Parker kicked his legs in response.
Laying him on the table, Lane kept one palm on his belly to keep the baby from rolling to the floor while he found a clean diaper and the wipes Celine used earlier to clean him. He unsnapped the bottom of the little shirt, and a wave of something foul as hell slapped him in the face.
“Holy crap, kid. How can something so small make something so disgusting?”
Before he could talk himself out of it, he held his breath and used a handful of wipes to clean every little crevice. He found a trash pail by the table and threw away the wipes then wadded up the diaper to follow along with them.
Something wet seeped from the diaper and spread across his hand, activating his gag reflex seconds before something splashed on his face.
“What the hell?” A quick glance at Parker confirmed his fear. “You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s like a freaking war zone.”
Reaching for whatever he could find to block the continuous stream of urine splashing straight up at him, he found a thin cloth and placed it on top of the baby’s lower half.
Parker’s giggle combined with a louder laugh from behind him.
He turned to find Celine standing in the doorway. Her wet hair rained down around her shoulders, a long gray robe wrapped around her body.
If he wasn’t currently fighting his instinct not to vomit, he’d be turned on by the soft pink of her skin and the humor glowing from her eyes. But right now, he had bigger issues to handle.
He settled one palm on the moist blanket still draped over Parker and lifted his dirty hand in the air. “He pooped. Then he peed. On me.”
Celine covered her growing grin with her hand. “I see that. Would you like some help?”
“Yes, please.”
She swept into the room, the smell of her floral shampoo almost enough to block out the offending smells coming from their son. She effortlessly grabbed the wipes and a clean diaper, getting Parker ready in record time. She resnapped his clothes and swept him into her arms. “All done.”
His mouth dropped. “How did you do that? You didn’t even get any on you.”
Her smile came back, a real genuine one he hadn’t witnessed much since he came back to town. “I’ve had a lot of practice. And honestly, you did most of the dirty work. Do you want to wash up?” She nodded toward the hand still raised in the air.
“Yes, please,” he repeated.
“Bathroom’s across the hall.”
He dipped out of the nursery and into the bathroom, scrubbing his hands at the cream-colored pedestal sink. With one problem solved, he stared at his reflection in the mirror above the sink. Pee stains soaked through the fabric of his t-shirt. He yanked the material over his head, making sure to keep the urine from touching his face. He wadded the shirt in his hand.
Okay, now what?
When Celine recommended cleaning himself, he doubted she meant taking off his shirt. But he had a fresh one in his truck. He’d hurry outside before she knew he’d gotten half-naked in her bathroom. Then he could attempt another conversation about sticking around a little longer.
Plan made, he hurried into the hallway and stepped toward the front door at the same moment Celine exited Parker’s bedroom. She crashed against him, eyes widening in shock.
Instinct moved his arm around her waist to keep her steady.
Her body stiffened, one palm flattening against his chest while the other hand held the baby. She stared up at him, her lips slightly parted.
Heat shot through his veins. Clearing his throat, he took a step back. “Uh, sorry about that. I was going outside to get a clean shirt from my truck.”
“Of course,” she said, her voice as soft and smooth as cashmere. She shifted to press her back against the wall, allowing him more than enough space to get by without touching her. “I’m going to get dressed.”
He dipped his chin and kept his gaze on the floor as he made his way outside. If he wanted to find a way to be a part of Parker’s life while maintaining boundaries with Celine, he had to get a grip. Figure out how to keep his head on straight.
Easier said than done with his body responding like a hormonal teenager from one simple touch.
Closing his eyes, he let the warm breeze play across his face and calm him down. He had to tackle one issue at a time. First, Celine and Parker’s safety. Then, figure out how to make the next eighteen years work with him and Celine raising a child together.
His stomach muscles clenched, and he reopened his eyes to march to his truck. Forty-eight hours ago he had no desire to ever have a child. To ever play a part in raising a tiny human with anyone. Now, after only a few minutes alone with his son, everything had shifted. He didn’t know how things would play out or what his life would look like.
