Page 99 of Married with Mayhem

Anni rolls her eyes. “You look like you’re expecting to get shot.”

“Nah. I’m sure you’d put the baby down before shooting me.”

She snorts with laughter. The humor is quickly replaced with worry and she keeps her voice low. “I’ll make this brief. Sabrina has been through a lot. And I’m not just talking about mob wars and our shithead father.”

“I know. She told me about what that abusive son of a bitch did to her.”

Anni looks momentarily ferocious at the mention of Sabrina’s tormentor. Then a film of tears brightens her eyes. “She’s so sweet and lovable and she gets hurt so easily. How could he treat her like that?”

My throat tightens and my blood heats up when I think about how Sabrina suffered. “I don’t know. But I approve of the cheese grater threat.”

“I’ve thought of some better threats since then.”

“Say the word if you want a sidekick. The fucker is damn lucky he’s stuck behind bars for now.”

She winces and her voice softens. “I wasn’t paying enough attention at the time. I should have caught on that somethingwas wrong with her. She got quiet, withdrawn. She didn’t fully understand the cruelty that men are capable of and it still hurts her. I’d give anything to have spared her from that. I think that’s why she stays lost in her fantasy gaming world so much.”

“She’s not lost, Anni. She’s right here. No one will ever hurt her again.”

The expression on her face is tough to read as she stares back at me. Then Jane makes a mewling noise beneath the blanket and I look away as Anni adjust her clothes and gets the baby situated on her shoulder.

She stands up and crosses the room. “You haven’t held her yet, have you?”

“Nope.”

“Now’s your chance.”

“I don’t really hold babies.”

She gives me a scowl. Nobody can scowl quite as effectively as Anni. “You have arms, don’t you?”

How can I argue with that logic?

I hold my arms out.

“You look like Frankenstein’s monster,” Anni says. “Loosen up. She won’t hurt you.”

I relax my arms and try to seem like a guy who enjoys holding babies. For all I know, they’re like dogs and can sense fear.

Anni gently transfers her tiny daughter to my arms. “Hold her on your shoulder. She still needs to burp. Support her head.” She steps back and gives me a triumphant smile. “See? It’s not so hard.”

And it isn’t. The kid doesn’t start shrieking or anything so I must be doing all right. Her tiny body scrunches up against my shoulder and in a moment she unleashes a rather adorable little burp.

“Congrats,” Anni says and smiles. “Your first babysitting job.”

Jane burps again. This one comes with a dribble of slimy white liquid that lands on my shirt.

Anni grimaces. “Sorry.” To my relief, she takes the baby back. “Spit-up comes with the territory. Feel free to raid the wipes over on the changing table.”

I take her suggestion and mop up the baby vomit but the shirt is finished for today.

“One more thing before you go,” Anni says.

I toss the wipes into a trash can. “Let’s hear it.”

“I know you got roped into this. But I see the way Brina looks at you. Monte, please just tell me if you really are serious about her.”

“Anni, I would bleed for your sister. I’ve never been more serious about anything than I am about Sabrina.”

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