Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“Well, sometimes plans change. Here’s your son, Brody Carter.” She eased the boy into his arms.
Whoa. The boy was staring up at him, his blue eyes wide, and for a second he was worried the kid was going to cry at the sight of his father’s face. He knew he wasn’t the prettiest man in the world. He had more than a few scars. He wore his hair too short. He thought he looked a bit cruel even when he wasn’t trying to.
And then the most heartbreakingly gorgeous toothless grin broke over the boy’s face.
Tears clouded his eyes. There was no way to hold them back. He reached down and touched that baby-soft skin. Nate’s cheeks were fat and precious. The baby reached up and gripped his father’s index finger in his hand, squeezing with surprising strength.
He was completely, utterly, madly in love.
“I think he likes me,” he managed to say.
Steph moved in behind him, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Of course he does. He knows his father. I’m glad you’re here, Brody. I’ll go get his bottle. If he eats, he might sleep longer than a few hours.”
She moved away, and he felt the loss of that connection.
“Call Tucker. He’ll bring you one,” he said. He couldn’t, wouldn’t take his gaze off her.
She turned, both brows rising over her eyes like he’d said something truly ridiculous. “Seriously? That man barely knows how to open a can of soda, much less how to make a bottle.”
“Then I’ll come with you.” He was afraid of getting up and jostling Nate. The boy seemed perfectly comfy. He was wriggling, bouncing in Brody’s arms as he held on to his finger.
She was already in motion, reaching into her diaper bag and pulling out a smaller bag. “Do you think I’m not ready? I’ve raised that boy in a place where if I needed to go to the kitchen to get him a bottle in the middle of the night, I would have to walk a quarter of a mile and deal with a bunch of critters who hunt at night. I’ve learned how to use a cold bag and a bottle warmer.”
She plugged something in and settled the bottle inside the device.
“I’m sorry, but I think it’s best we stay together and in one place.” He rocked Nate, watching his every expression.
“So what does that mean for tonight?” Steph asked.
Damn it. He was kind of hoping she’d be so tired she wouldn’t fight him. He’d thought she might even let him in bed because the bed was pretty big. It wouldn’t be his fault if he rolled over and they ended up pressed side by side. If his arms wrapped around her, would that be such a bad thing? “Steph, I’m not leaving this room.”
She nodded his way. “I figured that’s what you would say. It’s all right.”
Excellent. “I’m glad you’re being reasonable.”
“Serena told me where the extra sheets and blankets are. There’s a linen closet in the bathroom. I’ll make up the sofa for myself.”
“You bloody well will not.”
She glanced down at the bottle. “You won’t fit on the couch. I will. Besides, I can be closer to Nate that way.”
“Nate’s crib is right across the room. You’ll be plenty close in the bed. And the bed is big enough for both of us,” he replied, cuddling closer to his son.
“You honestly believe I’m going to sleep with you?”
So much for her being reasonable. “Stephanie, we have a kid.”
“Yes, and I was on birth control at the time which proves that your sperm are dangerous and they’re not coming anywhere near my ovaries again. I’m worried that simply being in the same room with you might be too close for comfort.”
“I know it’s soon, but do you want him to be an only child?”
Her eyes went wide. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means a boy needs siblings.” He could be stubborn, too. “I know you didn’t have any, but you have to understand that brothers and sisters are important to a kid. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had Harry in my life.”
She held a hand up. “No. You’re not going to distract me. Brody, what do you think is happening between the two of us?”
“I think it already happened.”
Nate started to frown as though he’d realized something terrible. His little mouth opened on a low moan.
Brody stared down at him, his heart starting to race. “Did I hurt him?”
Steph took the bottle out, testing the liquid against her wrist. “Nope, that is the calm before the storm.”
Another moan, this one starting to have an edge of anger to it. Nate’s mouth screwed up and then his whole body seemed to tighten, his skin turning red before a wrathful squall seemed to shake the walls.
Steph shoved a bottle in Nate’s mouth and he started to suck furiously.