Page 24 of Callahan

“Do you need any help?”

Help. I wasn’t even sure what that would look like.

“I’ve got it. Make yourself at home. The TV remote is right there.” I pointed to where it sat on a side table at the other end of the couch. “And if you can find it, feel free to eat it or drink it.”

****

Adam

Lainey was such an amazing mom.

And damn, she was hot.

I wasn’t planning on making myself at home, that could get too comfortable, too fast. But traveling on a bus overnight caught up to me.

I could just rest my eyes until she came back out…

Chapter Twelve

Lainey

I removed the blanket from my shoulder and looked in the mirror to see if any spit-up had hit my dress.

There wasn’t any that I could see but realized how unattractive being in the middle of a conversation with Adam and suddenly smelling baby vomit would be. So, I changed into a pair of black yoga pants and a pink t-shirt and slipped on a pair of pink fuzzy socks.

I made quick work of changing Conor’s diaper and putting him in his footie pajamas. I was glad he had conked out, so I didn’t feel as guilty about skipping his bath tonight. I would put him in his baby tub in the sink in the morning. I didn’t want to pass up the chance to spend time with Adam. Even if nothing was going to come of it.

I appeared in the living room, unable to keep the smile from my face at the thought of hanging out with the handsome Marine some more.

Only to find him fast asleep on my couch.

His black Salomon boots were lined up neatly next to the coffee table, and he had his arm behind the throw pillow he’d propped under his head.

His six-foot-three frame was too big for the sofa; he couldn’t possibly be comfortable. But then I remembered what he’d said about sleeping in worse places.

I retrieved a blanket from the linen closet in the hall next to the only bathroom in the two-bedroom apartment. Before I laid it across his body, I couldn’t help but pause to stare at his handsome face. His high cheekbones would make any woman envious, but the cleft chin on his masculine, square jaw balanced it out. As I stared at him while he lay with his eyes closed, Irealized how long his eyelashes were. I think I hadn’t noticed them before because I’d been so captivated with how blue his eyes were.

Being this close, I could also make out the dusting of light freckles across his nose. His cropped dark-blond hair was thick, and I had to fight the urge to brush his short bangs along his forehead with my fingertips.

I gently covered him and softly whispered, “Goodnight, handsome.”

He turned over on the couch and pulled the blanket tighter around him, murmuring, “Goodnight, beautiful.”

Was he talking in his sleep, or did he really think I was beautiful?

Yeah, like I was going to get any rest tonight, knowing he was in the next room after he said that.

I could wake him and offer half of my bed. Strictly platonic, of course. It wouldn’t be my fault if I snuggled next to him in my sleep. Or touched his…

Oh my god, Lainey! Get a grip, you harlot!

~~

I had just dozed off when the alert signaling I had a text sounded. Worried it might be Paulina calling in sick tomorrow, I picked up my phone from my nightstand and looked at the screen.

Brian: I hope I’m not waking you, but is Adam still at your house?

Me: Yeah, he’s asleep on my couch. Why?

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