Page 160 of Cold As Ice

“Looks, Mommy. He gots me a new friend for Mr. Hopsy.” Imogen clutched the brand-new stuffed rabbit to her chest as she held Austin’s hand, and my heart fluttered.

He wasn’t playing fair.

Yet, I didn’t have the energy to send him away. Because the truth was, it meant a lot that he was here. That he cared enough to stop by and check in on us.

“I guess you’d better come in,” I said. “I still need to clean up a little and disinfect the bathroom.”

“I can stay with Austins, Mommy.” She tugged him toward the couch.

“Are you sure? She’s been pretty sick.”

“Yeah. We’ve got this.” He gave me a reassuring smile. “Unless you want me to be on clean up duty?”

“No, you handle the princess. I’ll be as quick as I can.”

I watched with my heart in my throat as they sat down on the couch and Imogen grabbed the blanket, tucking herself into his side. Austin’s arm hovered awkwardly along the back of the couch, but he didn’t move her away. He just sat there, letting her use him as her own personal snuggle toy.

This time when I swallowed the lump in my throat, it didn’t stop the silent tears from rolling down my cheek.

* * *

“Sorry, I took so lo—”

“Shh, she just dozed off.” Austin said, tucking the blanket over Imogen’s sleeping form.

“I am so sorry about all of this.”

“Madison, relax. It’s fine. I came to lend a hand.”

“But you didn’t have—”

“Stop. I want to be here.” He gave me a meaningful look. “I want to help. So just nod and say, ‘Okay, Austin.’”

“Okay, Austin.”

“There, that wasn’t difficult, was it? Now what do you want to do with the sleeping princess?”

“She’ll probably be out for the night, so I’ll just take her to bed.”

“I can do it.”

I wasn’t sure my heart—or my ovaries—would withstand watching him carry her to bed.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve got her.” I rounded the couch and gently eased her into my arms. She wriggled a little but didn’t wake. “I’ll be back.”

Imogen was out for the count when I tucked her into her freshly made bed. Her room smelled of vanilla and cherries now and I hoped it stayed that way.

“Good night my princess.” I gently stuffed Mr. Hopsy and her new bunny in under her arm and kissed her forehead before returning to Austin.

“She okay?”

“Yeah, whatever it was seems to have passed. Kid-puke is no joke.” Austin grimaced, and I chuckled. “Sexy, I know.”

“Come here.” He reached for me, and I took his hands, letting him pull me down half onto his lap. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

“I know you said we needed to take it slow but how slow are we talking?”

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