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The maternal part of me twisted up at the sight. There was nothing sexier than a big, strong man holding a baby, and the sexiness was ramped up to a thousand when the baby was sleeping on his chest. Even though I had just had sex—with another guy, to boot!—I felt my lady-parts tingle and my ovaries twitch just a little bit.
His eyes opened and focused on me. “You kids have fun?”
I frowned. Was there a hint of attitude in his tone? The way he saidyou kidsseemed vaguely insulting. It made me wonder if he was annoyed at having to watch the baby, or jealous that Taylor got to go out with me.
He wouldn’t be jealous of Taylor,I thought.Would he?
“We had a very nice time,” I said. “You know, it’s dangerous to sleep with a baby on your chest. He can smother himself against you if you’re not careful.”
I only knew that fact from the baby spreadsheet my brother had sent me, but I said it with the confidence of someone stating something that should be obvious.
“I was never asleep. Just resting my eyes.” He got up and placed the baby in his basket. His movements were careful and tender, like he was handling something precious. Then he grabbed an envelope from the desk. “This is for you.”
I frowned at the envelope, then took it. There was money inside. A thick stack of twenties. “What’s this?”
“You’re unofficially on the payroll,” he said. “That’s a week’s worth of pay.”
I shoved the envelope back at him. “I can’t take this. I’m just glad to help the baby.”
He refused to take the envelope back. “You gave up working at the restaurant to help us, and I promised to compensate you for your time. You’ve been well worth it, Clara.” He hesitated, then added, “I don’t know what we would have done without you this past week.”
I lowered the envelope to my side. “Like I said. I’m just happy to help Baby Anthony. Everything else is just a bonus.”
One of his dark eyebrows rose. “Everythingelse?”
Even though this room was on the back of the house, I suddenly wondered if he knew what Taylor and I had done in the car. Even though I had nothing to be ashamed of, a shiver of embarrassment ran up my back.
Then Derek stepped up and hugged me.
I was surprised at first, but then relaxed in his arms. He was a bear of a man, huge with muscle, and it was nice to be embraced by him. Deep down, every woman wanted a man to hold them like this. Especially how his hand rested on the back of my neck, and the way he softly inhaled the scent of my hair…
Maybe he is interested in me after all.
“Anthony was last fed about an hour ago,” he said, pulling away. “I changed him at the same time. He should be good for a while. Want me to carry him upstairs for you?”
“No,” I said. “I can handle him.”
Derek nodded. Without another word, he left the room and went upstairs, leaving me confused about what hereallythought about me.
21
Clara
I carried Baby Anthony upstairs and found someone waiting in my bed. At first I thought it was Taylor, but then I saw the puff of dark hair on his head.
Jordan rolled over and sleepily said, “Hey.”
I closed the door behind me. “You’re in the wrong room, mister.”
He sat up in bed. The comforter drifted down to his waist, revealing his bare chest in the moonlight streaming in the window. “Maybe I wanted to sleep surrounded by typewriters. Did you think of that?”
“Isthat why you’re here?”
“No,” he admitted. “I wanted to see you.”
I put Baby Anthony down and crossed my arms. “You wanted to see if Taylor and I would come to bed together, you mean.”
“Honestly, no,” he said. “I was sleeping in my room when I heard him come home. Then, while he was in the bathroom, I snuck across the hall and got in bed here.”
