Page 13 of My Demon Manny

"I'll let you go then. Thanks for humoring me."

"Have a good day, Archer."

"You too."

As the call ended, I stuck my phone in my back pocket before walking over to the kitchen where I had a bottle ready and waiting. Using just a pinch of magic to heat it to the optimal temperature, I held the bottle out to Gunner, keeping hold as he clamped his little hands around the top and started drinking. Once he had a good grip, I slowly let go, but I still kept an eye on it.

I slowly paced around the room as Gunner drank, mentally cataloging all the things I needed to take care of. The sheets in his crib, both here and in the nursery, could use a washing, and it probably wouldn't hurt to gather up some of these toys and clean them too. While I was at it, I might as well fetch the pacifiers from under the couch.

Since Archer could use the baby monitor to sneak a glance at Gunner at any moment—he'd installed an app on his phone that allowed him to access the feed remotely—I couldn't use my powers in any obvious way.

This was the longest I'd gone without shifting into my true form, and I was starting to miss it a little. Not enough to shift and risk getting caught, but enough to be debating the merits of shifting in the privacy of my room once Archer went to sleep at night.

Archer

Even though I left the office at 5 o'clock on the dot, something I'd never done before Gunner came along, it still felt like the longest work day of my entire career.

By the time I arrived at home, I was almost desperate for a cuddle with my baby. Grabbing my briefcase, I made my way into the house through the garage door, my eyes searching for Gunner as I headed straight for the living room.

"He—"

"Shhh!" Lux cut me off, then pointed at the crib, where Gunner was fast asleep, his hands curled into tiny fists and his eyelids fluttering softly.

Grabbing my wrist, Lux tugged me out of the room, and I followed after him, too stunned to react. His hand was warm, his grip firm around my wrist, and I swallowed hard, ignoring the weird, fluttery feeling in my stomach. It was probably because I hadn't had a proper lunch today. Yeah, what else could it be?

"You should go clean up and change while Gunner sleeps so you can hold him when he's up," Lux said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

Today, he was dressed in a soft blue T-shirt with a unicorn on the front, the same one he'd worn for his interview, and I found myself smiling as I looked at him.

"Archer?"

"Uh, yeah. I'll go grab a quick shower." Flustered, I made my escape to my bedroom, closing the door and then leaning my forehead against it.

What the fuck are you doing, Archer?

Lux was my nanny. Mymalenanny. And I was his boss. I needed to stop having weird thoughts about him.

Lux was amazing with Gunner and I couldn't risk losing him by making him uncomfortable around me. Whatever feelings I was having, I needed to deal with them on my own.

Mind made up, I grabbed some pajama pants and a T-shirt, and headed into the shower.

As I washed up, I focused on the tiles in front of me and consciously did not think about a certain blond-haired beauty.

When I was done, I dried myself, got dressed, and headed into the living room, mind firmly focused on my son.

"You're just in time. Gunner's awake and roaring for some food," Lux said with a grin, holding out a bottle of milk.

Taking it from him, I walked over to Gunner's crib, placing the bottle on the edge as I picked him up, cradling him into my arms and pressing a kiss to the top of his head before offering him the bottle.

Carrying him to the armchair, I took a seat and sighed softly.

For most of my life, I'd been focused on academics. On getting good grades to get a good job so I could give my mom the type of home she deserved, to do something to thank her for all she did for me.

So I'd studied hard, and then once I started my company with Jerry and my other friend Kat, I'd worked hard. I still couldn't save her when the cancer came for her, but at least I'd be able to give Gunner a good life.

I wasn't the type of person who took vacations. I was the type of person who worked on weekends when his friends kept telling him to come hang out with them.

But for the first time in my life, work wasn't the most important thing to me. This little guy in my arms was.

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