“Hello?” Sophie called out while I wrestled with Ella’s dress.
“In here! Come do your job,” I shouted back.
“I come here for a break,” she snorted.
“It’s coming,” Ella warned.
I bit back a curse and sat her on the loo, holding her steady as she clung to my neck before she nearly disappeared inside.
“Ahhh,” she sighed, patting my back in a congratulatory way.
“I’m not wiping,” I warned my sister.
“Daddy does,” Ella said.
“Daddy’s got practice,” I muttered.
“I do indeed,” Eric said, smirking from the doorway.
I didn’t care—as long as someone else took over from me.
“Getting a bit of a paunch there, Eric,” I said, nodding at his belly.
That was enough to wipe the smirk off my brother-in-law’s face.
“If I’d known, I would’ve got the light beer in,” I added, standing up but still holding Ella’s sticky hand. “Maybe watch your carbs today.”
I chuckled. Using the kids as a buffer was great.
My sister was up next.
Chapter 3
Callie
He almost looked human when he interacted with his niece and nephew. His face wasn’t constipated, and the smile actually looked—natural. The baby was getting big. That was quick.
Or was I just getting old?
Either way, he looked sexy holding the little girl in a hot daddy kind of way.
I smiled at the relaxed family farewell. He passed the baby to her mother, picked up the boy, kissed his cheek, and tousled his hair before setting him down. He stayed on the street until they drove off, waving after them.
I guess he could emanate human emotion—if only once a month.
He turned and looked up.
Oh, fuck.
Right at me.
I couldn’t move or duck. It was too late. I lifted my hand and gave an awkward wave. My legs felt weak until his face returned to its usual miserable default setting.
Then he looked away and walked back to his house.
I exhaled heavily. I needed to get over the hot, grumpy landlord. It was such a cliché.
Yet even as I moved away from the window, I couldn’t help but remember the last time he brought a woman home.
