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Solemnly, Mitch shook his head. “No yelling. Now go back to sleep.”
But Dylan got up, and with his blanket trailing behind him, he climbed onto Mitch’s lap. Within minutes, he’d curled up against Mitch’s body and was asleep again.
Something warm opened up inside Mitch. Leaning back, he put his knee on his leg to make more room for the little boy and cuddled him. It would be nice to someday have his own…
Frowning, he stared down at the boy. Where did that come from? Marriage and children hadn’t been things he’d ever thought about before. A little girl with red hair and her mom’s lavender-blue eyes…
“What are you doing?” Riley asked from behind him.
Mitch looked up as Riley rushed closer, her eyes clouded with worry.
“Janice went to the bathroom.”
She relaxed visibly. “I’ll take him now. We have to go anyway.”
She moved to take the boy from him, but Mitch got up, still holding the little boy in his arms. “I’ll go with you and help…”
Grabbing her bag, Riley’s eyes narrowed. “I’m quite capable of carrying my own son.”
“I know. I can help, though.”
“Okay, fine. But just to the car.”
Chapter Three
When Riley stoppedin front of Aunt Janice’s house, she was still blinking back tears. The gentle way in which Mitch had put her son in the car, had grabbed her at the throat and wouldn’t let go.
Percy, Dylan’s dad, hadn’t wanted to have anything to do with him. When she’d found out she was pregnant weeks after being dumped at the altar, she’d contacted her ex, hoping he’d at least acknowledge his child. But with a few scathing remarks, he’d walked away.
Frowning, she got out of the car. She should’ve listened to her gut and trusted her instincts telling her Percy’s eyes were way too close-set, a clear sign of someone with a weak will. Not a mistake she’d make again. Trust her gut was her motto these days and what her gut was telling her… no screaming at her, was to get back to Portland as soon as possible.
She had thought of extending her stay with Aunt Janice for another day or two, but it was more than clear she had to get away from here, away from Mitch Miller as soon as possible. Having another encounter, however innocent, with him was something she had to avoid at all costs.
This morning when she’d woken up, Mitch hadn’t even been on her radar, let alone someone who could make her dopamine levels go crazy. But after dancing with him, touching his broad shoulders, feeling his body close to hers… Oh, damn, she shouldn’t be thinking about him, seriously.
Closing her eyes, she could still feel his warm hand on her skin; hear his ragged breathing in her neck. Groaning out loud, she opened the door. This was not helping.
As she got out of the car, another car pulled up behind hers. Even before she’d closed the car door she knew—it was Mitch. She’d told him she’d be able to get Dylan into her aunt’s house all by herself, but of course he didn’t listen.
Inhaling deeply, she tried to calm herself as he walked toward her. She hated any form of confrontation.
“Why are you here, Mitch?”
He didn’t answer her, just opened the back door of her car and picked up Dylan.
“I told you I can handle it.”
“I know you’re quite capable of doing everything yourself; you’ve made that clear. But I’m here; I can help. Let me.”
Cross, she stared at his back as he walked toward the front door. It was very difficult to stay angry with someone who was going out of his way to help her son.
Well, she didn’t have to like it. Stomping past him, she unlocked the front door and quickly walked toward the room where Aunt Janice had made a bed for Dylan. She switched on the light in the corridor and opened the blanket so that Mitch could put her son down.
With infinite care, Mitch crouched lower and placed Dylan on the bed. She waited for him to leave, but he first pulled the blanket over her son before he turned away and walked out of the room.
Exhaling slowly, she kissed Dylan’s forehead before she also headed out.
Mitch was waiting at the front door.
