Page 49 of Stay Baby Stay

“Goddamn.” I gesture to his wavy mane. “When’s the last time you got a haircut, man?”

“My girl won’t let me cut it any shorter,” he says, flashing Teagan a grin.

I clap shoulders with my former partner, a beast of a man. The guy’s got three inches on me, and I’m already a generous six-foot-one. He offers his bear paw to Holly.

“Glad to have you, Holly,” he says, engulfing her small hand in his.

“Thank you.” Holly’s brow knits as she glances between Jonah the Giant and his much younger wife. Teagan’s barely clinging to nineteen, and Jonah hit the big four-oh earlier this year.

Teagan catches Joey on his lap around the kitchen island and lifts him into her arms. “You going to say hi to Uncle Cal and his friend?”

Joey tilts his head back so he’s looking at me upside down.

“Unca-Caw,” he says.

I tap his nose gently. “Hey, little man.”

Joey giggles. Holly smiles at the toddler and holds out her finger.

“Hey there, buddy,” she says. Joey tries to pull her finger into his mouth. Holly chuckles. “I don’t think I taste very good.”

I’d beg to differ. I’m struck all the sudden by an image of Holly with a baby in her arms, and not just any baby. But my baby.Our baby.

For a man who gave up on that dream a long time ago, it’s hell of a head trip.

“You guys hungry?” Teagan asks. “I can make some sandwiches. We have leftover potato salad, and Jonah’s sister, Mary, brought over a plate of brownies last night.”

Holly’s eyes light up. I’m sure she could use a big helping of chocolate-flavored comfort.

“That’d be amazing,” I say, shooting Teagan a grateful smile. She responds with a wink.

“I can help,” Holly says quietly. I don’t know if it’s the warm welcome or meeting baby Joey that has her looking calmer, but most of the nervousness she walked in with seems to have left her.

“Awesome,” Teagan says. “I can always use help keeping this little guy away from the sharp objects.” She turns to Jonah. “Daddy, can you bring their bags up to the guestroom?”

Holly visibly tenses at Teagan’s casual use of the word, Daddy.

“Sure,” Jonah says, nodding to me. “Give me a hand, would ya?”

I take Holly’s bag from her, intending to leave her white kitten, but she hands the toy off to me, mouthing the words,I’m okay.I squeeze her shoulder, then head upstairs with Jonah.

“I’m surprised you didn’t turn the guestroom into Joey’s bedroom,” I tell him.

“My home office was closer to our room,” he says. “Besides, the nieces are obsessed with their new nephew. I swear they’d stay over every weekend if my sister let them.”

Jonah sets my bag on the dresser in the guest room, then takes a seat on the edge of the bed.

“Listen, brother,” Jonah says, elbows resting on his knees. “Holly seems like a sweet girl, and you know we love to have you. But since I’m not the only one under this roof, I have to ask, is there a chance you might be tracking in some kind of trouble?”

I set Holly’s backpack on the floor and chuckle. Once a cop always a cop.

“I wouldn’t have brought her here if I didn’t think it was the safest option for everyone. I doubled back twice on the way here to make sure no one was following us. That said, I’d understand if you didn’t want to take on the risk.”

Jonah considers my words, nods, then pushes up from the bed.

“You’re always welcome here, partner.”

I clap his shoulder. “I appreciate it.”

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