But one thing was clear as the bright blue sky. He wanted nothing more than what was best for his child. He just hoped that included him stepping up and being the type of father that Parker needed. Doubt crept into the corners of his mind.
He would kill to protect Parker from whatever darkness had moved in and tried to hurt Celine. But he’d rather die than be the reason his son ever felt an ounce of pain—die than be the type of father he’d grown up with.
Because if he ever turned into his own father, he’d destroy everything around him.
Celine grabbeda t-shirt and pair of cut-off jean shorts and dressed before braiding her wet hair. She debated adding a touch of makeup then quickly banished that idea. Lane was the only person besides Parker she planned on seeing the rest of the evening, and she shouldn’t care what he thought of her.
Heck, it’d probably be better if she wore loose-fitting clothes and did something to enhance the bags under her eyes. Do whatever she could to repel any physical attraction. Lord knew she couldn’t flame her own desire he stirred in her gut.
She swallowed hard, the feel of his chest imprinted in her mind. Flashes of memories of the last night they’d spent together curled her toes against the soft carpet.
Okay, she really needed to get her mind out of the gutter and away from whatever silly fantasies she used to have about Lane. The only problem was that even with the fantasy gone, it left her with an image of Lane covered in all kinds of Parker’s unmentionables.
But he’d held steady, tending to the baby without fussing or heck, even gagging as she’d done countless times. Maybe she’d been too tough on him, and she needed to give him an opportunity to prove himself before telling herself he wasn’t worth the risk.
At least as far as Parker was concerned.
She’d think on it, but for now, she had to stop picturing Lane shirtless in her hallway. An all but impossible task.
The sound of the door opening turned her focus down the hall.
Lane stepped inside, shutting and locking the door behind him.
She hated the sense of relief that came over her knowing he was near. As much as she wanted to tell him to leave, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, tossing out the question before she could think better of it. “You didn’t get a chance to eat your lunch earlier. I could whip you up something before you leave.”
A slow half-smile hiked up the side of his mouth, and he rubbed a palm over his scruffy jaw. “Sure. I could eat.”
She handed over the baby and headed for the kitchen. “You can be on Parker duty. It will be a treat to actually cook without carrying him around.”
Lane followed behind her, resting on a backless stool at the island while making silly faces at Parker.
She spared the duo a quick glance before rummaging through the fridge for something quick to put together. Dinner was in a few hours, so she didn’t want to fix anything too heavy but now that she’d made the suggestion she couldn’t back out.
An idea took hold, and she found a pack of turkey sausage and retrieved the carton of milk before finding a box of macaroni and cheese in the pantry. A wave of nostalgia washed over her, causing a warm and fuzzy sensation to tingle the pit of her stomach.
Lane’s husky laugh lifted her lips as she boiled water at the gas stove.
“You got some wine coolers in the fridge, too? Then I’d really feel like a teenager,” he said.
Shrugging, she kept her back to him so he couldn’t see the emotions displayed on her face. She couldn’t count the number of times they’d shared a box of mac and cheese, always adding either sausage or hot dogs or some other protein to their favorite snack. “My mom probably does. Can’t say I’ve snuck many ofthem lately. But if you want a drink there might be a beer in the fridge.”
“Nah, I’m good.”
Silence settled over the room except the coos and grunts from Parker.
Celine focused on the simple meal. Cooking the pasta and melting the butter and cheese in the pot before chopping the heated-up sausage and stirring it into the mac and cheese. She grabbed a bowl and scooped noodles into it before presenting it to Lane.
“You aren’t eating.”
She shrugged. “Not hungry. I actually finished my lunch earlier. Do you want me to take the baby?”
Hesitation slowed his motions. “Can I keep holding him?”
“Sure.”
He stayed still, not making a move toward the bowl of food. He twisted his lips to the side and kept his gaze fixed on Parker’s wide eyes. “How is it possible for me to love someone I just met?”
