He swings all his items onto my kitchen counter and turns to me, smirking cockily. “Well, now I see why you were hiding behind the door. I have to say though,” he says as he stalks toward me, his dark eyes ablaze, sending goosebumps down my spine and tingles down there. “This color looks mighty fine on you, Red.” He traces the back of his hand down my shoulder and my skin warms under his touch.
Damn him and the effect he has on me.
I tighten my robe and swallow hard as I step back. "Why didn't you call to say you were coming? I would've gotten dressed."
…put makeup on and done my hair.
"I called and texted you I was on my way."
"But I didn’t answer you back. What if I wasn't home?"
He shrugs. "You said you would be hanging out at the house today since it's raining, so I figured I'd give it a go."
"Right." I have no life. I move to the kitchen to check out all the things he bought, to change the subject of my pathetic social life. "Oh, well, what do you have here?"
"I have diapers, some toys, wipes, clothes," he tells me as he opens up the bags. I laugh softly.
"You really have gone all out." I pull out a large yellow dump trunk that Matty is going to go nuts over. "Thank you."
"I figured I had a lot to make up for."
"You don't have to make up for anything. You being around is enough." I bite my lip, not sure what to say and my emotions getting the best of me. "You make Matty smile. It's more than I could ask for."
"I know, but I figured you'd need diapers and wipes. For the toys, I won't lie, they’re more for me. You see I know this really talented designer and when it's time…I hope to have a whole set up at my place where he can hang out."
"Oh," I whisper. It's not something I had thought about yet. The split family. Not having Matty sleeping under my roof every night.
"But not till you're both ready of course, or honestly I think I'm ready for it." His thumb brushes my cheek. "I can see in your eyes the whole idea is overwhelming and scary for you."
I nod. "A little. I've never spent the full night away from him. It's a change I keep forgetting about in this whole co-parenting thing."
“We will get there. It's not something we need to worry about at this moment."
"You’re right, and thank you for all this.” I smile gratefully and pull back from him. My eyes gravitate towards all the items he bought. "He’s going to love everything here. Though, I do have some bad news,” I murmur looking at him with a playful frown, eyeing the big purple box of size two Luvs diapers.
“What?”
“The diapers he might not dig so much.”
“What? Why?" He frowns. "I saw you using that brand of diapers yesterday to change him.”
“It’s not that. They just might be a little snug on the big guy.”
“Huh?”
“They're too small. He’s in fives now."
"Shit. I guess I should've asked. I got twos since he's two."
"Diapers go by weight, but good effort,” I tease him and knock him playfully in the shoulder.
“Oh. Well, they should tell you that on the box.” He frowns and there’s something in the way he pouts that’s so cute.
“They do.” I laugh harder and point to the corner of the box under the number that says the weight.
“Well, they had newborns, so I figured two would be the right size.”
“Hey, don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s the thought and it's an easy fix. We can exchange them out later. Thank you.” I place my hands on his shoulder and reach up to kiss his prickly cheek. My lips tingle in response and I'm tempted to let them linger, especially as he grabs my hips in response.
His chocolate eyes darken hungrily, igniting a fire throughout my whole body.
“You’re welcome.” His hands slip down my waist and his fingers linger over the curve of my ass as they fall. “Now where is the big guy?"
"He's down for a nap. He should be getting up soon. While you wait can I get you a drink?" I move around to the fridge and fling open the door. I swear I can feel his eyes boring into me with as much intensity as a moment ago. "I don't have beer, but I do have wine if you are interested."
"Actually, I don't drink."
"Really? Like at all?" My head pops up to look at him. He scratches the back of his neck as he shakes his head. "Oh. Is that why you didn't follow us into the bar that night?"
"It was part of it," he says flatly. "It's a long story."
I nod. "Got it. Okay, well I do have water, soda, and best of all, apple juice." I yank out one of Matty's juice boxes and display it to him like a model on the Price is Right. "It comes in a nifty little box and its own bendy straw."
"High class around here,” he says and I'm happy when I get a smile. "But water will be fine."
I place the apple juice back and grab a water bottle.
"Would it be too much to ask for you not to drink when I'm around?" he asks as I hand him his water. A dark, yet conflicted look passes through his eyes, reminding me of the one I saw outside the bar. “The smell of alcohol makes me sick.”
“Sure, no problem at all.”
"Thank you."
"You’re
