“He said I have to own it. I just have to do that.” There was no more time for thinking. Aiden was indeed still figuring out the whole diaper thing, and Oliver would invariably pee all over him if she took too long. She wrestled her way out of her dress and threaded the chemise over her head. The silk skimmed her skin, reminding her precisely why her customers couldn’t get enough of her nightgowns—they made a woman feel sexy.
But she could take the edge off. She grabbed her black cardigan and put it on, buttoning it up. She’d bought herself a small measure of modesty, but as she stole a passing glance in the mirror, she saw that she was not owning it—she was borrowing it. Frustration bubbled up inside her, but she couldn’t simply traipse into Aiden’s bedroom dressed for seduction. This would have to do. If she had to walk a narrow tightrope, she would. Even if she’d be donning a bizarre ensemble while doing it.
With no more time for second-guessing, she hurried back down the hall. Aiden’s door was open. He was hunched over the side of the bed, attempting to dress Oliver.
Sarah joined them, perching gingerly on the edge of the mattress. The bedding was so soft and silky she had to stifle a moan of approval. In dark gray pajama pants and a black T-shirt that showed off the straight line of his shoulders, Aiden was dressed to kill. Why did everything about him have to be so enticing? “Looks like you did well with the diaper. What about the rest?”
“I’m worried I’m going to bend him in the wrong direction.”
“Just think about how you would get ready for bed. Do that.”
He arched an untamed eyebrow at her. “Then he’s ready. Because I don’t wear much to bed.”
Of course he just had to plant that mental image in her head. He had to. “Then pretend you’re putting on a shirt for work.” She crossed her legs, noticing how parts of her were again tingling and zipping with electricity.
Aiden got Oliver into the sleeves and the legs, but then he hit another trouble spot with the snaps. “These things don’t match up.”
“Start at the top.”
He did as she’d instructed and picked up Oliver when he was done. “Good?”
“Fantastic.”
He sat next to her on the bed, Oliver in his lap. “You know, I can hardly see what you’re wearing with that big old sweater over the top of it.”
She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I was cold,” she lied. Being this close to Aiden, she was about to go up in flames. “And we need to get going with bedtime.”
“Right. The schedule.”
Nightgown crisis averted, it was now acceptable to exhale.
“Since the crib doesn’t come until tomorrow, Oliver can sleep with you tonight. It will be a nice way for you two to bond.”
“But what if I roll onto him? What if he falls out of the bed?”
A breathy laugh escaped her lips.
“Something funny?” he asked.
“Careful. You sound like a dad.”
“They’re valid questions.”
“And I’m glad you’re concerned. We can put some dining chairs next to the side of the bed.”
Aiden scratched his head, looking around the room. “Get up. Hold Oliver.”
Sarah stood and took the baby, watching as Aiden pushed aside the bench at the foot of his bed and began tugging on his mattress. It only took a few pulls before it landed with a thump on the floor.
“There. Then if he rolls out of bed, he won’t go far. It’s only for one night.”
Sarah could hardly believe her eyes. “Talk about problem solving.”
“It’s partly selfish. I won’t get any sleep if I’m paranoid all night about what’s going to happen to him.”
She didn’t bother containing her smile, even though she sensed that with every sweet thing Aiden did or said, she was being pulled more forcefully into his orbit. “You’re turning into a dad right before my eyes.”
Aiden retrieved the pillows from their resting place on the box spring—they hadn’t made the trip. “I have a job to do, I don’t shy away from it.”
“I know, but you were bitching about baby gates a few hours ago. Now you’re camping out in your own bedroom.”
Aiden stepped over to her and took Oliver. “It was the bath. I guess it started to sink in that he needs me. It feels nice. Nobody’s ever needed me like he does.”
There was an edge of sadness to Aiden’s voice that tugged at Sarah’s heart. She needed to make a graceful exit, now. “You know, I think I’m going to get Oliver a bottle and walk you through the bedtime routine. Something tells me you’ll do just fine.”