Page 25 of Her Sweet Surrender
“She loved my cooking, of course. What baby wouldn’t?” He then turned to Sir and said accusingly, “The instructions I was given didn’t say anything about how to keep your kid still without a highchair, so…I had to improvise.”
Shey bumped Brie’s shoulder. “You’re going to love these pictures.”
Brie laughed when she saw the photo and walked over to Sir to show him. The picture showed Master Anderson in the kitchen, shirtless—which certainly wasn’t a surprise—but he’d used his undershirt like a baby restraint to secure Hope to a chair.
“Ingenious,” Sir praised him.
“That’s what I thought,” Master Anderson agreed. “Needless to say, the t-shirt was ruined.”
He turned to Brie. “Your kid sure is a messy eater.”
“She isn’t even one yet,” she reminded him, laughing.
“Anyway, feeding time was a huge success, so it was worth the sacrifice.”
“Bravo, Master Anderson!” Brie was truly impressed by his resourcefulness.
“It was smooth sailing after that.” He swept his hand through his hair. “I just set the kid down with the cats and the rest is history.”
He nodded to Shey. “Go ahead. Show them.”
Shey dutifully showed her a picture of Hope sprawled out, asleep on the floor with Cayenne curled up against her. All the other cats sat around her in a circle.
“Cutest damn thing I’ve ever seen,” Master Anderson stated. “Cayenne wouldn’t leave her side the entire time.”
Brie studied the adorable photo and smiled. “Cayenne probably smelled Shadow on her.”
Master Anderson threw his hands up. “Now, why did you have to spoil that perfectly sweet picture for me? I’ll never be able to look at it the same way again.”
Brie chuckled. “Someday, you’re going to admit that Shadow is one of the best things to ever happen to you and Cayenne.”
He shook his head slowly. “Never going to happen.”
Sir walked over to the couch with Hope in his arms and held out his hand to Master Anderson. “I didn’t think you had it in you, but you proved me wrong tonight.”
Master Anderson stood up and looked at him smugly. “Well, thank you, Thane. It’s good to see you eat humble pie for once.”
Sir glanced at Shey. “It must be a relief to know that under all of that bravado, he really could make a good father.”
Master Anderson snorted. “That’s not it at all. I just proved I’m man enough for any challenge, no matter how difficult or disgusting.”
He glanced at Brie, putting his hat against his chest. “Not that your child is disgusting, of course.”
Brie laughed.
Shey agreed with Sir. “This experience tonight has really opened my eyes, Mr. Davis.”
Master Anderson looked at Shey warily. “Now, don’t be getting any ideas, darlin’. This was just a one-time thing. That’s it.”
Shey wrapped her arms around him. “I know, you big softie.”
Master Anderson shot Sir a worried glance.
Sir smiled knowingly while he repositioned Hope higher on his shoulder. “I’d better get this little angel to bed. Brie, would you see our friends out?”
“Of course, Sir.”
Brie had to hide her smile as she escorted them to the door and thanked Master Anderson again for babysitting.
