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When he didn’t respond for a long minute, I made the mistake of peeking up at him to find the sexiest grin paired with brown eyes that were laced with amusement. “You think everything I wear looks good on me?”
It did. I was sure he could wear a paper sack and still have my pulse racing.
“Youthink everything looks good on you. Notme.”
‘That’s not what you said.”
“Well that’s what I meant.” I peeked at him again, this time to find that another girl had his attention. Gracie.
“She’s perfect,” I whispered lowly wondering what he thought of her and then feeling angry because I cared.
“Looks just like you.”
“Do you have kids?”
I wasn’t sure why I asked. Possibly the ease with which he’d interacted with Gracie at the diner. He seemed completely comfortable with her even if he was surprised by the idea that she existed.
That she was mine.
“Shit, I better not.” He laughed to himself before adding, “My life isn’t really conducive to kids so I make sure I take precautions not to have any.”
Another gut punch. The first was the way he’d looked at me when he’d seen Gracie in my arms.
“At least you’re responsible.”
He grunted. “Yeah.”
The conversation paused when Gracie came barreling toward us waving a small canvas in her hands.
“Mommy look. I painted a capa’pillar.”
She shoved the canvas up high allowing me the opportunity to see bright reds, greens, and then a long wiggly line of yellow with tiny black dots below it which were supposed to be the caterpillar’s body and feet.
“I see. This is amazing, Gracie. You did such a good job.”
“You like it?” She beamed, chubby cheeks lifting as she smiled up at me, squinting because the sun was so bright.
“I love it.”
“Can I see?” Jaah’s voice had Gracie wrinkling her nose before she smiled and took the picture from my hands, shoving it at him.
He pretended to examine the small canvas intensely as if he were holding a million dollar work of art, which had my baby anxiously bouncing on her toes waiting for his approval.
“Why a caterpillar instead of a butterfly?”
“Because Mommy says I’m a capa’pillar and when I get big I’ll be a beautiful butterfly just like her.”
“That’s not possible.” Jaah peered at my baby who frowned up at him.
“Why not?”
“Because you’re already beautiful just like your mother so that means you’re not a caterpillar. You’re a beautiful butterfly too, just a little bit smaller.” He winked and tugged at one of Gracie’s curls.
Her smile took over her entire face before she turned to me overflowing with energy again while bouncing in place.
“Mommy, he said I’m already a beautiful butterfly like you. Just smaller. See I don’t have to be a capa’pillar anymore.”
“I guess you don’t.” I tapped her nose again.
