Absentminded Angel(Divine Creek Ranch 20)(68)

Kendry exchanged a worried glance with his brother and they did their best to comfort her until she sniffled and said, “I’m sorry for being a ninny. I knew it would be like this and I need to just suck it up.” She shook her head and cleared her throat. “I need to get him bathed and into bed. It’s going to be another long day tomorrow.”

“Come with us,” Kendry said as he took her hand. The desire to fix the situation growing ever stronger.

“It’s late, guys, and I’m exhausted and obviously not the best company right now. I wanted to work some more tonight after I get him settled.”

He caught the look in Jared’s eyes and knew they were both on the same page. “I think you need some tender loving care of your own, first.”

“He’s right, angel,” Jared said as he kissed the side of her neck. “Come with us. We have a surprise for you.”

They led her through the house and out the back door, down the path and to her front door. Once inside, Presley Ann inhaled and said, “What smells so good?”

Jared slid her coat from her shoulders and Kendry handed her a glass of wine and said, “I know it’s late but are you hungry?”

She chuckled and put her hand over her stomach. “Starved. I didn’t have time to finish my lunch and I worked through suppertime since the store was so busy. Commissions will be great and I got to run off some of this excess weight.”

Kendry cocked an eyebrow at her and said, “Don’t lose too much. We like you just the way you are.”

Presley Ann tilted her head, her eyes full of warmth, and she kissed him. “I was just planning to fix myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and work, once I get him in bed. I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble.”

Kendry wrapped his arm around her and said, “It’s no trouble and we knew you’d have a long day today. We want to take care of you.”

“Food first,” Jared said as he pulled out a chair for her at her small table.

“But—”

Jared raised an eyebrow at her. “Do you trust us?”

With a small smile she nodded and slowly lowered herself into the chair as she eyed the pots warming on the stove. “What did you make?”

“Shrimp jambalaya,” he said as he grabbed three bowls and quickly ladled three servings and placed them on the table.

Whit stirred and the men shared a smile when she got the baby settled nursing, using just the sling to cover him a little, and then spooned a bite into her mouth.

“This is wonderful,” she murmured as she pulled off a hunk of the bread. “But you didn’t have to make this and then wait for me to get home to eat.”

“Not a big deal. It’s the same with us,” Jared said. He nodded at Whit and said, “I’ll finish eating and then start a bath for him.”

“But—”

Jared shook his head and grinned at Kendry. She was a hard nut to crack. “Angel, remember that we know our way around babies. I know where all of his stuff is already. I’ll take care of getting him bathed, rocked, and down for the night. You and I had last night together, and I want Kendry to enjoy tonight with you. Let him take care of you.”

Looking a little shocked, she sat back and smiled down at the baby, her lip trembling a little as she stroked his coal black hair. This was a big issue for her, allowing someone else to bear the load, but if they had their way about it, they’d be doing this more often, to help her and because they wanted her, wanted Whit, in their lives permanently. They’d talked about it that afternoon, and knew it was what they both wanted. Her. It was just a question of finding the right time and place.

When the meal was done, Kendry washed the dishes, listening to the sound of the tub filling in the bathroom. Once that job was done, he leaned against the door and smiled at Presley Ann as she questioned whether Jared was sure he wanted to do this. Jared just grinned at her and held out his hands for the baby.

“His sleepers are in the second drawer and his diapers—”

Jared chortled to the baby as she handed him over and said, “I know where the diapers are. We’ll be fine. He’s in good hands, mama.” He rose from his seat on the closed toilet as he secured the baby in his arms and kissed her. “Why don’t you go have a soak of your own in our big tub?”

“But—”

Jared shifted his gaze back to Kendry and quirked an eyebrow. “She keeps being difficult like this, I guess you’ll need to spank her.”

“Oh.” Her blue eyes got big as she switched her gaze between the two of them.

She likes that idea?

Jared’s quirked eyebrow confirmed what Kendry thought.