Linc shook his head, waving off her comment. “People who’ve lived here a lot longer aren’t even necessarily aware. Don’t worry about it.” His attention perked when he heard a noise. “Just a sec.” He strode from the room and returned a moment later with a cross-looking Liam in his arms.
At the sight of Archer, though, the toddler shoved at his daddy’s hold, nearly launching himself into midair toward him.
Fortunately, Archer was used to the greeting and was prepared for the catch. “Hey, bud,” he said, smiling into Liam’s little face. He held up his palm and Liam showed off his mouthful of stubby white teeth as he smacked his fist against Archer’s hand. “Aren’t you supposed to be in bed by now? It’s after eight.”
Linc looked chagrined. “And Maddie won’t be pleased. She likes Liam down by seven.”
“I know. Last time I babysat, she gave me hell for not getting him into bed on time. Said I deserved to have to watch him the morning after when he’s cranky as all get-out because of it.” Archer caught the bemused look on Nell’s face as she watched him with the baby. “What?”
She lifted her shoulders, giving him an innocent look that he didn’t buy for a second. “Nothing.” She jerked back a few inches when Liam aimed his fist her way, accompanied by a stream of babble. “Just trying to imagine you babysitting.”
“Hifi, hifi, hifi,” Liam demanded noisily as he waved his arm again toward Nell.
“He wants you to high-five,” Archer interpreted.
Her dark gaze swiveled to the baby and she lifted her palm just in time to meet Liam’s next swing.
Liam chortled and squirmed in Archer’s hold, both arms outstretched as he threw his upper body toward Nell.
She looked surprised and delighted as she caught his torso, and then had to take a steadying step when she received the full brunt of the boy’s weight. She quickly adjusted her grip though, and laughed into Liam’s face. “Well, hello there, Liam. Aren’t you a live one?” She caught his hand with hers and wriggled it. “How old are you?”
“I fi,” he said giggling.
“You’re almost two,” Linc corrected wryly. “For some reason, five is his favorite word these days.”
“You coory,” Liam told her, patting her head with obvious glee. “Coory coory.”
“Curly,” Archer supplied.
“I am curly,” Nell agreed. She touched Liam’s smooth hair. “Is your hair curly?”
His forehead puckered. He shook his head. “No, I a boy.”
Nell laughed. She shot Archer a sparkling look that made him nearly hurt inside before looking back at his nephew. “Sometimes boys have curly hair too, you know.”
“Unh-uh.” Liam was certain. “Hifi.” He raised his fist again and she obediently tapped her palm against it. He pumped his fists up in the air and whooped.
Nell laughed again, and rubbed her face against the boy’s head.
“You’re watching too many basketball games on television,” Archer told Linc. “Kid’s starting to sound just like you.”
“Come here, pal.” Linc lifted his son out of Nell’s arms. “Everyone is his best friend right now,” he told her.
She was smiling, something soft in her eyes. “He’s darling.”
“Yeah.” Linc rubbed Liam’s head. “I think we’ll keep him.” He led the way from his downstairs office into the foyer, swinging Liam upside down over his shoulders.
The toddler squealed excitedly. “Daddy!”
“That’ll help get him to sleep,” Archer said drily. He reached around Nell to open the door. “We need to get while the getting’s good. You do not want to see Maddie when she’s on a tear ’cause her firstborn isn’t in bed when he’s supposed to be.”
“I have a few tricks to calm her down,” Linc assured him.
Archer shuddered. “I need to wash out my ears now.” He started to nudge Nell out the door. “That’s my baby sister you’re talking about.”
“Hold on.” Linc opened a closet door and pulled out a black box about half the size of a shoebox. “If you’re heading back toward Weaver, can you drop this off with your folks? Maddie borrowed these socket wrenches from your dad.”
“Sure.” Archer took the box. “What’d she need them for?”
“Putting together another crib.” Linc winked and darted up the stairs, bouncing Liam up and down to make him squeal even more.
Archer was aware of Nell tugging his sleeve. “We going to stand here for a while or—”
He looked down at her. “Did he just say another crib?”
“Yes.” She pursed her lips. “Is that his way of announcing another baby?”
“Yes,” Linc said from the top of the staircase. Laughter was in his face. “But keep it to yourself. Maddie wants to tell your folks this weekend.” He lifted his hand and disappeared along the landing.
“Great,” Archer muttered as he followed Nell out through the door. “Drop some news like that on me even though I’m doing him the favor of returning the tools?”
Nell laughed. “Stop complaining. You’re thrilled with the idea of another nephew or niece. I can see it on your face.”
He dropped his arm over her shoulder as they began descending the dozens of steps leading from the street up to the distinguished brick house that sat high on a hill. “It keeps Meredith from looking too closely in my direction on that score,” he allowed. “And don’t remind me again that I’m not getting any younger. My ego still hasn’t recovered from the first time.”
“Please. Your ego is steel-plated.”
He chuckled. It was better than letting on that she was the only one who had ever left real dents in it.
She skipped down several more steps, her hair bouncing like springs around her shoulders. He could understand his nephew’s appreciation for her hair. It was even curlier than his stepmother’s was, though nowhere near as long. Meredith’s wildly curling hair reached almost to her waist. Nell’s—on these rare occasions when it was actually down like now—bounced around just below her shoulders.
His dad had
