The guys all chuckle, even Jace.
By the time dinner is over, I’m wiped out, and so is the baby. I get her changed into her jammies and rock her in my arms until she falls asleep. Then I set her down in the crib, which Frank secured in a small closet, so it won’t move around. There’s asmall curtain we can pull across the opening if there’s too much light for her. And it gets good ventilation. I checked.
I glance at my phone. It’s only eight o’clock. That seems too early to go to bed, but today has been stressful. I keep waiting for Jace, so we can talk about the rules, but he’s obviously busy.
After I clean up in the bathroom and change into my pajamas, I curl up on the bed and pull the covers over me.
I guess the rules will have to wait.
At some point, Jace tiptoes in. “Sorry,” he whispers. “Didn’t mean to wake you. Didn’t realize how late it had gotten.”
“It’s okay,” I slur as I burrow deeper into the blankets.
“I meant to tuck in Layla.”
“It was no trouble.” I crack open my eyes and find him peering over her crib. He loves his daughter. That much is obvious. “I think the excitement of today got to her because she knocked out right away.”
When he turns to me, he smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck. “We never discussed sleeping arrangements if we had to share a bedroom. That’s on me. Rhett told me to be prepared, and I got swept up with packing.”
“How about you sleep on your side of the bed, by the baby, and I sleep on mine?”
“You sure? ’Cause I can crash on the couch in the lounge.”
“I don’t want to be responsible for you throwing out your back because I won’t let you sleep in here. It’s fine.” Because as we’ve all established, I’m not his type. I have zero worries about him making a move on me.
That puts a crooked grin on his stupidly handsome face. He heads to the bathroom and returns a few minutes later. After hewhips off his t-shirt, sending his thick hair all over the place, he pauses. “Is it okay if I sleep in my boxers? I get hot.”
Holy Adonis-like six-pack.I toss my arm over my face so I don’t linger on his muscular chest or the way his jeans hang low on his hips. “Whatever you have to do.” I’m starting to think I’m being punished for something I did in a previous life. My ex had a nice body, but he can’t compare to what Jace has going on.
When he slides between the sheets, I get a whiff of toothpaste and the fading citrus notes of his cologne. It’s a nice smell. Too nice.
“How was your first day on the bus?” he whispers.
“Chaotic. Stressful. Unnerving. And you?”
He blows out a breath. “Honestly? It was one of the best days of my life. But I’m sorry it put you through the wringer. Don’t let the guys bring you down. They’re a tough crowd, but they’ll warm up.”
I’m not so sure about that. “I can handle it.” I plan to hole up in our bedroom for the next four months. Because that’s reasonable. “Hey, could we talk about the rules? I think that might help me relax.”
“Yeah. Of course.” He turns to face me. I drop my arm to my side but keep my focus on the ceiling because this feels too cozy. “What do you propose?”
“Maybe we should start off talking about what you need. You’re my employer after all.”
Flopping on his back, he groans. “I really hate that title. I know I’m paying you, but could you just think of me as a friend?”
“Um.” Calling him a friend is a stretch. Maybe an acquaintance.
But you’ve seen him without his shirt and you’ve kissed him.I shove those thoughts down deep where I keep musings about how to survive nuclear fallout or a zombie attack.
Jace hums, like he’s deep in thought. “Listen, about that dinner when we met last fall. I’m sorry I was a dick. I really was trying to set up a gig, but it was rude to spend half the night texting. I’m gonna do better. Now that I have Layla, I don’t wanna have my face in my phone all the time.”
I’m not prepared for Jace to be so willing to accept fault. “O-okay.”
“Do you forgive me?”
“Maybe.”
Smiling, he nudges me. “Good. Keep me on my toes.”
