Secret Son, Convenient Wife(25)

And no more thinking about that smile of Gemma’s, he told himself, as he carried Nathan to the changing table. He gave the baby a squeaky toy, continuing to talk to him in case he could hear the bath water going down the drain.

He was still standing at the changing table when he saw the bathroom door open. He looked up at Gemma with relief and conceded defeat. “I need your help.”

She came toward them. “With what?”

“Please show me how to put on a diaper. I can’t seem to get it right.”

Her lips twitched with the amusement of an all-knowing mother. “For a start, that’s the wrong way.”

“It is?”

“And you’ve worn the adhesive off the tabs.”

“I was trying to get it right.”

She ruefully shook her head. “Move aside.” In one quick motion, she’d grabbed another diaper from the pack, did a few things with it, lifted Nathan’s bottom, removed the old and put the new one under him. “See. This is how—”

Tate was concentrating when something arced in the air and splashed across his chest. “What the—”

Gemma blinked, then giggled.#p#分页标题#e#

He looked down at his shirt. It had been damp a moment ago but was now wet. She giggled even louder as she pulled up the front flap of the diaper and covered their son’s private parts.

All at once Tate saw the humor, too. “I guess that’s what happens when you have a boy.”

She held the diaper in place with one hand as her giggle turned to laughter. “Oh, my God…” more laughter, “you should see…” laugh, “the look on your…face.”

He had to chuckle. “Stop laughing, Gemma.”

“I ca-can’t.”

His laughter increased, and all at once they were both laughing together. Really laughing. It seemed so long since they’d shared something this funny.

Then, “I’ve always thought you had a lovely laugh,” he murmured, unable to stop himself.

Her amusement stilled, and she moistened her top lip with her tongue. “You did?”

His gaze dropped to the tip of that pink tongue. “I’ve told you that before, surely?”

Her eyes flickered. “No, I would have remembered.”

Suddenly there was something more between them than their love for their son. “Would you?”

“Yes.”

Several heartbeats ticked by. He knew his head was lowering toward her. He couldn’t stop himself.

Then Nathan squeaked his toy and they both jumped. Gemma hastily turned back to their son, who she was still holding on the changing table with one hand. Tate blew out an unsteady breath.

They’d been getting too intimate. He stepped back. “I’ll go change my shirt.”

She flicked him a look. “I’ll put Nathan to bed, then I’ll check on the dinner.”

“Fine.” By that time he fully intended to be detached again.

Yet, as he went back to his room, he tried to analyze what was happening between him and Gemma. He didn’t want to like her, but she kept slipping under his guard. His only excuse was that sharing a bond over their son was getting to him, causing the awareness between him and Gemma to build.

Neither of them wanted this…

Both of them wanted this…





Five




Gemma dreamed that Tate was saying she had a lovely laugh, and—oh, God—he was about to kiss her…willingly…

Then she opened her eyes and deep disappointment ripped through her. He wasn’t about to kiss her at all. It was morning. She was in bed. And Tate wasn’t with her.

And it was his fault she’d been dreaming about him all night. He had been about to kiss her last night after they’d bathed Nathan. He had been tempted, in spite of his earlier assertions that he wasn’t.

Of course, once they’d gone downstairs he’d made it quite clear he wouldn’t let her get so close again. They’d eaten their casserole then he’d gone to the study while she’d watched a movie. Alone. The home movie theater wasn’t the largest of rooms, but it had felt empty. She wondered if he would keep to his promise of taking them for a drive today.

Right then, she heard Nathan’s chuckle from next door. She threw back the blankets and hopped out of bed, slipping on her robe as she hurried to the connecting door. She found Tate on the floor playing peek-a-boo with Nathan, who was in his playpen. Her son looked incredibly adorable standing up, holding on to the rails in his pajamas.

And Tate looked so relaxed and carefree.

The old Tate.

Then he looked at her and the wary new Tate slipped back into place. “Did we wake you?”#p#分页标题#e#