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Charlotte returned an arch look and spluttered.
Nina laughed and carried her over to the change table, performing a swift nappy change as she wondered what to do about her own clothes. Her top would have to come off. Then she remembered the lovely silk Christian Dior dressing gown Jack had given her for her birthday over a year ago. Its dramatic black and white print wouldn’t clash with her make-up. Besides, Jack would recognise it and feel pleased she was wearing it.
Nina could hardly believe how well everything was going. The tension of testing Jack was completely wiped out. When she returned to the living room, he fussed around, making sure she and the baby were comfortable in one of the armchairs, offering to fetch anything they needed and emitting all the pleasure of a proud dad as he watched Charlotte in action.
“This kid sure knows what it wants,” he commented, a warm, appreciative gleam in his eyes.
Nina’s stomach curled. Her breasts were highly sensitive at the moment. The tiny mouth sucking at her nipple sharply reminded her of many nights of love with Jack. Was he remembering, too?
The sense of intimacy being so strongly generated suddenly alerted Nina to the realisation it was still very early days in this new situation between them. “Tell me what’s been happening to you, Jack,” she invited quickly. “Your work and everything.”
The conversation flowed smoothly enough, Jack very aware of keeping her at ease with him. The eight months of separation and the reason for it had to be laid to rest before they could really go forward. Nina couldn’t be sure Jack’s current attitude would last past the first flush of being together again. Charlotte would inevitably become more intrusive.
By the time Nina finished tending to Charlotte’s needs and had changed back into her clothes, Jack had their meal ready. She carried the capsule out to the living room, setting it down near the cane lounge. Charlotte was still awake, happily crowing to herself, and Nina wanted to keep an eye on her, making sure it would be all right to leave her with Jack.
Surprisingly, Nina found she had a hearty appetite. She thoroughly enjoyed her dinner, relaxing in Jack’s company while they ate. He even persuaded her into telling him about Charlotte’s bath, chuckling at her description of the baby’s initial stiffening at the touch of water and Nina’s interpretations of the startled expressions on her face.
It was the kind of shared fun they used to have, and Nina was in buoyant spirits as she prepared to leave for her appointment. A last-minute check on Charlotte completely shattered her happy bubble of optimism. The tiny fists were clenched, and her face had the screwed-up air of concentration that Nina recognised only too well.
“Oh no! Not now,” she groaned.
“What’s wrong?”
“Charlotte is working up to dirtying her nappy. What am I going to do?” she wailed, frantically checking the time. “I can’t be late. I’ll have to come back and clean her up after I let Juliette in. If Charlotte starts crying—”
“Stop worrying.” Jack gripped her shoulders to calm her agitation, and his eyes beamed confident assurance at her. “I’ll take care of it. I trust I’ll find everything I need in the bedroom? A clean nappy, baby oil, tissues, talcum powder?”
“Yes, but—”
“I can do it, Nina. Leave it to me. You go on and attend to business. Not a problem.”
“You’ve never done anything like this, Jack,” she cried, horrified at the idea of throwing him in at the deep end with a mess that would surely turn his stomach.
“Had a practice session this morning,” he asserted. “I’m an expert.”
“What?” Incredulity blitzed the horror.
“Maurice Larosa has a new baby son. That’s why I was visiting the hospital. I got his wife to give me nappy-changing lessons,” he said smugly. “I bet I can do it as good as you.”
She shook her head dazedly. Jack taking nappy-changing lessons?
“Now, off you go.” He good-humouredly turned her towards the connecting door to Sally’s house. “I’ll take charge here.”
She went.
She wondered if Maurice’s son had dirtied his nappy or simply wet it. There was a huge difference. Huge! As a test for having the intestinal fortitude for hands-on fatherhood, Charlotte was certainly supplying a hardliner. Nina had to acknowledge
there was a terrible fascination in finding out if Jack could really handle it and still come up smiling.
CHAPTER TEN
JACK was curious. And intrigued. How did Nina know the kid was doing heavy business? He couldn’t see any telltale signs. The baby bomb was looking up at him as placid as you please, big eyes widely alert as though reviewing the conversation it had heard and checking Jack out before accepting him as substitute minder.
“I’m your dad, kid,” Jack advised. “Better get used to me.”
The little face suddenly assumed a belligerent expression. The tiny arms stopped waving and straightened out, hands clenching.
“Want to fight, huh?”
