Fern sprinted to the phone and snatched it up. “Thank you forcalling…”
Cedar slowly lifted her eyes to Teo’s face, reluctant to look him in the eye after telling him what she really thought of him only a few daysago.
He wasn’t smiling. “Are you still mad atus?”
Cedar stood and plucked at her blouse to make sure it hadn’t accidentally tucked into her skirt. “I was never mad at Akoni.” She brushed the baby’s soft cheek with her finger. His gaze traveled to her face and he lit up with recognition. He reached his hands out for her and she felt like she might be able to smileagain.
Teo let Akoni go with her, and she scooped him into her body, curving her shoulders forward in a protective gesture. He jabbered to her for a moment before laying his head on her chest and sighing. Cedar soaked him in and rocked side to side. This was the calm she’dneeded.
Teo ruffled Akoni’s hair. “So … the diaperbag?”
“This way.” Cedar thought Akoni had been shy with so many children around on Saturday, and that’s why he didn’t say much, but he was just as contented and silent today. “Is he normally this chill?” She started towards the elevator that would take them up to the executive level. There was a couch and a green fern up there in the ladies room, and she was pretty sure the bag was tucked between thetwo.
“It’s a family trait. My mom says the Parata men are born with an extra share of good looks and half a share ofwords.”
Cedar rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and a double share ofego.”
“Hey, mymomsaid it. Notme.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Really, though, he can be a terror when he wants to be, but he’s most comfortable at home. That’s another Paratatrait.”
“What—being a terror? That one I believe.” Cedar was only half teasing, but she managed to keep her tonelight.
“I’m a terror on the field, so I guess you’re right,” Teo said with a proud tilt to his head. “He’s taken with you, though. Normally he glues himself to myside.”
Now that she was up close and personal with Teo in the elevator, she could see the benefits of being tucked next to a body like that. And what was that smell? Some kind of designer cologne that was three parts man and one partmake my hormones dance.The elevator doors opened, and Cedar rushed out of the small space, grateful her hormones hadn’t said something stupid. She was still mad at Teo but not as mad. The camp hadn’t suffered, and she’d shown Darrin that she was just as capable with a baby on her hip as she was without. Although, she had slept pretty hard over the weekend. She may have been as efficient, but the effort had drained her. Not that she’d let Darrin know. As far as she was concerned, he could see her as Wonder Woman all day long. “It’s thisway.”
She paused outside the women’s restroom when she realized Teo wasn’t going to follow her in. “I’ll be right back.” Using her hip, she pushed open the door and headed for the couch. Sure enough, the bag was right where she’d left it. At the sight, memories from Saturday rushed over her. She’d felt so alive running the camp—being the go-to person. She was in the flow, able to handle anything that came her way. “Even you.” She pressed a kiss to Akoni’s head as the weight of her current situation pressed down on her. She sank into the couch and rocked thebaby.
Rubbing circles on Akoni’s back, she soaked in the comfort of his trust in her. “We make a good team.” Akoni had smiled at the kids and they’d smiled back. People stopped to talk to him, to tickle his foot or shake his littlehand.
“There is no way you’re a terror.” She squeezed his knee, eliciting a giggle. Cedar chuckled. “You’re too cute for your own good—just like your daddy.” She clamped her hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t have said that,” she whispered.There was no point in noticing how fine-looking Teo Parata was in his button-up plaid shirt and cargo shorts. Sure, he had muscles everywhere, but that didn’t mean he was worth drooling over. In fact, there were enough women out there who would be happy to fan him with palm fronds and feed him protein bars that she didn’t need to jump in the fray. No fray. Stay out of the fray. “Don’t tell your daddy, okay? He doesn’t need one more person feeding hisego.”
Akoni gripped her shirt in hisfist.
“Good. I’m glad you agree.” She stood up to make her way out of the room and prayed that the door was thick enough that Teo hadn’t heard athing.
Chapter 6
Teo pacedin front of the ladies’ room, wondering what could be taking Miss Bell so long. He wasn’t used to waiting for a woman to do whatever women did when they disappeared behind that forbidden barrier. He had an appointment with his agent to get to and was already running late because he’d spent twenty minutes scouring his house for the diaper bag before he rememberednotbringing it home onSaturday.
With his thoughts bouncing to that moment in the cafeteria where he’d been struck by the sight of Miss Bell and Akoni together, he raised his hand to knock. Just as he moved his fist forward, the door swung open, and Miss Bell barreled into him. “Oaf,” she grunted onimpact.
Teo rubbed his belly where her elbows had landed. He was used to getting hit, but usually the people who hit him were thicker. “Did you just call me anoaf?”
She blushed. “No, but I should have.” She looked over Akoni to make sure he hadn’t been injured as they stepped into the elevator. Her concern for his son caused a warm sensation to bloom in his chest again. Since his family had flown home after the season, Teo had carried the weight of Akoni’s well-being on his own. He had amazing teammates, but they scattered during the off-season, and he wasn’t sure they would appreciate babysitting duty. His loneliness scared him sometimes. He tried not to think about how quiet his house was compared to the home he’d grown up in, where there was always someone to play with, wrestle with, and talk to. When the solitude pressed in on him, he pushed back and dug deep. Somehow, this time spent with Cedar had shined a spotlight on hisisolation.
With a start, he realized this feeling was different from the dark blanket he’d thrown off before. This feeling was a deep desire to spend time withherspecifically. That just wouldn’tdo.
He reached for Akoni, who came willingly. “Thanks for your help, MissBell—”
“Cedar.” She dropped her lashes to hercheek.
Teo forgot what he was going to say as he watched her cheeks turn the color of ripe peaches. “Cedar.” He tested the name, enjoying the way it felt on hislips.
She smiledshyly.
