Page 29 of The Complication
For several seconds, I could only stare at Declan like he’d lost his mind. Like it?
“I fucking love it.”
He frowned at me. “Is it wise to curse so much in front of your daughter? At what age do babies say actual words?”
Laughing as though my last working brain cell had left on holiday, I jumped from the rocking chair and threw myself at Declan, wrapping my arms around his neck. His entire body stiffened, and his hands came to rest on my hips. I pulled him in close and claimed his mouth in a hard kiss, not caring that until this moment, all the affection I’d ever shown him had been limited to sex. Whatever. Words wouldn’t be enough to cover my feelings right now.
After a brief pause, Declan’s lips softened and parted, kissing me gently, but I broke it off before we could get too wrapped up in that tenderness. I knew the boundaries between us. At least, I had prior to all this insanity. What we had was simply sex. Nothing more.
And yet, he’d come to my rescue twice now. Not just with his way of sweeping in and taking control of the chaos. Or even how he had an amazing way of splashing money about to make the problems go away. I was more impressed with all the times he’d held me and chased away the pain and panic.
“Thank you. It’s perfect,” I whispered as I stepped out of his embrace.
Declan released me and glanced at Joy. “There’s an elephant on that bag you carry. And she has a stuffed elephant. I told Patricia to go with that theme.”
“Great idea. Molly loved elephants. She would have approved of this room for Joy.”
Declan grunted, and our awkward conversation ground to a halt. I wandered the room, looking over the toys and decorations. There were even elephants on the bedsheets. I’d made a complete circuit without coming up with something new to say. It wasn’t as if Declan were a big talker. It was usually me rambling about a bunch of nonsense that he didn’t care about. Yet things felt different now, and I didn’t think it had anything to do with the baby in the center of the room playing “Pop Goes the Weasel” on an endless loop.
Thankfully, Declan’s assistant rescued us.
Franks stuck his head into the room. “I apologize for the intrusion, sir, but Chef Donovan was wondering about lunch. Should he serve it at the regular time of noon, or should we make new accommodations for Miss Cain?”
Declan said nothing but stared at me.
“Lunch! Yes, that’s a brilliant idea. What time is it now?”
“Twenty until twelve now, sir,” Franks replied.
“Wow! Time flies when you’re shopping. Yes, Joy needs to eat, but first she could use a fresh diaper. Joy and I will be down shortly,” I announced in a very loud rush before darting to lift the child out of her new chair.
“Excellent. Shall we do the same as breakfast—two purees and half a bottle?”
“That would be perfect.”
Instead of leaving, Franks entered the room and motioned toward the changing table and dresser. “I didn’t have the chance to put away her clothes, but I set up the changing station for you.” With a bit of a flourish, Franks pulled open a drawer neatly filled with diapers. He then took a step to the side and opened another box that I thought was purely decorative. Inside there was a stunning assortment of lotions, wipes, and even ointments to treat diaper rash. Fucking everything I could need for changing Joy’s diaper, all within easy reach. No more frantic hunting and scrambling to find things.
“Holy crap, that’s amazing!” I exhaled as I laid Joy on the padded table.
“Wonderful job, Franks,” Declan murmured.
The assistant beamed at his employer, looking as if he were about to burst. I bit my tongue to keep from laughing, only because I knew that feeling all too well. Declan wasn’t effusive in his praise, but there was something about getting a taciturn guy to say you did a good job that made you want to preen.
“Thank you, sir. I will go alert Chef Donovan to your lunch plans.”
“I would be surprised if she eats all of her lunch,” I mumbled as I worked on getting Joy’s shorts off.
“You don’t think she’ll be hungry.”
I shrugged one shoulder as I pulled out a fresh diaper. “She is, but it’s been a busy day. I suspect she’s going to fall asleep while eating.”
“Oh.” There was a long pause where Declan didn’t speak, and I fought a wiggling baby who didn’t want to let me get at her diaper. “Parker?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you…teach me how to change a diaper?”
Joy’s wiggles were forgotten for a moment as my head jerked to stare at my companion. “What? Really?”
