Page 65 of Daddy's Little Mama Bear

“Let me take care of you two,” Mac said and then he lifted up the containers of food. “I brought food over but I can make soup if you two would rather have that.”

Mac tried to take a step in, but Janie held her hand up. He didn’t want to come in here.

“I don’t think that’s a wise idea,” Janie said. “She’s sick and I may end up getting it. You don’t want to get sick. Especially since we don’t know what it is.”

He shook his head. “I don’t care if I get sick or not. Let me take care of both of you.”

“I really don’t want you to get sick. We’re fine.”

Mac raised his eyebrow. “Let me help you. I have today off of work, so no one will need me,” he said. “I know you don’t like to let people help because you think you’re bothering them. But I want to help you. If I leave, I’m going to worry all day if you two are okay or need something. May even text you a lot to check in on you.”

Janie closed her eyes. She felt his warm hand cup her cheek.

“Let me take care of you two,” he gently said. “Take away your worries. Be your Daddy right now and help out with princess.”

It sounded so appealing right now. Her stomach grumbled and she felt her cheeks getting red. Janie opened her eyes and looked at where he was holding the containers with one hand.

“What did you bring?” she whispered.

Mac cracked a smile. “Chicken with some different spices on it and pasta. I have some plain chicken in case you didn’t want Ellie to have the spices I put on it.”

She sighed and nodded her head. Taking a step back, she opened the door more and Mac walked into the house. She closed the door behind him and Eleanor started to scream again. Janie bounced her, trying to get her to calm down.

“You’re okay,” she whispered. “Everything is going to be okay.”

“Have you eaten today?” Mac asked. “Do you need to work?”

Tears pricked in her eyes. She hadn’t had time to eat yet. Her stomach had been grumbling at her all morning but any time she walked away from Eleanor, she would cry.

“I haven’t yet. I don’t think I’m going to be able to work right now either,” Janie gave him a weak smile. “Eleanor doesn’t want to be put down and I’ve got to keep moving for her. I’ll just have to double tomorrow or triple the following day. I don’t even know if Eleanor will get better by tomorrow or in two days.”

She was starting to stress out about things. She always told her authors she wanted two weeks of extra time in case something came up. This was one of those times, but she didn’t like to use that time. She wanted to have their manuscript back on time like she said. None of them were mad at her and understood since they had children of their own, but it didn’t make Janie feel any better.

“Well, first things first. I’m going to dish these out and we’re all going to eat,” Mac said as he placed the food on the kitchen counter. He opened several cupboards until he found the plates. “Plain or spiced chicken for princess?”

“Plain.”

“Then I’m going to hold the princess while you go work for an hour. After that hour, you’re going to go take a nap. I’ll make chicken noodle soup while you’re working and we’ll have that for dinner.”

Janie shook her head. “She won’t want to go into your arms and I’m not taking a nap. I’m fine.”

Mac stopped putting food out on the plates and looked at her. “We’ll see about that. Kids love me and I know how to calm them down. You are taking a nap.”

“I am not!” Eleanor gripped her shirt and made a distressing noise. “I’m sorry, baby. You’re okay. Everything is okay.”

“You are and that’s the end of the discussion. You’ve got bags under your eyes and you need your sleep. I’ll look after Eleanor while you work and then take a nap.”

Janie glared at him as he passed her a plate full of food. It looked absolutely delicious and she couldn’t wait to eat it.Mac’s mac and cheese the night they went over to his house was absolutely amazing. She couldn’t wait to taste more of what he made.

“You don’t have to stay. I probably won’t work today,” Janie said. “I appreciate you bringing food, but that should be all.”

Mac shook his head and his lip twitched.

“Do you think this is funny?” Janie asked.

He shook his head again.

“Then why are you smiling?”

---