She sat up and looked around, she was alone in Smokey’s room, where she’d gone to bed the night before, though she hadn’t been alone then.She and Smokey had talked, Carter had woken, they’d fed and changed him and gotten him back down then the two of them had gone to bed.Yeah, they’d shared the bed, but she was still fully clothed and she hadn’t been drunk enough to do anything stupid.Besides, even if she’d wanted to, she was too sore to do much.She knew that Smokey wouldn’t do anything that might hurt her.
Where was Carter?She glanced around the room and spotted a clock on the far side of the bed.7:32 AM.Way later than Carter normally slept.Why hadn’t he woken up yet?Was something wrong?Was he sick?
Her heart raced as she threw the blanket back and hurried into the other room.There, she found the play pen Smokey’s parents had brought empty.
Tania stood frowning at the crib.Had Smokey gotten up with Carter and taken care of him so she could sleep?There were men who did that?Rod never had, not even when they’d first come home from the hospital, and she’d been so sore she could barely move and even something so simple as getting up from her chair had taken several minutes.
Remembering what he’d said the night before about helping, she hoped he was who had Carter as she headed for the restroom.After she took care of her needs, including combing out her hair and brushing her teeth, she went back to the bedroom to find something to wear.It didn’t need to be fancy, she could steal another of Smokey’s shirts, and she thought there was another clean pair of leggings in the bag of things Taylynn had brought for her.That reminded her, she would need to get something more soon.Maybe she could borrow some money from Smokey and hit a second-hand store so she and Carter had some clean things to wear.Or there had to be a washer here somewhere.She could wash what they had and that could get them through at least one more day.
She’d pulled on the leggings and was looking for where she’d kicked off her shoes when the door opened, making her look up.
“Mommy’s in here.I wish we could let her sleep but we got things to do,” Smokey’s voice told her who it was before the door opened enough for her to see them.“And look.She’s already up.We don’t even need to wake her.”He kept talking as he stepped into the room and closed the door.
“What do we have to do?”She lifted one brow.She didn’t know about anything, well other than making sure she and Carter had some clean clothes.
“I was going to tell you last night but you were so tired.”He set Carter in the play pen then bent to sit on his heels so he was eye level with her where she’d sat in the recliner to put her shoes on.“We’ve found out a lot in the last twenty-four hours, and there’s a lot to talk about, but I’ll break it down some so it’s not so overwhelming, or I’ll try to.We’re still going to have to go through it pretty fast.First priority though is a DNA test.”
“DNA test?Do you doubt he’s yours?”It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck her chest as she stared at the man she thought she’d known.
“Not at all, Shell.I don’t need the test, not for me.But proving that he’s mine to the court is the easiest way to strip Werner of his rights, because legally, Carter is his.”Smokey picked up her hand and held it in both of his.“I wouldn’t even ask if it weren’t for the courts.Fletch tells us this is the fastest and easiest way.”
“Will it hurt?”she looked past Smokey to their son, who sat contentedly in his playpen talking to his hands.
Smokey shook his head.“It’s a cheek swab.It won’t hurt.But we need to get moving.We have an appointment at nine.”
Tania’s gaze flicked back to his face.“How far do we have to go?Do I have time to grab a cup of coffee for the car?”
“We’ve got time.The lab is about ten minutes away.I thought you were still asleep and knew you’d need time to get dressed.Come on.There’s food down stairs.And coffee too.Let’s grab you something to eat before we pull out.”
“Give me just a second.”She stood and pulled out Carter’s diaper bag.It only took her a couple of minutes to make sure it was restocked with diapers, clean bottles, and that there was at least one change of clothes for him.She straightened and looked at Smokey.“All right.I’m ready.No need to come back up before we leave.”She slung the bag over her shoulder as Smokey picked up the baby.Once he had Carter comfortable in his arms, Smokey held out the other hand, as if he wanted her to give him something.
Tania stared at his hand, wondering what on earth he wanted.They were running out of time and her stomach churned, reminding her she hadn’t eaten much in the way of dinner last night.
“The bag, Shell.”
“You’ve got the baby, I can carry the bag.I’m used to carrying both, you know.”
Smokey didn’t say anything, just curled his fingers in a ‘give me’ gesture.With a sigh, she handed over the bag.
“Can I open the door, or is that too strenuous for a little girl like me?”
“It’s not because you’re a girl, Shell.”He leaned over and kissed her.Not a swift peck or something gentle pressed into her hair, but a full on, tonsil cleaning kiss.She lost herself in the sensations swirling through her.Heat and lightning seemed to compete for her body.She leaned into him, not sure why she was perturbed at him.Then he pulled back.
It took her a moment to open her eyes and stare up at him, trying to remember what she’d been saying before he kissed her senseless.
“If it’s not because I’m a girl, and I hate being called a girl by the way.I’m a full grown woman, not a child.”
“Noted.But like I said, it’s not because you’re a girl, or woman if you’d prefer.”
“Then why?”she frowned, not sure why he wasn’t just telling her.
“Because you’remywoman.”He tugged her tighter against him and she couldn’t help but feel the bulge of his erection pressed into her belly.
“But Rod, I’m married.”
“We’ll talk about that on the way to the clinic.Like I said, there’s a lot.You’ll want coffee before we tackle all that.”He opened the door and nodded to her to go ahead, then followed her.She liked the idea of being Smokey’s woman.But would Rod let her go?
