When Henry approached her, I was worried she might get upset being around a stranger and zap him. Nic, the Guild Mage who had taken care of the baby last month, had told me she could create storms and direct lightning when threatened. That would be a disaster. I tensed, ready to rush in and pick her up before he could get to her, but I didn’t have to worry. When she saw Henry, her face lit up with the biggest baby smile. She sat back on her diapered butt and raised her chubby arms up, opening and closing her hands with a giggle.
“Oh, yes, ma’am. You want me to pick you up, beautiful? Your wish is my command, your highness.”
Henry swept the giggling baby up into his arms, holding her high above his head, then back down to give her a kiss on a slobbery cheek. Even though she seemed to love him at first sight, all of this was very suspicious. She was my responsibility, and already I was letting a stranger just come in on the first day and manhandle her. It was time for me to get my head out of my ass and do my job.
I stomped toward them and took the baby from his grasp, moving away from him to a safe distance. I wrapped her in my cloak to keep her warm from the plummeting temperature, then settled a serious stare on the human. Yes, he was gorgeous, and yes, I liked him more than most, but I had to get a few things straight.
Henry’s eyes went wide at my uncharacteristic behavior. He took a few steps back until the railing of the porch was at his back. When I finally spoke for the first time since he’d arrived, the gravel in my voice told him my mood. He tensed all over, and his gaze darted from mine to where my cloak hid the baby.
“What do you think you’re doing, Henry? Do you just go around manhandling infants without permission?”
He relaxed a bit, lowering his shoulders and no longer looking like he was ready to run at my question. He waved a hand in my direction and explained. “Don’t be silly, Finn. I love babies. I helped raise my siblings, so I’ve had a lot of practice. I’m sorry I didn’t ask, but she was crawling out the door with only her tee and diaper. I didn’t want the little princess to get splinters in her hands or knees from the rough boards out here.”
As much as that made sense, I still had even more suspicion now. With the way he referred to the baby, he’d given himself away as a threat. I growled low in my throat, causing Henry to gaze around for an escape again, but there was no getting away. I stalked him into the corner made by the porch rail and front of the house and confronted him head-on.
“How do you know she’s royalty? Has someone gotten to you? Who are you working for?”
Chapter 2
Henry
Geez, Finn needs to rub one out and chill.
The big handsome hunk of Druid was sexy even when he was accusing me of being some kind of enemy. I got it. He was doing a job. A job I wasn’t supposed to know about, actually, which made it even more important that I explain all this away as soon as possible. I was absolutely zero threat to the adorable baby he held under his cloak. Innately he had to know I wasn’t a threat to the princess, but his dedication to her protection was admirable. It made me like him even more. And damn if this protective streak wasn’t sexy as hell.
Not that Hell was sexy. It wasn’t. Not at all.
You’re rambling in your head again, Henry. Get a grip.
Speaking of grip. I’d love to get a grip of Finn’s ass as he pounded…Focus, you idiot!
Finn was burning holes into my head with his menacing glare the longer it took me to answer. I had to get my shit together and do what I did best. Talk fast.
Taking a chance, I reached up to put a carefully placed hand on his chest. Damn, he was tall. I had to tilt my head back to catch his gaze. If he could look in my eyes, he might see my sincerity. In a carefully even tone, I started to spin a believable story that wasn’t altogether false.
“Finn, I can tell you’re upset, but I have no idea what you’re talking about. I treat all little kids like royalty. It’s a habit from taking care of my brothers and sisters. They were all princes and princesses. It’s just what I say as a habit. If you don’t want me to, just say the word.”
I willed him to believe me. Every word was absolutely true, sort of. I had helped raise my younger siblings. I had loved every minute. Well, except for diapers, those were not fun. And think of the devil. I sniffed between us.
“Whew, uh, I would be more than happy to talk about this, but I need to get all this unloaded before the weather gets worse, and you need to unload a little girl’s diaper.”
Heaven love him; Finn looked like I had shot him.
“You do know how to change a diaper, don’t you?”
He pulled his cloak aside and picked the baby up enough to get a whiff of what she was packing. His gag reflex hit almost immediately. I grabbed the squirmy bundle from his arms when his face turned an unattractive shade of green. Against his very red full beard, it was not a good look. I could tell he was definitely about to hurl, just from the smell. Catching another whiff, I surmised. “Smells like she’s trying food now instead of just formula.
