The central heat kicks on sending a wave of warm air up my bare legs. Maybe I should’ve put on more than a thread bare T-shirt and panties after climbing out of bed.
“But all those girls were cheerleader types. I was the athlete not the pompom girl. I’m not like those other girls.” After placing a burp rag on my shoulder, I take Grace from Jake’s arms, remove the bottle from her mouth, and pat her back. “And now, I’m a mom with a burp rag and spit up on my shirt.”
“You’re right. You aren’t like those other girls.” He cups my cheek with one hand and grasps my hip with the other. “You’re real. You’re perfect. You aren’t focused on what hair extensions to put in, or what color to try next. You rescue babies. You go with your friends to the house of a guy you can’t stand and offer to feed him and his friends. You take care of your mom.” He smiles as his mouth comes closer to mine. “You call me on my shit.”
“Language.” My heart skips a beat from his closeness and the words he’s saying.
“Yes, Ma’am.” He grins and kisses my lips.
The instant we touch my insecurities ease. It’s when he’s not touching me that I doubt him. Myself. Us. Whatever it is that has my head swirling with anxiety.
When we’re touching…. There’s no room to question or to think.
He kisses my lips again and pulls back. “Em, don’t ever forget that when I see you all I see is perfection.” He leans down and kisses the tip of my nose. “Unfortunately, you need to get in the shower and get ready for work, so we don’t have time for me to remind you of those facts. I’ve got Grace.”
“Thank you.”
He threads his hand through my hair and grips the back of my head. “Stop comparing yourself to any other girls. They don’t hold a candle to you. You’re all I see.” The intense heat in his eyes makes my toes curl. “All I think about…. All I fantasize about…. Is you.” He snatches the baby from me. “Now, be a good girl and go to work before you’re fired.”
Good girl? It sounds so much better coming off his lips than from Chad’s. My steps are slow as I struggle to lift my feet. I’ve never wanted to curl back into bed so badly in my life. After two steps, I spin around. Grace. I forgot to kiss her before I left the room. “You made me forget the baby.”
“You’re welcome.” He winks and gives a slight bow while still tending to Grace’s needs. “Now, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Of course you will.” I rush over to them and kiss her on the forehead. “Be a good girl today for….” Daddy is on the tip of my tongue, but I stop and clear my throat. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Em?”
“Yes?” I gnaw on my bottom lip as I stare at the strand of cream carpet that’s longer than the ones around it.
“Look at me.” I blink and tip my chin back. “Be a good girl today….” A slow smile curves up his cheeks. “For daddy, so hedoesn’t have to pull you onto his lap and paddle that sweet ass of yours.”
I spin on my heel as heat floods every inch of my skin. I’ve got to get away before I call in sick to work. I’ve never called in sick for ambulance duty. People need me. I’ve never even been tempted to call in before. What is this man doing to me?
The weight of his gaze on my backside sends a shiver along my spine.
“Better yet. Be a bad girl. Daddy will be waiting.”
“Asshole.” I flip him off without looking back and rush to the shower. It’d serve him right if I took care of myself after teasing me like that.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Emily
Three Days Later
A buzzing sound jerks me awake. My phone. Grace. I glance down at the baby nestled against me. Shit. “Hush baby, I didn’t mean to wake you up.” I pat her back and retrieve the vibrating offender off the end table.
Ruby: I didn’t want to wake the baby by knocking.
Me: Too late.
Ruby: Damn it. I’m sorry. Come to the front door.
I kiss the top of Grace’s head, inhaling her sweet baby scent and rise from the rocking chair.
When Jake moved the chair in yesterday, I rolled my eyes. I mean, I already had a rocking recliner so it’s not like I needed two rockers. But the baby loves rocking, and clearly, I’m not against it either, so I’m no longer considering it overkill.
As I pad across the carpet in my socks, Grace nuzzles my chest and sighs. My heart swells bigger, which should be impossible at this point.
