Page 66 of The Workaholic Down the Hall

Aubrey slapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, my god, you're right. I can't believe I didn't think of that. I just saw the pink and you know I love pink, even though I can't wear it because…” She touched her auburn hair. “And the lace and I…” Her shoulders drooped. “I'm a terrible mother.”

“You're an amazing mother.” I pulled her into my arms and gave her a squeeze. “Sophie's too young to know what she's wearing.”

Aubrey pulled out of my arms, still looking worried. “But what if she's not? I've been reading this book about the baby brain and it's amazing how quickly babies learn and how much they take in without us even realizing it. I could be shaping her fashion sense and her expectations without even realizing it.”

I bit my lip not to laugh, I didn't think it would be appreciated. “I think she'll be fine, but if you're really worried about it, let's pick out some gender-neutral clothes.”

She shook her head, her shoulders slumped. “She already has a ton of clothes.”

“But you didn't pick those clothes. You should pick out a few things for her yourself.”

She gave me a small smile. “Yeah, I'd like that.”

By the time Mom came down and joined us in the kitchen, we'd picked out two more toys for Sophie and five adorable and gender-neutral outfits.

“Why don't I smell coffee?” Mom asked.

I stood and kissed her cheek. She was an absolute beast before she had her coffee in the morning. “I'll make it. You sit with Aubrey and discuss Christmas gifts for Sophie.”

Mom hopped onto the stool and placed her crutches against the counter. She moved with impressive grace for a woman in a cast. “I've already picked up a few things for Sophie, but I could use some more ideas. What does she need?”

Sophie chose that moment to let out a howl. Aubrey scooped her up and tucked her against her chest. “Feel free to search on my laptop,” she said. “I'm going to feed her.”

She hurried into the living room and I wondered if she was really okay with Mom being there, taking up space and demanding coffee. She hadn't complained, but Aubrey wouldn't. I waited while the coffee percolated and handed a mug to my mother. She was scrolling through a page on Aubrey's computer, entranced.

I left her to it and went to the living room to ask Aubrey what she wanted for breakfast, but she was fast asleep. Sophie was in her arms, also asleep and I took a moment to just watch the two of them, peaceful and so beautiful. I could already see that Sophie took after her mother, with her narrow, little nose and her huge green eyes. A wave of love washed over me, so powerful my knees buckled and I had to sit in the closest chair. I loved them so much. I just had to figure out a way to convince Aubrey of that. I needed to slide in, under her defenses. I'd make her see we belonged together, and then I'd never let her go.

I needed to figure out how to prove to her that I wanted her, only her. I took Sophie from her arms, carried the warm, cuddly bundle of sweetness upstairs, and laid her in her bassinet. Then, I returned for Aubrey. I lifted her small body in my arms, breathing in her scent of cinnamon and vanilla. A scent that was so much her that when I smelled it in a bakery or a kitchen, I always thought of Aubrey. I was probably the only guy on earth who got hard at the smell of baked goods.

I laid Aubrey gently in the bed and pulled the covers over her. I wanted to climb into bed and wrap myself around her, but I knew she wouldn't appreciate the gesture. I had to play this right. I couldn't risk losing her.

I placed a soft kiss on her forehead and went back downstairs. Mom had finished half her mug of coffee and was looking much more chipper. “What would you like for breakfast, Mom?”

She waved a hand. “Oh, I'm fine. Your sister has got me drinking smoothies, but I don't—”

A knock interrupted her. I hurried to the door, hoping the sound wouldn't wake Aubrey, and found Oscar on the porch. My first instinct was to slam the door in his face, but I'm a mature adult and I can behave with good manners and reserve when faced with a rival for the woman I love. “What do you want?” I asked.

Oscar flinched. I may have spoken a bit snappishly. He held up a thermos. “May thought your mother might like to have a smoothie, and I came by to see Aubrey and the baby.”

I pulled the thermos from his hand and blocked his entrance. “They're sleeping. Come back later.”

Oscar sighed. “Look, man. I thought we were past this. We had breakfast together, didn't that mean anything to you?”

“No. We aren't buddies. Come back later.” I'd run into Oscar when I was out with Cody and he'd offered to help me find a job in town. I'd had breakfast with the guy, could even admit he wasn't half bad, but that didn't make me feel any better about him showing up on Aubrey's doorstep.

“Aren't we?” he asked. “That's too bad. If we were friends, I could tell you I put in a good word for you at Outdoor Designs and they asked for you to get in touch with them.”

Damn it. I stepped to the side and gestured him in.

As he passed me, he patted my shoulder. “I should also probably tell you I'm seeing someone. I didn't have any romantic interest in Aubrey before, but now I'm officially off-limits.”

His words didn't do as much to comfort me as they should have. I knew how irresistible Aubrey was. I knew how she could get in your head and make you forget other women existed. “Mom's in the kitchen,” I said.

I handed the thermos back to Oscar and pointed him in the direction of the kitchen. I'd heard movement on the stairs and I wanted to intercept Aubrey.

Aubrey's hair was a tangled mess, like she'd been in bed for hours and not just five minutes, her cheeks were red, and her eyes were sleepy. “You are so beautiful,” I said. “It hurts my heart to look at you.”

She snorted and rolled her eyes, but her cheeks got even redder. “Right. Was someone at the door?”

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