Theo puttered around the house and into the basement, then she heard him going out the back door. Hopefully, disposing of the little critters. She hated killing them—they were kind of cute—but she didn’t like them pooping in her cupboards or skittering across her floor as she got ready for bed.
The sound of water splashing in the sink came from the kitchen, then Theo appeared in the doorway, the hammer now sporting some gray duct tape around the handle.
“Anything else I can do for you, Your Highness?”
Heat rushed to her cheeks as she shook her head. Jordan’s laughter got their attention, and they spent the next hour playing with the kittens and the dog.
“This step stool is unsafe, Chelsea,” Theo said, examining the old wooden piece. “I’ll get you a new one. I don’t want you getting hurt again.”
“I’m perfectly capable of getting a new step stool. You don’t have to baby me.”
His lips curled up as he shrugged. “Old habits.”
“Very old.” Why did she have to say that and remind him how long it had been since they’d been together? Still, the way he was staring at her got her heart thumping and sent a zing all the way down to her clenched thighs. That hadn’t happened in a long time.
Clearing his throat, he tapped Jordan on the shoulder. “We need to get going soon, peanut. It’s almost bedtime.”
The little girl glanced up, Crackle held tight to her chest. “Is Mama coming to tuck me in tonight?”
“She’s got the pets now, Jordan. It’s not as easy to pack them up and go places.”
That thought had occurred to her the last few nights as she took care of them and not her daughter. Had Theo suggested she get a dog to limit the time she spent with Jordan? It didn’t seem like it, but perhaps he was getting sick of having her around. Which made what she wanted to ask him all the more difficult.
“Theo, you’re working tomorrow, right?”
At his nod, she continued. “I was wondering what you were doing with Jordan. I mean, day care isn’t open, is it?”
“Not on weekends. I usually have Angie come over.”
“Oh.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment from slipping out.Grow a backbone, Chelsea. Ask him.
“Um, I was hoping to maybe see Jordan sometime this weekend. I mean, she’s at school all week, and I only see her a few hours at night.”
“Did you want me to bring her over after I get out of work?” His expression was curious but also wary. Did he not want her to be alone with their daughter?
“I guess I was hoping to see her during the day. Maybe spend a bit more time with her. Would that be okay?”
His pause made her nervous. What was he thinking?
“I mean, I can come over to the house with Angie if she wouldn’t mind. I know you probably don’t want me alone with her. But I—” Her lip began to tremble, and she bit it to keep it still. Stupid emotions.
“Hey,” he said, easing toward her and touching her cheek. “I trust you with our daughter. I guess I hadn’t thought along those lines. You know how I like to have everything planned out in advance.”
A tiny chuckled escaped, yet her insides still felt like a swirling maelstrom. “Let me know what’s okay.”
He raised his eyes in thought. “How about if you meet us around noon at the Brown Bag Cafe? I’ll have Angie drop Jordan off, and I’ll bring her back to the house after we have lunch, and you can stay with her while I finish up the day.”
“You can meet us for lunch?”
“I get an hour. Plus, I’ve got some things to do in the area, so I can kind of fudge my time. Does that work for you?”
Her head bobbed up and down. No way she’d object to any time with her child. “Thank you.”
He got a strange look on his face. “You don’t need to thank me. I appreciate your staying with Jordan, and I’m sure Angie wouldn’t mind the time to herself. She only gets two days off every week, and if she’s with Jordan she doesn’t get to do all her errands.”
“I’ll stay with Jordan any time you need me.”
Reaching out, he grabbed her leg and pulled her across the floor. What the heck?
