Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92136 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“It looks silly all sticking up like that,” he said, frowning at his daughter. “I think I can do better.”
Paisley did well while we shopped, fussing only once or twice, but she seemed to like the car ride and fell asleep on the way there. As for Nate, he was holding up pretty well, I thought. His color was good, he had lost that wide-eyed, I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening look, and outwardly at least, seem to have accepted his new reality. There was a moment of panic at the checkout, however, as he watched all of the bath items being scanned.
“I don’t even have a bathtub,” he said, his voice shaking a little. “What am I going to do?”
“Kitchen sink,” answered the elderly woman ringing him up. She shrugged. “That’s how we always did it in my family.”
“Kitchen sink. Right.” At that point, Nate went a little pale. He looked at me, desperation in his eyes. “Are you… Can you help me the first time?”
I checked my phone. It was going on two, and I really needed to check in with my bride. The ceremony wasn’t until five, but there were pictures at four, and I had to be there. “Maybe,” I told him. “Let’s finish up here, and see what time it is when we get back.”
He nodded, handing over his credit card when everything had been rung up, and he didn’t even blink at the total. Whether it was because his pockets were that deep or he was simply distracted by the terrifying thought of giving Paisley a bath in his kitchen sink on his own, I had no idea.
Back at his apartment, I changed, fed, and burped Paisley while he unpacked the bags and assembled the swing and the Pack ’n Play. They looked totally incongruous in his bachelor pad living room. “I have to say, I never saw this coming,” I told him with a grin. “Nate Pearson putting together baby furniture.”
He grimaced. “I didn’t either.”
“I think she’s ready for a nap,” I said, looking down at Paisley in my arms. “And I have to go. Want to try the swing?”
“Aren’t we going to give her a bath?” His expression was a little panicked.
“We don’t really have time, Nate. I’m sorry. I have to get to work.” But at that moment, I wished I could blow off work and stay here with him all night.
“Oh. Okay.”
“You’ll be fine, I know it. You’re so gentle with her, and babies are actually pretty resilient. Just fill the sink up a little ways with warm water, keep her sitting up with one hand, and use the other one to wash her.”
“What about her hair?”
“Use a cup. Tip her back, let her lean into your inner arm, and pour the water over her hair to get it wet and rinse it afterward. If you get a little water in her eyes, it won’t hurt. And Nate?”
He looked over at me as if he were afraid to hear what was coming next. “Yeah?”
“You really have to wash her well. All the…nooks and crannies. Know what I mean?” I looked at him pointedly. “It’s really important for a baby girl so she doesn’t get infections.”
Nate went completely white, but he nodded.
“You okay? Maybe you should sit down.” For a moment I was afraid he might faint again.
He took a deep breath. “I’m fine. I’m fine, and you can go.”
He didn’t look fine, but I couldn’t stay any longer. I walked over and placed the drowsy Paisley in his arms. “I’ll check in on you tonight, okay?”
“Okay.”
I squeezed his shoulder. “I’m really proud of you. A lot of guys would not be doing this.”
“Truth?” he asked quietly, his eyes on the baby in his arms. “Right now, I wish I was more like a lot of guys.”
“Well, you’re not.” I slid my hand from his shoulder to his back and rubbed it, trying to ignore the way my heart quickened at the feel of his solid, warm muscles. “But you know what? It’s okay to admit that.”
He looked at me, and my hand stilled. “Thank you,” he said.
Kiss me, I thought. And before I could do anything stupid, I took my hand off him, gave him an encouraging smile, and got the hell out of there.
Resisting Nate Pearson, handsome playboy, was one thing.
Resisting Nate Pearson, handsome single dad, was quite another.
I wasn’t sure I was up to the task.
I went home and changed into work clothes, trading my jeans, tank, and cardigan for one of the understated suits I wore to client weddings. I tucked my hair into a low chignon and refreshed my makeup, keeping it subtle and soft. My job was to blend into the background, not stand out. While I got ready, I thought of nothing but Nate and Paisley across the hall, and I had to stop myself from knocking on his door to check on him before I got in the elevator. I still couldn’t believe he had offered to keep her for an entire month. A month. What had possessed him?