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“I do.” Falcon’s Notch hadn’t been big enough to have chain restaurants or takeout. One small diner, and hot dogs of dubious origin on a revolving grill at the local gas station. That was it. Occasionally, when two broke teenagers pooled their money, they went to the closest town of any size and had date night at the Ming Palace.
“I’ll go order for us,” Wynn said. “Delivery shouldn’t take long. Do you want to try mixing her bottle? It isn’t hard. The binder is in the kitchen.”
“Of course.”
Wynn disappeared into his bedroom to phone in the dinner order. Felicity carried the baby into the kitchen and found the carton of clean bottles and nipples. She measured out formula, mixed it carefully, and smiled when Ayla began jumping up and down on Felicity’s hip.
“You’re hungry, too, aren’t you, sweet thing?”
They returned to the living room and settled into a comfortable chair. Tiny babies usually fell asleep after eating, but Ayla was older. Though she ate enthusiastically, her eyes were alert.
Felicity began a mental list: babyproof the apartment, research baby development online and/or order books. She had a lot to learn.
When the doorbell rang, Wynn showed up to pay for the food. He carried the bags into the kitchen and began setting everything out on the table.
Felicity let the baby finish the last of her bottle and then joined her host.
“Right on time,” he said.
She told herself not to be impressed. Just because he had ordered her favorite orange chicken with brown rice and a side of two pork egg rolls didn’t mean anything. The man’s brain was razor-sharp. He probably remembered what he ate for breakfast when he was five.
Her stomach growled loudly. “This all smells amazing,” she said.
“Dig in.” He held out his arms for the baby.
Felicity handed over her charge...reluctantly. Wynn had poured wine to go with their meal. She drank recklessly, trying to bury her rising dread. What if she accidentally let Wynn know she was still attracted to him? That would be horribly embarrassing.
Besides, it was just pheromones and nostalgia making her feel so vulnerable. The men she dated now were much easier. Less aggressively male. Balanced. That was the word.
Wynn seemed oblivious to Felicity’s inner battle. He ate with one hand while holding his niece. “How’s your dad these days?” he asked.
Felicity was relieved to find a topic that didn’t encompass a minefield. “Daddy’s good,” she said. “He moved down to Florida several years ago to live near my uncle. The two of them have opened a gator park for tourists. It’s embarrassing and cheesy, but he’s making a living, and he and my uncle are enjoying their climbing years.”
“A gator park?” For a moment, Wynn looked stunned. “Good Lord. I knew your dad was a free spirit, and I always liked him, but wow.”
Felicity snickered. “I know. My friends think it’s hilarious.”
“They’re not wrong.” His genuine smile did something funny to the pit of her stomach.
Felicity cleared her throat. She needed to get back on track. “What’s the plan for putting Ayla down tonight since you don’t have a baby bed yet?”
Wynn swallowed a bite of food and nuzzled the little girl’s head. “A friend of mine loaned me a portable crib. It will do for one evening. I’ll keep Ayla in my room because we don’t have a monitor yet.”
“Can I help in any way?”
He went still for a moment and then looked up, his eyes warm and bright. “Are you offering to share my bed, Fliss? I’m honored.”
“Go to hell,” she hissed, feeling her face flame.
He covered the baby’s ears with both hands. “Language, Fliss. Really. I thought you’d be more maternal than this.”
She skewered him with a withering look that was unfortunately about as effective as a toy arrow against a thick-skinned animal.
They finished their meal in silence. Felicity wasn’t prepared to offer herself up for his jibes, and who knew what Wynn was thinking?
Once they were done and the cartons tossed in the trash, she knew she had to try again. “Don’t we need to talk about the daily schedule?”
Wynn pursed his lips. “I suppose so. Meet me in the living room in ten minutes. I think this little lady needs a dry diaper.”
