Page 36 of Whisked Away By the Alien

“Too many to count. But never one as challenging as this.”

With a kiss to Sadie’s forehead, I lay her down on the changing table. After I quickly flip the two front corners of a fresh cloth diaper to the middle and pull them up through her legs and across her belly, I pin the sides to the back corners of the diaper.

“Done!”

“You make that look so easy, Commander.”

Sadie’s little arms wiggle as I thread them through the winter onesie. “Probably no different from a soldier breaking down a gun and reassembling it. If you do it enough times, you can do it in your sleep.”

“Thank you for rescuing me.”

“Here, hold Sadie while I clean up.” I thrust Sadie at him because I need to clean up the mess and there’s something about seeing this massive guy holding a tiny baby against his chest that makes my insides flutter.

Sadie settles against Sten, her bright blue eyes focused on his face. He smiles at her and my lady parts quiver. God, he’s sexy.

“Your mother has a cold and a headache. She’s been sleeping most of the day.”

“Where’s Bubbe?”

“She went to the market.”

“And she left you alone to care for Sadie? Do you have any experience with babies?”

He shakes his head. “According to your grandmother, I need the practice for when I have younglings.”

It sounds like something Bubbe would say. “Well, I don’t think you should be stuck here babysitting Sadie. Let me tell my mom we’re taking the baby to Rachel’s so she can rest.”

Quietly, I check on my mom. When I find her sleeping, I leave her a note by the glass of water on her nightstand. I pin a second note to the fridge for Bubbe so she won’t worry when she returns and realizes Sadie’s gone.

As I bundle Sadie in her baby bunting, Sten’s expression remains dubious. “What’s wrong, Sten? You look unsettled.”

“I do not like to fail.”

“You didn’t fail. Sadie’s alive and well. A little mess is nothing. Bubbe had no business leaving you alone with a baby without teaching you the basics.”

After I lay Sadie down in the stroller, Sten takes my hand and pulls me to him. His hands curve around my back and he simply holds me. “I missed you. Your mother had me shovel the entire block yesterday. It’s not as fun as cooking with you.”

“She shouldn’t have done that,” I say, upset with my mom while also wracking my brain about things to cook with him.

“I did not mind. She said it would help the elderly neighbors.”

And Sten, since they’d see an alien helping them. My mom may be intrusive and drive me crazy, but she’s smart when it comes to people.

“One male, Mr. Jacobs, offered me a cup of coffee to warm up. I do not like coffee.”

“What did you do?”

“I drank it. And burned my tongue. Ignoring such an offer is rude in my culture.”

“Let me see your tongue.”

Sten sticks his tongue out. Tiny blisters cover a good portion of the tender blue flesh.

“How fast did you drink it?”

“Fast. I hadn’t finished shoveling.”

“My poor sweet alien.” I tip up on my toes and kiss him on his cheek. “That’s for your abused tongue.”

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