She reached for his nose and repeated, “Haaa,” followed by a raspberry.
Never had Brogan grinned so much prior to getting Shayna. To him, she was endlessly amusing, precious beyond words, and utterly brilliant. They were still playing that nose game when Pixie returned fifteen minutes later.
Like a very attuned mom, she peeked in the car, saw Andy was still sleeping, and walked around to the driver’s side.
Brogan opened the door. “All done?”
“Yes.” Her eyes were red with unshed tears. “Would you like me to put Shayna in her car seat now?”
She looked as if she needed a moment, so he nodded. “Sure.” Carefully, he passed the baby to her.
She must have needed a hug, because Pixie drew the baby in close and nuzzled her little neck. Of course, Shayna got two fists full of hair. Pixie didn’t seem to mind.
Silently, Brogan got out of the car. “Hey,” he whispered. He could hear Pixie’s strained breathing and it shattered him. Putting a hand on her back, he gently stroked. “It’s okay.” Praying he was right, he asked, “The kid?”
Her swallow was audible. “Benny’s fine.”
What a relief. Head wounds were tricky. There was always the chance he’d missed something, especially since the boy had needed CPR. “How about I get this grabby little girl out of your hair—literally?”
With a broken laugh, Pixie reached for one fist while Brogan got the other. In only a few seconds, they had her free. “I really will have to start braiding it.” Instead of handing Shayna to him, she opened the door and leaned inside to finish the task. This time, she avoided little fingers and got the baby strapped in, then gave her a lightweight blanket to cuddle. Lastly, holding her hair away, Pixie kissed Shayna’s forehead.
He was ashamed to say his attention had gone to her backside.
How long had he been celibate? Too damn long, for sure. There’d been the assignment in northern Africa, the ambush that had left him stranded as the only survivor, finally his recovery, and then the grueling weeks spent in the hospital.
Sex, women, had been the furthest thing on his mind once he’d gotten back on his feet. He’d wanted only to get to Shayna, to figure out the best path forward for her. She deserved better than the kind of childhood he’d had, and he was determined to see that she got it.
When Pixie straightened, he led her around to her side of the car. “Let’s get you home.”
Her smile flickered into place. “I’m more concerned about the kids. Right now, I’d rather Andy stay asleep, because when he wakes up, he’s going to be a bear. But if he sleeps too long, I’ll never get him back to bed tonight.”
Brogan waited until she was seated and was fastening her seat belt before he circled back to the driver’s seat to reply. “This is one of those times when a contingency plan is needed, right? Everything will be happening late. His dinner, his bath.”
“My dinner, my shower.” She dug a tissue from her purse and dabbed away her tears. “He’ll go to sleep later, but he’ll probably wake up just as early. Oh, well.” She sent him a look. “We parents have to be adaptable.”
We parents.That sentiment sank into his heart, his bones—his very soul. “I like this conversation.” Especially with her.
Pixie laughed quietly. “Most people don’t want to talk about kids.”
“Guess I’m not most people.” He backed out of the parking space and turned back onto the road. She was so quiet, it bothered him. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were a little … emotional. After you saw, Ellen, I mean.”
“Oh, yes.” She sighed. “If someone cries, I cry. It’s ridiculous. She’s okay, just overwrought. Benny is tired and scared, and cleaning the wounds hurt.”
“Yeah, that’s often worse than the stitches.”
She gave him a curious look.
“In general, I mean.” That explanation didn’t quite cut it, so he added, “My training included basic medical.” Yet she’d no doubt noticed his wounds, so she knew he had personal experience, too. Twice now, she’d seen him without his shirt. Hell, the whole restaurant had seen him today.
He didn’t hide his wounds, but he didn’t showcase them, either, and whenever possible he’d rather avoid questions. In the hospital, that hadn’t been possible. Here in Bramble? He didn’t yet know.
Pixie seemed to understand his aversion, because she said, “Ellen started out thanking me; then suddenly she was sobbing.” Again, she dabbed at her eyes. “She’s trying so hard to hold it together for Benny, but, Brogan, she literally almost lost him.” With a sniffle, she added, “It breaks my heart, imagining how she must feel.”
He could hear in Pixie’s voice that she was close to crying again. “Believe me, I know.” He hesitated, but she was being so open with him, he found himself opening up, too. “When I first found Benny underwater, I didn’t know if I’d gotten to him in time.”
