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My eyes popped wide open as my mortification flooded right back in. “I’m sor—”
“No more apologizing,” he said, laughing. “I’m teasing you. Here’s an insider tip for you—that’s a good sign I’m absolutely fine.” His laugh faded. “Really, Quincy.”
I liked the gentleness in his tone when he said my name.
And that wasnota good idea, so I inwardly shook my head at myself and took his dishes away. “Heard,” I said with more confidence than I felt. I was about to ask him if he wanted dessert when Seth came around the corner.
“How was lunch?” he asked.
Knox nodded. “Damn good, thanks.”
“Did you two talk yet?” Seth asked, and I tilted my head, curious.
“Haven’t had a chance,” Knox answered.
“I’ll take those.” Seth reached out for the dirty dishes. “You can take a break, Quincy. I’ll cash him out.”
“I haven’t offered dessert yet—”
“I’m good,” Knox assured me.
“Need anything else?” Seth acted as if I wasn’t standing right there, ready and willing to finish up with my table. I was pretty sure he didn’t know I’d tipped over Knox’s coffee, so I was super confused. “More coffee?”
“I’ve had enough coffee,” Knox said with a subtle smile at me. “I can’t think of anything else I’d need.”
“Okay, then. You two talk.” Seth pulled out the chair in front of me, then headed toward the kitchen.
A knot formed in my gut as I tried to figure out what Knox could possibly need to talk to me about that Seth was aware of. Then it hit me that Knox had taken Juniper to the doctor today.
“Is Juniper okay?” I asked as I sat on the edge of the chair.
“Dr. Julian said she looks great. He agrees that five months old is about right. We’ll hear back on the paternity test sometime next week.”
I exhaled in relief and sat back farther into the chair. It took about three seconds for my curiosity to roll back in. Just as I straightened expectantly, Juniper let out a quiet snort-cry.
Knox surprised me. Instead of stiffening at the first sign of baby wakefulness, as he had last night and this morning, he glanced down at the car seat, then swiveled toward Juniper and bent over to get her out.
Maybe time alone with her had infused some confidence in him.
“Come here, little one,” he said in a tender voice. “I figured my time was about up before you woke up hungry again.” He straightened and cradled her in one arm as he reached to the diaper bag and unzipped it.
I’m not going to lie; I fought hard to not pop up and help him, but it wasn’t my place anymore. I wasn’t the hired help. Besides, I wanted to see how much progress he’d made.
He pulled out a bottle with formula premeasured, as I’d shown him, opened it with one hand, set it on the table, then dug around for a bottled water.
I literally bit down on my tongue to keep from offering to help.
Juniper’s lower lip quivered, and then she let out a louder cry as her eyes popped open.
“Just a few more seconds, Juniper,” he said as he unscrewed the water lid, then poured it into the bottle. Once he had the lid on, he shook it vigorously.
“You’ve been practicing,” I said and realized a grin was spreading across my face.
“Crash course and an excellent teacher. Thanks again, by the way.”
“Anytime.”
He set the bottle on the table, lifted Juniper, and brushed a kiss to her forehead. She paused in her crying and studied him for a moment.
