Page 15 of Seeking Salvation

“Sebby says it’s good to show people you loves them.”

Maya looked at the little girl with blonde pigtails and an angelic, knowing look on her face as she spoke to Titan with all the authority of an eight-year-old.

“Sebby is right, sweetie. Uncle Titan is just jealous ’cos nobody loves him.”

“I loves you, Uncle Ti.”

“Aww, love you too, Fleury.”

Maya watched as Titan crouched down and accepted the hug the little girl gave him with patience and care and she knew he’d be a great father to his son. The son who chose that moment to remind everyone he was there and hungry with an ear-splitting cry.

“Sorry, buddy. Let’s get you fed and down for a nap.”

“Why don’t I show you where everything is, while Seb and Snow show themselves out?”

Ti gave Snow and the man they called Seb a look that was a clear sign he wanted them to leave.

Snow smirked. “Can’t. Bás is on his way with the others.”

Titan groaned. “Goddamn it, Snow. I said I could handle this.”

“Tough. That’s not how this team does things. If one of us is in trouble, then we’re all in trouble.”

Titan rubbed his hand over his short hair and sighed. “I’m not in trouble, but Maya is.”

“Wow, just threw me right under that bus, didn’t ya? And for the record, you have an infant son, you’re in so much trouble.”

Snow cackled. “She’s right. You’re screwed six ways from Sunday and not in a good way.”

“How about I take the kids home and you stay and talk with the team?”

Snow looked up at Seb, her features going soft. “Thanks, babe. I love you.”

“I’ll put dinner on. Is beef ragu okay?”

“God, I love you so much.”

Titan stepped in front of her and lifted Tyrique out of her arms as he continued to cry like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Let’s leave them to it, they could be a while.” His lips quirked in a smirk and she smiled in return.

Maya followed him into the kitchen, which had been completely modernised into an airy space with two roof lights letting in natural light, and pale grey walls lending a contemporary feel. Looking around, she saw pale grey shaker-style cabinets with cream marble countertops and antique brass handles. All around the space were little touches that gave her more of an insight into the man who was now filling a kettle with water while balancing Tyrique in his thick, muscled arm as if he’d been doing this all his life.

Walking to the breakfast nook where a round table sat in what was a bay window, she made herself comfortable. For the first time in weeks, she relished the feeling of not being so alone. Even if she didn’t know this man, or trust him, she instinctively knew she had been right to leave Tyrique with him.

“So, Snow is interesting.”

Ti cast her a look over his shoulder, a smirk playing on his lips. “You have no idea.”

“So, you work together?”

“Yeah.”

“And these other people? Your teammates from the Rescue Centre?”

“Uh yeah. Kind of, yeah.”

Tyrique started to fuss so she stood and took over warming the bottle, letting him soothe his son as he talked to him in a low, deep voice that made her belly squirm with a latent desire she hadn’t felt in a long time. Guilt assailed her at the thought of how attracted she was to her nephew’s father.

Focusing on the task in front of her allowed her to not think about how hot Ti looked cradling his tiny son against his wide chest. There was just something about a big strong man and a tiny baby that made her ovaries explode.

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