Secret Son, Convenient Wife(26)

“Yes, but it was time for me to get out of bed anyway.” She wanted to step into the room to give her son a morning kiss but was conscious of the word bed and Tate’s gaze on her silky robe. She remained where she stood.

“You were sleeping very peacefully,” he said, his eyes lifting back to her face.

So he’d checked on her. The image unnerved her. “I was tired.”

He scowled. “Are you okay?”

His concern took her by surprise, and warmed her. “Better for a good night’s sleep.” And that was something she wouldn’t have had if he’d been sharing her bed.

As if he read her thoughts, the words suddenly transported them to last evening—and their almost-kiss right here in this room…right there beside the changing table. Stop!

She grabbed for something to break the silence. “Er…I should change Nathan’s diaper.”

“Done.”

She couldn’t have made a joke about that if her life had depended on it. Breaking eye contact, she mentally scrambled to pull herself together. “If you could mind him a little longer, I’ll shower then take him down for breakfast.”

“That’s okay, I’ll take him downstairs with me.” Tate got to his feet, all business now. “By the way, Peggy and Clive are back.”

“They are?” The other couple must have left the city before dawn to get here.

He swung Nathan up in his arms. “We’ll be in the sunroom. Take your time.” He crossed to the other door and left her standing in the connecting doorway.

After he left, she took a ragged breath, then she hurried to the shower. It was better that Clive and Peggy had returned. Having others in the house could diffuse the growing tension between her and Tate. If it got out of control again, that is. Not that she expected it would. Tate wouldn’t let that happen. He’d been clear about that.

Yet she had to wonder what the older couple would make of their separate bedrooms. Before the wedding, that might not have been a concern. After the wedding, it would be clear that she and Tate were having problems.

Not that it was anyone’s business but their own.

Fifteen minutes later, Gemma walked into the sunroom. Nathan sat in his high chair, next to Tate, and the two of them looked so right together that she wanted to rush forward and be part of their family unit. She restrained herself as she kissed her darling son’s head, then sat down beside them.

“You’ve done well,” she told Tate, referring to the finger of toast Nathan chewed on.

“I can’t take credit for that. It was Peggy’s idea.”

Just then Peggy came into the sunroom with a pot of coffee, and they chatted for a short time before she left. Gemma poured herself some cereal and crunched on that while keeping an eye on Nathan, and while trying not to keep an eye on Tate.

“He’s a slow eater today, isn’t he?” Tate said, after a couple of minutes.

All at once Gemma realized Tate was restless. She gave him a knowing look. “You’re waiting to show him the sandbox, aren’t you?”

His eyes filled with wry amusement. “Am I that obvious?”

“Yes,” she teased. He chuckled, and the low sound softened the tension between them.

Thankfully, Nathan threw his remaining finger of toast on the floor right then. By the time she’d picked it up and discarded it, she hoped she could blame her flushed cheeks on having to bend down to the floor.

Tate got to his feet. “I’d say he’s finished eating, don’t you think?”
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She needn’t have worried about explaining her flushed cheeks. Tate evidently had other priorities. “Just let me take him upstairs and change him out of his pajamas first.”

Tate nodded. “I’ll be outside. Don’t be too long.” He sauntered out toward the patio area.

Men!

Her heart actually felt lighter as she changed Nathan into jeans and a T-shirt. Their son may have been the reason for their marriage, but he was proving to be a great leveler, too.

Once back downstairs, Gemma found not only Tate outside at the sandbox, but Clive and Peggy, as well. Tate saw her coming and immediately took his son. The males joined right in with enthusiasm. Soon both men were kneeling on the grass outside the shell-shaped sandbox, not seeming to mind about their trousers, while Nathan sat in the middle of the sand, trying to grab the dump truck that Tate was showing him how to use.

Then Clive said something and Tate laughed. He was totally relishing being a father, Gemma mused, admitting she was seeing a new side to Tate. He treated Clive as a personal friend rather than an employee. He treated Peggy more like a mother figure. Gemma hadn’t seen him with other people during their month together, but she’d assumed he would keep his distance because of who he was and especially with the hired help, but that wasn’t the case.