get past that grumpy, first-waking-up stage, you’re actually a very happy kid.”
Claire handed him the clean diaper. “It’s taking less and less time for her to respond to you.”
He slid the diaper beneath her and pulled the sides together.
Leaning over his shoulder, Claire said, “You should wipe her bottom with one of these cloths,” she offered him a container of baby wipes and he took one. “As you clean her, check to make sure her bottom’s not red.”
“What do I do if it’s red?”
She showed him some creams and ointments in the diaper bag and explained about diaper rash. They pronounced her bottom fine and she took the used wipe from him, tossed it in the trash and turned his attention back to the diaper.
“Attach the strips tighter this time. That prevents accidents, but it’s also more comfortable for her not to have her diaper sliding around every time she moves.”
He pulled the tabs tighter. “Got it.”
Finished, he snapped her sleeper and lifted her from the bed. “Playtime?”
Claire nodded and headed for the door. “First, though, we’ll order the changing table.” She paused and smiled at him. His heart did the weird thing again, part squeeze, part roll. He loved it when she smiled. But he also knew they were bad for each other and she hadn’t meant anything by the smile, except her intention to get along with him while she taught him.
“And a few toys. Things that require a little more of her attention than the bear and the rattles. Things that can actually keep her busy or give you something to do while you play with her.”
“Okay.”
In only a few minutes on the internet they’d found and ordered the changing table and some interesting toys.
“I like the cone,” he said, referring to the toy with the multicolored rings that fit on a cone. “It’s simple, but I can see how it will keep her busy.”
“And showing her how to play with the rings will give you something to do with her.”
Holding Bella, who chewed on her rattle, Matt rose from his seat behind the desk. He didn’t get two steps away before his phone rang.
He stopped and Claire stepped forward to get Bella. “I’ll take her.”
He reached for the phone. “Thanks. I don’t get a lot of calls here so this has to be important.”
Claire took Bella to the rug in front of the sofa, sat her on the floor and lowered herself beside her. After a few seconds of peekaboo, she crawled to the left of the sofa, hiding from the baby, only to pop out every few seconds and say, “Boo.”
There was a voice on the other end of the line, “Mr. Patterson? Are you there?”
Realizing he’d been so preoccupied with Claire that he hadn’t even said hello, Matt responded, “Um, sorry. I’m here.”
“It’s Rafe from Hansen’s Department Store. The baby carrier you ordered doesn’t come in that shade of pink. We can order one, but we already have it in blue or green.”
“I want the pink,” he said absently, watching Claire play with Bella. She was a natural with kids and her game reminded him of hot summer days spent at Cedric’s beach house, when he and his siblings played hide-and-seek. Though his mother had never joined in, he could see Claire joining her children. He could see her climbing sand mounds at the beach or peeking out from behind trees in the lush yard behind his house. His house. This estate.
“Also some of the toys will have to be ordered.”
He shook his head, bringing himself back to the present. “That’s fine.”
“Great. We’ll deliver what we have in stock this afternoon. And the rest we should have by Thursday.”
“Thanks.”
But when he hung up the phone, he didn’t go over to Bella. Instead, he walked to the front of the desk and sat on the edge. He knew he was supposed to be watching Claire to get the gist of how to play with Bella, but he couldn’t stop picturing her with lots of kids. Playing, but always with a mother’s eye on them.
And he suddenly realized why he couldn’t stop watching her. The picture appealed to him. Her, with kids, and a house that would be a real home. He wouldn’t be an interloper being passed off as someone’s son. He’d be Daddy.
A squeak erupted from his throat. Now, what was he doing? Trying to make up for his past with a woman he hardly knew…and wanting kids?
That was just wrong.
Bella’s giggling brought him back to the present. Claire crawled over to her and tickled her tummy. Then she scooped her up with her as she rose.
“You’re such a funny little girl.”
Bella squealed with delight.
“You love to play.”
She cuddled Bella to her and the baby nestled in. Just about to turn away before he started spinning odd fantasies again, Matt stopped himself.
Maybe he wasn’t so much envisioning himself with a family, but Claire. After their discussions today, he’d be an idiot not to realize this was a woman who longed for a family.
He frowned, watching her.
Maybe that’s what drew him? They hadn’t known each other long enough to really like each other. Yet he couldn’t deny being drawn to her. So did he want a family…or did he simply want help with Bella? Real help. Not just a nanny to care for his baby, but someone to love her in ways Matt wasn’t sure he could?
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