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“Sure. I was just lounging.” She pulls open the door, and I see one of those fold-up lawn chairs, you know, the kind that you can shove into a bag and sling over your shoulder, and some kind of tablet sitting on a blanket on the floor.
I don’t know what it is, but something primal pulls inside me. “You can lounge in the living room.”
“This is fine, Colton.”
“It’s not fine. You can lounge on the couch,” I say again. “In fact, you should take my bed tonight, and I’ll take the couch.”
“No. No way am I taking your bed. I have lots of blankets. It’s fine. I ordered a mattress today and found a cheap frame at the secondhand store. I should have them here in a week.”
“What? You can’t sleep on the floor for a week.”
“I can, and I will.”
I shake my head and turn my back to her. Instead of focusing on how to get her to see things my way, I get busy installing the lock. I’m almost finished when Milo lets out a cry. “Dammit,” I mutter.
“Do you mind if I get him?”
“Thank you. He’s probably hungry.”
“Time for a bottle?” she asks.
“Yeah. I’m almost done,” I say, but it’s to her back. She’s already headed to the living room to take care of my son. For the second time today.
Finishing with the lock, I test it to make sure it works properly. Picking up my trash and my tools, I make my way back to the kitchen. Looking toward the couch, I see Hollis, sitting with Milo in her arms, while she feeds him a bottle.
“It was in the diaper bag.”
“Thank you.” My mind keeps telling me I’m letting this strange woman handle and now feed my son. However, my gut tells me she would never do him any harm. As long as I’m here with her until I get to know her better, it’s fine.
“I don’t mind. He’s such a good baby.”
“That’s what they tell me. I mean, I think he’s perfect, but I’m biased. I have nothing to go off of. I’ve never really spent much time around kids. Life in the military will do that to you.”
“Well, he’s an angel,” she says softly, not taking her eyes off my son.
“Have you had dinner?”
“Not yet.”
“My mom sent leftovers. I’ll heat you up a plate.” I need something to do besides stare at her holding my baby boy.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Trust me, and you’ll be thanking me once you taste it.” I busy myself heating her up a plate and set it on the table. “I can take him so you can eat.”
“You sure?”
I smile at her. “Yes. I’m sure. Thank you for helping with him.”
“It’s selfish, really. I get my baby fix.”
“You love kids, huh?”
“Yeah.” She smiles down at Milo, then transfers him to my arms. When she touches me, that same spark I felt earlier is present.
“You want any of your own?” I ask. Something passes in her eyes, but it’s gone before I can name it.
“Maybe one day.”
I want to pry, but it’s not my place. “Go eat. Enjoy.”
“Thank you, Colton.”
I force myself to watch Milo eat instead of watching her ass as it sways on her way to the kitchen. “One day at a time, little man. One day at a time,” I whisper, keeping my words a secret between father and son.Chapter 4HollisI should head back to my own side of the wall. I started a new design for a small finance company in Dallas and have plenty of work to do. Plus, there are a few of my own things to put away in my new place, including some secondhand dishes I picked up today. Not to mention the little bit of cleaning I want to do before my new bed arrives. So I have plenty to do and shouldn’t monopolize anymore of Colton’s time.
Yet, here I am, straightening up his dirty dishes and wiping down the countertop.
“You don’t have to do that.” He startles me, making me jump a mile high. “Sorry,” he adds with a chuckle. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
I turn around, my hand covering my heart. “No problem. I didn’t hear you come in.”
He takes a step closer and looks down at Milo. “Habit, I guess. I’m used to moving silently.”
“What branch of the military again?” I ask, even though I remember. I just like hearing the sound of his voice. It’s weird, considering I barely know him, but I find it soothing. Not to mention sexy as hell, but I’m ignoring that reason.
“Army. Enlisted when I was eighteen,” he says, bouncing his son on his hip. “Thought I was going to be in for life until this one came along.”
I smile down at the baby who’s trying to eat his hand. “He’s a pretty good reason to leave.”
