Because of the Baby(26)

“A television,” he responded. “Surely you’ve seen one before.”

“That’s a television?” She set her hands on her lush hips and faced him. “It takes up the whole wall.”

“The better to watch the play-offs and not miss anything.”

“Play-offs?”

“Football...”

Although he’d never considered himself much of a TV watcher, he hadn’t realized how much he enjoyed unwinding after a long day with a beer and a sports channel until he couldn’t. Granted, both Lark and Grace were plenty entertaining. He found a great deal of satisfaction in watching Grace sleep and Lark read. But after they went off to bed, he had far too many hours to keep his mind occupied and paperwork wasn’t cutting it.

All too often, his thoughts strayed in the direction of Lark’s bedroom. He contemplated if she slept in pajamas or nightgowns. Cotton or silk. She owned a queen-size bed and he liked picturing her in the middle of it, asleep on her side, her body curved, hands beneath her cheek. He doubted she snored, but it amused him to wonder if she did. Did she puff out her breath in little spurts? Maybe she drooled.

This last should have turned him off, but he found the image intriguing. In the short time he’d been living with her, he’d discovered she wasn’t much of a morning person. Until she got a cup of coffee into her, she was downright grumpy. But at the same time her defenses were down and she was far more likely to smile. Naturally she reserved her happiest expressions for Grace, but what Lark didn’t realize was that even though her grins weren’t directed at him, he got to enjoy them, as well.

“It will only be here as long as I am,” Keaton assured her. “Or until the ranch house is finished enough to receive it.”

Lark gave the television the evil eye and then turned her back on it as if what she couldn’t see didn’t exist.

“It’s getting late,” she said. “Let me take Grace so you can get going.”

Despite his need to be at a meeting at the Texas Cattleman’s Club in thirty minutes, Keaton was reluctant to give up his niece. He’d enjoyed their time together. Since bringing her home, Lark had been Grace’s primary caregiver, making Keaton feel like an unnecessary third wheel. Today, being alone and in charge, he’d been able to relax fully. Granted, Grace had slept through most of Lark’s absence, but if she’d needed anything, he would have been ready and able to take care of it.

“The remote is on the coffee table,” he said as he handed Grace over. “If you want to check out the TV.”

Lark wrinkled her nose. “Not really my thing.”

“When I get home later, we can watch the Discovery Channel together. You might find that you like what you see.”

“You are persistent, aren’t you?”

“If by persistent you mean bullheaded, then yes.” He’d hoped for a smile but had to settle for a sparkle in her moss-green eyes. “I won’t be home until around eight tonight. I have a dinner meeting. Will you be okay?”

“We’ll be fine.”

Reluctant as always, Keaton headed out to his truck. As he backed down her driveway and pointed the vehicle in the direction of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, he wondered why leaving her and Grace took so much effort. Although he’d shared the ranch house with his parents until the tornado wiped it out, the place was big enough that he didn’t spend all that much time with them.

Basically he was accustomed to being alone.

But since moving into Lark’s cozy house, sharing space with her and Grace, he’d adapted to their company. When Lark visited her sister in the hospital, her house had an empty feeling about it that nagged at him. He liked being with her. More than that, he craved her companionship.

It was an unexpected development for a lone wolf like him. Then he remembered that wolves were pack animals. Maybe he’d just been waiting for the right woman to come along. Was the change temporary? When he and Lark stopped playing temporary family, would all his longing for her dissipate? That he hoped it wouldn’t trouble him.

She’d made it pretty clear that she didn’t trust him. For years her parents had filled her head with inflammatory rhetoric against the Holt family. He might have overcome her reservations regarding his right to help with Grace, but despite the soul-stirring kisses they’d shared and her acknowledging a case of proximity lust, Keaton doubted she’d want to have anything to do with him once Skye and/or Jake claimed Grace.

Too bad she was such a tempting package. If he hadn’t been driving, he might have shut his eyes to better savor the memory of her curves beneath his hands. Full breasts, narrow waist, flaring hips. Add to all that her long legs and the way she’d fit into his arms. Most men didn’t notice her latent sensuality. She’d spent her entire life building a defense of invisibility.