Page 66 of Wanting a Family Man

“Youjustasked me if we’re having sex. Where do you think babies come from? Sophie thinks it could be a new tooth.” Logan nodded at Storm. “She’s at home with Biyen, so I’ll go help with mowing and laundry and all the rest. Sister Sunshine is dry as of ten minutes ago, ate an hour ago, and definitely needs a nap but really doesn’t want one. Good luck.” He kissed Storm’s hair. “See ya later, gitty-gator.”

The minute the door closed behind him, Storm picked up her head to look for Logan and began to cry with such heartbreak, he might as well have abandoned her alone on the moon.

“I’m not going to tell him you miss him that bad.” Trystan bit back his chuckle. “It’ll go to his head. Let’s see what’s out here.” He carried her to the deck where he began pointing to boats and birds and whatever else might distract her.

“Oh.” Cloe picked up something from a lounger. “Is this the one—?”

“Yeah.” He nodded at the green pacifier. “Wash it before she sees it.”

Cloe brought it out a moment later. Storm opened her mouth to accept it, then pulled it out to look at it, before she stuck it back in. She dropped her head against Trystan’s shoulder.

“Better?” Cloe stood close enough to gently rub Storm’s leg and foot.

The baby’s hand batted out. She patted Cloe’s cheek, then rubbed Cloe’s short hair. As they stood like that, close and quiet, she began to relax. Her head weighed heavier against Trystan’s chest.

Cloe continued petting Storm’s foot and watching her with such naked love, it hurt to see it, but Trystan couldn’t look away.

It was a peek at the way Cloe would look at her own child, he realized, and something in him fishtailed even as a vision unspooled like a film in his mind’s eye. He could see Cloe so clearly, cradling her own infant, touching curly hair ever-so-softly, smiling with pride and patience and infinite acceptance.

Children were such a far-off ambition for him, his only serious thoughts around them were to take precautions against making any. He wore condoms. Always. And he encouraged his partners to use whatever additional protection they preferred.

But he had the sudden thought that if he and Cloe accidentally became pregnant… It wouldn’t be a calamity. It might be a chance at something, maybe even something incredible.

Her gaze lifted and she realized he was watching her.

His heart rolled over in his chest. The moment felt unguarded on both sides.

Her lashes flared as she looked into his soul and saw things he couldn’t name. He knew they were reflections of her own inner facets—all those pure, open, aching things that glinted and drifted, looking for a place to land.

Storm was a warm, limp weight against him, and Cloe stood close and still. She was so beautiful, his breath felt too big for his lungs. He cupped the side of her neck and her eyes became a labyrinth he never wanted to escape.

Something caught his attention, though. A faint noise, a movement behind the screen that covered the sliding door into the house.

He realized Glenda was in the kitchen and dropped his hand.

Cloe turned, stepping away from him as she did but looking up at him with wariness.

Trystan gave her a half nod.It’s fine. But he had to wonder what Glenda might have seen.Nothing. He had touched Cloe’s neck. So what?

His conscience pinched all the same.

Storm was heavy as a sack of sugar so Trystan seized the excuse to put her down. He gently slid the door open.

Glenda turned from putting something in the refrigerator.

“Sleeping?” she whispered with a smile.

Trystan nodded, but his heart lurched, feeling as though it beat outside his chest. Only two people had ever seen straight through him: his mother and his stepmother.

She knows. That’s all he could think as he climbed the stairs.

“You must be Cloe. I’m Glenda,” he heard her say.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Trystan never worried about anything Glenda might say or do. She pried, unabashedly, but with care and gentleness and only with the best intentions.

Nevertheless, his desire to protect Cloe redlined. Why? They hadn’t been kissing. Just an almost kiss.

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