She said, a bit defensively, he thought, “I nursed her for four months.The first three months are supposed to be the most important.”
“Okay,” he repeated.“I wasn’t implying anything.”
“You sounded judgmental.”
He stared at her.Where had that come from?“Aria, I know absolutely nothing about nursing a baby.Why would I judge you?”
She shrugged.“I’m sorry.I’m a little touchy about it.I wanted to nurse for longer, but I couldn’t.It was frustrating and—and depressing, if you want the truth.”
He put his hand on her shoulder.“You’re doing a great job.”
“Thanks.It’s a lot sometimes.Being the primary parent.”
“I can help as much as you let me.”
“I know.Which is why we’re going to give her a bath later.It’s something you should know how to do.”
Sophie had been gradually getting louder so Ryan left the kitchen to get her.She was lying on her stomach like Aria had said.As he watched, she flipped to her back.When had she started doing that?
Aria still had her crib in her room, not having moved her yet.But then, the construction crew had only recently finished with the baby’s room.And something told him Aria wasn’t anxious to move the baby to her own room.
After checking her diaper, he carried her into the kitchen.“Did you know she’s rolling onto her back from her tummy?”It seemed early to him, but he wasn’t sure.He needed to get a book to keep up with Sophie’s milestones.
“Yes, she only recently started that.”She handed him the bottle.“Here you go.”
Ryan took a seat at the table, turning out the chair so he could hold the baby in his arms to feed her.He looked down at her, smiling when he thought about how perfect she was.Her tiny hands and fingers, her soft, peach-colored skin, the dark head of hair, surprisingly thick for a baby.Sometimes he couldn’t believe he’d had a part in making this perfect little person.
He was a lucky man.
Chapter Eleven
“I’m uh—I’ll beback,” Aria said in a rush as she left the kitchen.What was she going to do?Watching Ryan with Sophie made all the longing become stronger.The way he looked at his child, the way he touched her tiny hands, and smiled into her face with a look of wonder on his own.It made her want.She wanted a family.The three of them together.Not simply temporarily but for always.
That was a pipe dream and she knew it.But just because she couldn’t have the pipe dream didn’t mean she couldn’t have anything at all.Ryan was still attracted to her.And God knew she was attracted to him.Could she be content with a physical connection?One that could end at any time?
Sometimes she wanted to say to hell with caution and go for it.Let the sizzle between them reach its inevitable end.Because it was still there.Still as hot and explosive as it ever was.What would be the harm?It wasn’t as if she could fall any more in love with him.Or that having sex with Ryan would make her any less in love with him.
She had plenty of time to think about this.Right now she needed to bathe Sophie and teach Ryan how to do it on his own.“After you burp her, bring her along to her bathroom.I’ll warm up the room.”She’d just finished arranging the baby tub, towels, toys, and baby shampoo when Ryan brought her in.He’d stripped her down to her diaper and brought a clean diaper along with him for after the bath.
Aria let Ryan bathe her, with instructions from her, of course.He was a natural at this too.She wondered if there was anything Ryan Hunter wasn’t a natural at.If so, she hadn’t discovered it yet.
“Does Sophie always sleep this late for her nap?”
“It varies.She had a late nap.”
“Will she still go to bed around seven?”He took the baby washcloth and swiped it gently over her face.
“Usually.Sometimes it’s harder to get her to go down than others.But she’s almost always in bed by seven thirty at the latest.”
When he finished, Ryan got her out of the bath and wrapped her in a towel.“I’ll put her pajamas on.I know where they are.”
“I’ve been reading her a bedtime story every night.Would you like to do it tonight?”
“Sure.Where are the books?”
“On the little bookshelf in her bedroom.The rocker and crib are still in my room so you can go there once you pick out a book.”
“When are you planning to move her bed?”
