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“Oh, naked baby, huh? Are you a naked baby?” I pulled down Lily’s hood to make her laugh. She fought it off and I did it again, playing peekaboo with her while Asher went down the hall to get his own gear.
He returned wearing a leather coat and a long blue scarf that seemed handmade.
“A present from an old girlfriend?”
Why had I said that? Probably to keep from flinging myself at him like a horny chick who had no fear of getting pregnant.
Too late there.
“Hardly. I’ve never dated a woman who knits.” He angled his head. “Do you?”
I snorted. “Do I look like the crafty sort?”
“You look like you could do anything you put your mind to.”
“So do you. Hold your daughter.” I passed Lily to him. He fumbled her for a few seconds before settling her on his hip as he’d seen me do.
I nearly smiled. Progress.
It wasn’t until we stepped outside onto the wide porch with its twin rockers and copper wind chimes, now circling madly in the breeze, that Asher’s voice snapped out again. “Where’s your coat?”
I was wondering the same. Actually, I knew right where it was—hanging on its peg in my coat closet. I just hadn’t expected the weather to turn this cold this fast. “Didn’t realize I’d be playing in the snow this afternoon.”
“Here. Hold your…Lily.” He handed the baby to me and quickly shucked off his jacket. I started to protest, but he wrapped it around my shoulders before taking Lily back into his arms. “Much better.”
Since my teeth were a moment away from chattering, I shoved my arms into the sleeves and basked in the warmth. In the glorious smell of leather and Asher’s woodsy cologne. “Thank you. But you’ll freeze.”
“I’m hot-blooded.” Jauntily, he flipped his scarf over his shoulder. Lily grabbed for it and shoved the end into her mouth, causing him to laugh.
“I can vouch for that.” I’d made it halfway down the stairs when a perfectly packed snowball hit me in the back. I pretended to ignore it, but as soon as my foot hit the snowy walkway, I scooped up snow and flung it over my shoulder at them, giggling as most of it blew back in my face.
“Great job packing the snow.” Asher shook his head in mock disappointment and turned to set Lily on a little pile near the steps. She immediately began whipping her arms through the snow on either side of her as she laughed and laughed.
Lily’s giggles were the sweetest thing I’d ever heard.
I was so distracted by her antics that I wasn’t paying attention as Asher crouched to pack another snowball, which he then winged at me. I screeched as cold streaked down my back.
His response? He laughed so hard he almost fell on his ass.
“Would’ve served you right,” I said while he scrambled to right himself.
I turned to pack some snow of my own, taking my time to shape the ball. It was coming down so hard that I had to keep blinking it out of my eyes. I would probably get a chill soon, thanks to Asher’s sneak attack, but I was pretty toasty in his jacket.
I shifted back with my arsenal of three snowballs and nearly swooned at Asher helping Lily smash the snow between her palms. He was leaning over her and she was pounding the snow with delight. Her cheeks were already ruddy from the cold. I hurried over to pull forward the sides of her hood—and realized far too late that Asher had laid a trap.
A snowball came flying right at my face. I ducked and slipped, falling backward onto the sidewalk.
All at once, fear rushed into me.
Genuine fear.
Not, oh, yeah, I’m pregnant, hope I’m okay, but actual cold-blooded terror at the thought of something…well, dislodging my baby.
My baby.
Thank God. I wasn’t a worthless mother after all. Maybe I really could do this.
“Are you okay?” Asher’s voice was thick with worry.
