Page 4 of Rock the Cradle of Love
“Sorry, Emma,” he says. “Noah, have you slept?”
“I sleep when Emma sleeps.”
“Uh huh…” Taylor knows all about how well and how long infants sleep. He’s got five younger siblings and a half dozen nieces and nephews. He’s helped his sisters out. He’s taken the night shifts so they and his brothers-in-law could sleep. There’s no calling in sick for a farmer. There’s more conversation to be had, but Noah is barely coherent. “Listen, Noah, dude. Go shower and crash. I’ll take care of Emma.”
Noah blinks again and shakes his head as if trying to wake up. He scrubs a hand across his eyes. “No…’m good. We’re supposed to play Xbox.”
“Fuck the Xbox. You need someone to take care of you for a while.” And Taylor is glad for the opportunity. Anything to spend time around Noah, if not expressly with him.
“But you—”
Taylor raises an eyebrow. “No buts. I’m your wingman. I’m your friend. I’m here for you. Shower and sleep.”
“If I know you’re here, I won’t wake up.”
“That’s the point. Sleep as long as you need to. I know how to handle babies. Been doing it since I was six. Honestly, Noah, I’m happy to help.” He really, really is. But. Taylor’s got to get over this childish crush, because he’s too much for unencumbered guys to handle. Noah’s apparently got a kid now. Not only that, but Taylor has no idea if Noah is even interested in men.
Noah makes it hard not to like him, however. Especially when he’s being some kind of hero and rescuing not one, but two damsels in distress.
“If you’re sure.”
“Noe.”
“Okay, okay, I’m going.” Noah gets to his feet with a wobble, and Taylor plucks Emma from Noah’s arms. “Hey, gorgeous, I’m Uncle Taylor. Your, uh, daddy…?” He raises his voice in question after Noah’s retreating figure.
Noah raises a hand with a thumbs up as he stumbles into the hallway and bounces off the wall. That raises more questions than it answers.
Taylor looks at Emma and Emma looks back. Well.
“Your daddy is going to get some sleep.” Taylor glances around the disaster area that is Noah’s living room, kitchen, and entry hall. It’s a large open space, broken only by the section of half-wall that delineates the kitchen from the living room. The sink sits centered in the counter on the kitchen side and bar stools sit under the extended counter on the living room side. Pillars hold up the ceiling on either end of the wall. “And we’re going to tidy up a little, all right?”
Taylor hears the shower come on. Good. A hot shower and a long, deep dreamless sleep will do Noah a world of good. Settling Emma into her carrier and placing the carrier onto the counter, Taylor tackles the kitchen first. He keeps up a steady stream of soft chatter. Emma tracks his movements around the kitchen with her big blue eyes. He tweaks her foot every now and again, earning a gummy, slobbery grin. And fuck all if his heart isn’t in danger of being lost to yet another member of the Drinkwater family.
“Fuck,” he murmurs to himself. To Emma he says, “You’re a very lucky little girl, you know. Your daddy is a special man, and he loves you so much already.” She’s still grinning and waves her fists in his direction. He fist bumps her. “If only I could figure out where his heart lies besides with you.”
Noah loves Julia though too. There’s no doubt about that, but Taylor’s never been able to figure out if it’s brotherly love or if it’s something else. But Taylor has spent enough time with Noah since Noah joined the Rotors four years ago to know that Noah and Julia aren’t and haven’t been in a relationship during that time. He doesn’t know about before. Or about last spring when Noah had gone back to Ten Rigs for Julia’s father’s funeral. The timing is suspicious. Of course, being in a relationship with a woman doesn’t preclude a man from being with another man. Taylor should know. He’s been with both.
Emma makes a raspberry and Taylor glances at her. Right. He’s supposed to be caring for Emma, not speculating about her conception. It’s probably a bad thing to take advantage of the situation Taylor now finds himself in, although it’s not like Noah’s not reaping a huge benefit from Taylor’s presence.
So Taylor’s not going to feel guilty. After all, Noah and Emma need caring for. And if Noah and Julia truly aren’t a thing, Taylor wants to know. Because, if they’re not, she’s a great beard regardless. Noah’s never hooked up in the last four years. Which means that maybe, just maybe, Noah plays for the same team Taylor does, and Taylordoesn’tmean the Rotors. If Noah is gay, then Taylor wants to find out if he’s got any sort of chance with Noah. He’ll play it cool and casual, and if it’s not gonna pan out, he’ll just have to get over Noah once and for all.
In the meantime, Taylor’s got a baby to care for and a house to finish cleaning. He feels downright housewifely and grins. “I guess you’re a member of the Rotors now, little one.” Taylor grabs the carrier and sets it on the coffee table. “You’re gonna need a hockey name, don’tcha think?”
Emma burbles in reply.
“We’re gonna clean up in here now and then get you settled in a bit more. Poor Daddy’s wore out and who can blame him? He spent a lot of time on the ice in those last few games.”
Taylor assesses the mess. Most of it is baby stuff. He lifts Emma from her carrier. “Let’s go look at your new room.”
They peek into Noah’s room as they pass. He’s sprawled facedown across his bed in nothing but a pair of briefs. The man’s got a gorgeous hockey ass, that’s for damn sure. And those thighs. Taylor swallows and sighs. He’s seen Noah in his underwear hundreds of times, but always in the locker room and in the context of pre-game or post-game changing. He’s seen Noah in less even. But this… This is intimate. Almost too intimate. Taylor closes the door and moves across the hall.
The queen size bed under the window is flanked by a pair of real wood nightstands, and a matching dresser sits on the wall opposite the end of the bed. The walls are some sort of green color, not quite forest green, not quite moss green.
“So this is going to be your space—how about Sippy?” He gazes down at her. “If Daddy’s Thirsty, you could be Sippy?”
Emma wrinkles her nose and purses her lips.
“No? Hmm, yeah, I’m not sure about it either.”
