“Can I come?” she asked.
“Are you sure you want to?”
“Absolutely, there is nothing more fun than shopping for baby supplies.”
He laughed. “If you say so.”
After feeding, burping, and taking turns holding Bailey, they finally said goodbye and returned to the truck. As he leaned down to lift Gillian into the seat, she smiled and placed her arm around his shoulders. Her fingers brushed the back of his neck, sending a tingling sensation coursing through him. He sucked in his breath, fighting the urge to kiss her. How was it that it felt as if no time had passed between them?
He placed her on the seat, then not ready to step away, he buckled the shoulder belt around her.
“I can do that,” she whispered.
“I know,” he said gruffly as he clicked it in place, hesitated for a second, then pulled back and shut her door. They were having a wonderful day.Don’t push things.
He folded up the chair and placed it in the back seat. She was getting to him, a lot more than he needed and definitely more than he wanted. She was a heartache waiting to happen, he reminded himself. He needed her to help him with his fight for Bailey. It would be safest to keep her solidly in the friend zone. No matter what it took.
He climbed into the front seat, trying not to notice the smell of her delicate perfume filling the cab. “I appreciate your offer to help, but can I ask why you want to help me with my problems?”
“Because no matter what happened between you and Shelley, you don’t deserve to have your baby taken from you.”
He wasn’t so sure.
“Especially when you love her as much as you do. Anyone with eyes can see that.”
He smiled, his heart filling with warmth as he thought about the way Bailey looked at him when he fed her. “I really do. I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“I can tell.” She reached across the console and patted his arm. “You’re going to make a great dad.”
“Thank you. I hope you’re right.”
“You have a good place for her to live. Don’t you?”
“Dad said we can stay with him until I get my business up and running.”
“See, there you go. You’re living with a pastor. How much better could it get than that?”
“If my mother was still around, that might help. I’m afraid not having a mom figure in the picture could cause problems.”
“Has she ever reached out to you?”
“My mom?” He shook his head.
“I thought maybe when you turned eighteen…”
“Nope. I don’t know what I’d say to her anyway. The night I was born, she walked away and never looked back. For all I know, she’s dead.”
They were silent for a moment as he drove toward the nearest Walmart. He parked the truck and looked at her. “So, how much do you know about baby stuff?”
She grinned. “I am an expert.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Dare I ask why?”
She stared at him for a long moment. “Last year I was pregnant, but I lost the baby.”
His heart plummeted. “I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you. It’s been hard, but when I held Bailey, it seemed to ease the constant ache in my heart. So thank you for that.”