She remembered watching Grace nurse her baby when she’d visited her after Grant had been born as she lifted the baby into the crook of her arm and propped a couple of pillows under her elbow. He was already rooting when she finally popped her nipple into his open mouth and her eyes went wide as he latched on. “Oh. My. God.”
Little man looked up at her and his reaction made her think he was thinking the same exact thing. He snorted like a little pig and dug in. The oddest sensation, a cross between a sizzle and a shiver, swept over her, from her shoulder, up her arm and down into her breast and suddenly he was swallowing. Success!
If her abused nether regions hadn’t been in recovery she would’ve done a victory dance right there in her hospital room.
Finally! Something had to come at least a little naturally to me. Hallelujah!
A few minutes later, Leah returned, armed with a teddy bear, a dozen yellow roses, and a to-go cup from Divine Drip. Her eyes widened when she noticed Presley Ann feeding him and said, “Hey! Looks like you two got a little mojo going.”
Presley Ann grinned as she looked down at her son. “I also changed my first diaper. Thank you for the flowers.”
Leah grinned and said, “They’re not from me. I brought you the teddy bear. Evelyn and Charlene Porter sent you a gift card.”
She took the gift card in its little envelope from Leah. “That was so sweet of them.”
“Evelyn said it was just a little something to help you buy a few diapers since you wouldn’t let her and Charlene throw you a baby shower. I stopped at Divine Drip for coffee and a breakfast taco. Cassie said to tell you congratulations and she made you a fruit smoothie.” She placed the cup within Presley Ann’s reach and then lifted the card from the vase filled with vibrant yellow roses. “And these are from two handsome guys.”
After taking a sip from the divine fruit smoothie, Presley Ann fumbled one-handed with the flap on the envelope. “James and Vincent?” She’d needed help getting her apartment ready for the baby, and Leah’s men had been so helpful.
“Nope. I caught up with the nurse as she was about to bring them in. She said two handsome men delivered them for you a few minutes ago. She told them visiting hours didn’t start for another hour and they said they’d be back. Open the card.”
Presley Ann opened the card and smiled at the boxy, masculine handwriting.
Congratulations, Presley Ann. We’re happy for you and glad to hear that all went well last night.
Jared and Kendry
“‘Glad to hear’?” Presley Ann said with a chuckle. “Wonder how they heard,” she said, already knowing the answer by the way Leah blushed. She blushed a little herself as she thought of those blue-eyed handsome devils, Kendry with his shoulder-length wavy brown hair and Jared with his closely cropped blond hair. The last time she’d seen them they’d both been sporting rugged, scruffy beards that had made her fingertips tingle with the desire to stroke both of their jaws.
Leah giggled and said, “What? I thought they’d like to know. And I’m really excited that they found a place here in Divine yesterday.”
Presley Ann couldn’t deny the flare of hope and excitement at that news. Kendry and Jared’s friendship with James and Vincent had an unusual beginning. Kendry was a heart transplant survivor and James and Vincent’s brother, Patterson, had been the heart donor. Kendry had reached out, wanting to meet Patterson’s family, and that initial visit several months before had led to a fast friendship between the men. Ever since then, Kendry and Jared had been talking about possibly moving to Divine.
“They asked about you last night at dinner, like they ask about you every time I see them. They’re such sweet guys.”
“Sis, stop trying to set me up. I’m a single mom who’s about to have too many irons in the fire. This baby and I are a package deal, and unfortunately it’s a rare man who is truly interested in another man’s child.”
“It’s obvious they like you, and they always ask how things are progressing with the baby. I think they care way more than you give them credit for.”
Presley Ann lifted a shoulder and said, “They’re really sweet to me, but I’d be a waste of their time. They deserve a woman who doesn’t already have a ton of baggage.”
Her heart lurched as she imagined them loving another woman. Holding her in their capable hands and kissing her. Laying her down and making love to her. Making a life with her and taking care of her. They’d be big time givers. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she remembered how flip she’d always been with the feelings of others, before this baby and his father had come into her life. She didn’t deserve what they could offer. Desolation enveloped her, and she tried to swallow back her hormonal tears.