I click the rest of the items I added to the cart and try not to look at the total as I start to check out.
“Look at my sweet baby girl,” I hear come from the baby monitor. “Did you have a good nap sweetheart?”
My heart melts listening to him talk to her. He also took my breath when he told me how Charlotte had been his since he’d laid eyes on her. Some people might have seen her as a burden or maybe not take her at all, but not Anderson. It shows me what kind of man he is and that’s the staying kind.
My mind wanders back to when he was telling me about it before. She was mine the first time I saw her. I’ve never had that happen before. I sure didn’t think it could happen twice. He’d said twice, and I don’t know what he meant by that. For a moment it felt as if he was talking about me, but the spell had been broken when the doorbell rang. It has to be my mind messing with me because I’m longing for something that isn't mine.
I get up and glance at the clock, noticing it’s getting closer to dinner time. I should see what he has and if I can pull something together to eat. I’m also guessing he’s going to need a bottle for Charlotte after he’s done changing her.
I make my way into the kitchen and find what I need. I make a bottle and just as I finish Anderson comes into the kitchen with Charlotte in his arms.
“I made this,” I tell him and hand the bottle to him.
“Thanks,” he says as he smiles at me and then sits down to feed her.
“I was thinking about making us something to eat for dinner,” I suggest as my eyes travel between him and Baby Charlotte. My ovaries are throbbing at the sight of them. Could they be any cuter?
“That sounds amazing. I’m not the best cook, and you can’t really order takeout around here,” he jokes.
“Well, you’re in for a treat. I love to cook and my ma has taught me all her recipes.” I smile at him as I push away from the counter and look through his pantry.
“You won’t find much in there. My food as of the late is all in frozen form.”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal and I feel bad for him. Here he is doing everything to take care of this little baby girl and no one is taking care of him. I’m here now and I’m going to make sure that changes.
“How about I hop over to the store and grab a few things? I’ll make you a home-cooked meal.” He looks unsure for a moment. “You don’t want to try my cooking?”
“No, I’d love to, but it looks like a storm is rolling in.” I glance over my shoulder and look out the window at the sky. It’s nearly black in the distance and the wind is picking up.
“Then I better be quick,” I tell him as I come around the kitchen and grab my bag. Charlotte smiles up at me from around the bottle in her mouth. “You need anything while I’m there?”
“No, just be careful.” I see the concern on his face.
“I will, and I’ll be quick.”
I don’t take long in the store and get stuff that can hold us over for a few days. Living with five brothers, you learn how to grocery shop fast and efficiently. Luckily the whole trip doesn’t take fifteen minutes and right when I pull up to Anderson’s the rain starts to sprinkle. He’s out the door before I can even put the car into park.
“I’ll grab the stuff, you go head inside. Charlotte’s in her chair in the kitchen.”
“You sure? I can help,” I say, stepping out of the car and sliding my purse onto my shoulder.
“In.” He motions to the house as he goes to the trunk.
I shut my car door behind me and take one last look at him before I go up the porch steps and into the house. When I get to the kitchen I can’t help but smile when I see Charlotte in her swing. She’s swaying back and forth as happy as can be and it’s infectious. I can’t believe how quickly he got this thing, and it looks like she enjoys it.
“Hi, baby girl,” I say sweetly to her, and she gives me a gummy smile.
She looks just like Anderson, so I guess he must have looked a lot like his cousin, too. I rub my finger up and down her chubby cheeks, just enjoying the feel of her soft skin. Is there anything better than a baby? Anderson walks in with the groceries and Charlotte perks up at the sight of him. Her little arms wave around in excitement and it’s the cutest thing ever.
“Let me unpack them.” I walk over to the counter and he lets me help, but he continues to unload them with me.
“Is there anything I can help with?” he asks when I start laying out what I want to make for dinner.
“No, why don’t you take a load off and enjoy some free time? I’ll keep an eye on Charlotte for you,” I suggest. I’m sure the man would enjoy a moment of time to relax. Babies can be a handful, and he’s been doing this all alone.
“Okay,” he says, but he only moves over to the breakfast bar, where he sits down and watches me.
We make small talk as I prepare tuna casserole with fried potatoes.
“How did you get that swing so fast?” I ask, glancing over at Charlotte.
“If you offer someone enough money you can get things here pretty fast.”
I turn to look at him. “What is it you do?” I ask, realizing I don’t know much about him. Though for some reason it feels as if I do because I’m so comfortable in his presence.
“I’m retired,” he says as he leans back in his chair.
“You seem a little young.” I smile, slicing the potatoes carefully.
“I was a workaholic with no family, so that’s where I put all my focus.” His eyes meet mine. “I didn't realize how isolated I’d made myself. Even though I was around people every day, I was still alone. It wasn't until Charlotte landed in my arms that I realized there was something else out there.”
“God, I couldn't imagine not having a family. Mine are all over my life.” I can’t even stomach the thought of living too far away from them.
“I’ve thought back on it a lot since Charlotte came into my life. I think I did it to protect myself. I lost a family already and was scared of losing another. I did everything I could to make sure that wouldn’t happen again.”
“But fate had other plans,” I chime in. It’s something my ma always says.
“Yeah,” he agrees. “It’s crazy how things in life bring you to other places.”
“It really is.”
Our eyes stay locked and all I can think about is how everything he’s been through brought him here to me. I may have never met him if he hadn’t experienced that difficulty, and that somehow feels wrong. Charlotte lets out a small cry, breaking me from my thoughts.
“She probably needs to be changed again,” he says and stands up.
“I can get it.”
“No, finish cooking. I’ve got her.” He pulls her from the swing then leaves the kitchen.
I watch him go and think about how domestic this is. It never felt like this with the other families I nannied for. This is exciting but also easy and sweet. I didn’t expect any of this when I took the job.
I see my phone light up in my bag and I hope it isn't one of my brothers. I told my mother what I was doing but told my brothers and dad I was babysitting for the next few days. I did this over text with them so I could be vague. When I see it’s Kent, I answer it. It’s better to answer it so he won’t show up here, because that is what he’d do if he couldn't reach me.
“Hey,” I say as I keep cooking.
“There is a big storm rolling in. You in for the night? I know you’re babysitting.”
“Yep, I’m cooking dinner now and have no plans to head anywhere.”
“Okay,” he responds, and I’m shocked at how easy that was. But a second later he shatters that theory. “Who are you babysitting for?”
“I’m at the old Jenkins’ place.”
“Hmm. I’ve been meaning to get out there and introduce myself to the new owners. I heard they have a little baby.”
“Yeah.” I play it cool, not giving anything away.
“All right, be safe. I love you.”
“You be safe, too.” I know he’s going to be on-call all night if there’s a big storm. “Love you, too,” I tell him before I disconnect the call. I look down to see I have a bunch of texts from Franky, which is not something I want to deal with.
“You love who?” Anderson asks as he comes back into the kitchen with a wiggly Charlotte.
I see a glint in his eye and it’s the same one I saw when Franky was here. I put my phone back into my purse. I don’t want to look at Franky’s text messages while Anderson is right here. He got out of sorts earlier about him and it made me think he might be jealous. He could just be the protective type.
“My brother Kent.” I lean my hip up against the counter. “He’s actually the sheriff in Deercreek. He was calling to make sure I was in for the night. The storm must be really bad.”
“Country storms are different than in the city. I was in a few when I was younger. I have a storm cellar if we need it. I made sure of that before we moved in.”
I have to fight a smile. How can I find my brothers overprotectiveness so annoying but Anderson’s sexy and kind of sweet?
“Dinner’s almost done.”