“Great. The baby’s room is upstairs, second door on the right. The changing table has everything you need. When you’re done, just put the baby in the crib. I have a baby monitor here; it’s time for her to sleep.”
Jinx carefully stood up with the baby in her arms. “No problem.” She went down the hall and took the stairs. When she got to the top of the landing, she felt someone behind her. Turning she frowned.
“Drake, what are you doing?”
“Helping you change the diaper.”
“Right. What do you know about changing diapers?” She entered the baby’s room and the lights came on automatically with a dim glow. After placing the baby on the changing table, she glanced around for a clean diaper.
“I’ll have you know I have helped delivered three babies,” Drake said, “And my cousins have multiplied like bunnies. I am always on diaper duty when I go home to visit.”
Jinx shook her head, not sure if she believed him She could usually tell when someone was lying to her but when her own emotions were involved, it clouded her ability. Finding the diaper and the wipes, she quickly undid the dirty diaper and put it in the waste bin. Drake was by the baby’s head, distracting Leila by talking to her. Jinx couldn’t help but admire his ease with Leila. There was something about a big strapping man who became goo when faced with a baby.
“You’re a sweetheart. Don’t let your daddy boss you around—you tell him what you want or else. Don’t date until you’re in your thirties though. I don’t think any of us could take that.”
Jinx snorted. “Men are so silly.” She whispered to the baby. “You’re going to date when you’re in your teens, but hold out on your first kiss until you’re sure the guy is really worth it.”
“No guy will be good enough for Leila.” Drake said, planting a kiss on the baby’s forehead.
Jinx lifted the baby up and carried her over to the crib. By the time she laid her down and wrapped a blanket over her, Leila was asleep. “She’s so sweet, just perfect.”
“What were you like as a baby?”
Jinx turned and looked up at him, not realizing he had moved closer to her. They were just inches from each other. Drake caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers. She licked her suddenly dry lips and his eyes tracked the movement.
“My mother said that I was a handful. She was a teen mom and tried to take care of me all on her own. My grandparents begged her to let them help, and eventually, she realized she needed it. I was curious, always getting into things I shouldn’t. I asked a lot of questions. I just wanted to know things.”
His thumb rubbed across her bottom lip and Jinx couldn’t help it, she opened her mouth and licked him. Drake’s eyes darkened with desire, and he leaned closer as if to kiss her. “We need to talk about the other night.”
“What’s there to talk about? We had fun and now it’s over.”
He pulled her into his arms. “I don’t want it to be over.”
That surprised her. “You don’t?”
“Give me a chance. Give us a chance. Let’s see where this leads us?”
Her trick of being able to tell when some was lying didn’t go off, which meant that Drake was telling her the truth. She was so tempted, she wanted to say yes more than anything, but she was scared. “What if it doesn’t work out?”
“What if it does? I’m willing to take the chance if you are.”
“I...I’ll think about it.”
Drake leaned forward to softly kiss her lips. “I’m going to do everything I can to convince you.”
Jinx smiled and leaned her head back for him to nibble her chin. “Looking forward to it.”
A throat cleared at the door, breaking them apart. Jinx turned to find Jagger looking at them curiously.
“Dinner is ready.”
“Oh, I’m starving,” she said, walking past Drake and letting her body brush his.
She heard him whisper, “So am I.”
Heat rose to her cheeks. She passed Jagger and headed down the stairs. She needed to put distance between them so that she could think straight. Everything was happening so quickly. Did he mean it? Was he really interested in a relationship with her?
*****
