Page 135 of Sloane

I knew Jeff would understand, but I felt bad cancelling last minute. Just because he was a good guy didn’t mean I should take advantage and have bad manners.

Peanut was asleep in her car seat and didn’t wake up when I put her in the baby sling attached to my front. I walked in the house, put the diaper bag on the steps, and went into the PT room off the kitchen to find Jeff and the guys yucking it up about something.

“Aren’t you boys supposed to be working,” I mock chastised with my hand on my hip. “I can’t leave you alone for even one afternoon.”

“We just finished, boss,” Jeff said as he snapped his leather doctor’s bag closed, then turned to Crash. “Make sure you get that x-ray scheduled for next week.”

I made a mental note to ask both Jeff and Crash about that.

Crash mock saluted. “Will do, Doc.”

“Captain Davidson, it was a pleasure meeting you. I’m looking forward to working with you some more.”

“Likewise, Doc. I’ll see you next week.”

Jeff came to where I stood in the doorway, and softly soothed Millie’s hair.

“How’s she doing?”

“She’s a little grumpy. She got a few shots today.”

“Aw, sweet baby girl,” he murmured at the same time Sloane said, “She did?”

“Just two,” I told Sloane. I could tell by his downturned mouth that he didn’t like finding out after the fact.

I hadn’t been trying to keep it from him when we’d spoken earlier. I’d scheduled the appointment last week before he was even back in the picture and hadn’t thought about it until the reminder on my phone went off while I was driving to the hospital.

It wasn’t like I was going to give him a say in the matter, so I don’t know why I felt guilty about not telling him. I guess it was the people-pleaser in me.

“Walk me out?” Jeff asked, and I nodded.

He put his bag in the back seat of the Porsche and closed the door with a smile.

“Are we still on for tonight?”

“I’m so sorry. It completely slipped my mind to ask my mom to watch her. And now she’s fussy, so I’d feel like a jerk asking last minute and leaving my mom with a cranky baby.”

“Bring her along. It’s a family event.”

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Of course not.”

I glanced up at Jeff’s handsome face. He was such a kind man, and I knew he’d be great husband and father material. I needed to figure out a way to convince my heart that Jeff was who we should be interested in, and not that Marine in the house who’d stomped all over it.

“Okay. What time should I meet you there?”

“You sure you can’t just go now? We could grab a bite to eat first.”

“It’s easier if I drive. Her car seat’s already in my backseat.”

“They’re not that hard to move, you know.”

“I know. But I need to feed her first, then make sure the guys have dinner, then get ready.”

He dropped a kiss on my forehead. “How about we say six-thirty?”

“Six-thirty works.”

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