworker is keeping me prisoner here.
Agatha couldn’t come in today because she had a cold, so I’d stayed home with Charlotte.
Piper: You have the loveliest coworker in the whole world.
I smiled, glancing at Charlotte.
“You hear that?” I whispered. “You’re the loveliest coworker.”
She was a poop machine too. The second I kissed her forehead, she had a diaper explosion. I pushed the phone away, hurrying to the bathroom with her.
Once she was clean, I made her bottle. She and I were falling into a very nice rhythm, and I enjoyed it. I needed someone to watch her in the afternoon while I was on my praline mission, though. I texted Isabeau to check if she had time, and she responded with a resounding yes.
She arrived at four o’clock on the dot.
“There’s my darling,” she said, taking Charlotte from my arms.
My girl seemed to have taken quite a liking to her. Then again, she was easy like that—she liked everyone who held her and cooed at her.
“I’ve prepared everything. Need me to show you how to make the bottle again?”
“Beckett, honestly!” Isabeau said. “I’ve got the hang of it.”
She wasn’t a whiz with technology, but she seemed to be managing this just fine.
