Page 37 of Wishes on Wildflowers
She was curious about a man who would take a total stranger’s stinky child and carry him, for all the world like he intended to change the diaper at the other end. No way would that happen, though. Nathan had only been angling for a look at her... for a look at her apartment. She’d point him back to the door as soon as he set Buddy down, and he’d leave.
She didn’t want to be curious about him. She didn’t want to give him a second thought. She really, really hated him following her up the stairs.
Jasmine unlocked the apartment door and swept inside, holding the door for the others. Mandy ran straight across to the living room, climbed up into Jasmine’s papasan chair, and flopped back with a wide grin. Great.
Once inside, Nathan turned to Linnea. “Where’s the bathroom and, uh, a clean diaper?”
Linnea reached inside her handbag and pulled out a disposable. “Really, it’s fine. I can take him from here. I’m very grateful for your help, though, especially getting him calmed down.”
He plucked the diaper from her hand, glanced around,and strode toward the bathroom.
Jasmine leaned against the door, frowning. Seriously? He was going to change Buddy?
Linnea met her gaze. “I didn’t ask him to do that.”
“No, you didn’t. And I have no idea why he is.” Or how he could stand the rank odor. “I’ll put on some tea.” The least she could do for Nathan, really, before sending him on his way.
Tea. Didn’t that solve every problem? If not solve, at least soften?
Water gushed into the kettle, swirling in the interior much like Jasmine’s thoughts spiraled in her head. There was more to the adult Nathan than met the eye, and what met the eye was mighty fine indeed.
When and how had he become a diaper-changing toddler whisperer? What had happened in his L.A. years that he hadn’t told her?
Plenty. Because she hadn’t wanted to know. She still didn’t.
Did she?
“Yo, little guy. You reek.”Too bad Nathan didn’t have a spare hand to clamp his nose shut. He held his breath and finished up as quickly as he could while Buddy sucked his thumb and stared up at him.
With the child wiped and recovered, the toilet flushed, and the soiled disposable folded, sealed, and in the trash, Nathan washed his hands and opened the door. Why had he volunteered? Just the look on Jasmine’s face that a womanwould now take over, because he couldn’t possibly know what to do next? He should have let her think that, because no doubt her brain was spinning now.
Buddy scrambled into the living room and threw himself at the papasan, little legs churning as he tried to climb in. Mandy gave him a shove, and he sprawled on the floor, took a deep breath, and began to scream.
Nathan shook his head and scooped the little boy up again before considering the round wicker chair. Jasmine still had that thing?
Memories. She’d curled up on his lap in that very chair so many times while they kissed and pretended to watch a movie. She’d trusted him then... until the night he’d pushed for more and she’d resisted. She’d wanted love, marriage, and a baby carriage. He’d wantedher. No strings attached.
The shriek of a teakettle jolted him back to the present, and he whirled toward the kitchen, a quieter Buddy in his arms.
Jasmine’s back was to him as she turned off the element and lifted the kettle. The shrill whistle faded.
Those days were long gone. He’d had his chance with her and lost it. Even if he hadn’t been a horny kid, they were all wrong back then. Too young. They’d never have made it. He’d done her a favor when he left for California. He’d made plenty of mistakes before and after, but leaving her had been the right thing to do.
“Want a cup of tea? I have fireweed, nettle, or—” Jasmine peered into the cupboard “—dandelion. Bergamot.”
“No, I, uh... promised to meet Jason to shoot some hoops after my meeting with Dan. Sorry.” Okay, he wasn’t really sorry. She took her foraging a bit far. He’d wager a guess she didn’t have any black or green tea on hand, much less coffee.Besides — he glanced at his watch — it was true. His brother was likely waiting impatiently for him to call by now.
He disentangled Buddy and set the child down, but the little guy’s arms tightened around his knee. It had been cute half an hour ago, but he couldn’t very well play one-on-one with this sort of handicap.
Nathan pulled out his phone. Sure enough, there’d been a message from Jason a bit ago. He texted back.Meet you in ten?
A single letter constituted the return text.K.
“I didn’t think you really knew Jason at all.” Jasmine eyed him across the peninsula from the kitchen.
“I don’t. But he’s still my half-brother, and he didn’t ask for his life to be this way. I mean, the divorce of his parents, the death of his mother, and now he’s back with Pops who’s dying of a liver disease. No wonder he gets in trouble.” He met her gaze. “Reminds me a bit of myself at that age. Maybe I can give him some grounding.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Before you decide to leave Bridgeview in your rearview mirror again?”
