by Jenn Roseton
Lori swallowed, then gently lay the baby down on the pink changing pad. She mightn’t have changed a diaper before but she’d watched actors do it in movies. It was just common sense.
She glanced at the diaper pail besides the table, hoping the diaper wouldn’t be too messy.
Taking a deep breath, she unsnapped the edges of the diaper and maneuvered it off Jessica.
Wrinkling her nose at the pooey smell, she tossed it into the pail.
Now what?
Spying the container of baby wipes, she pulled one out, gently wiping the infant’s bottom. Jessica had stopped crying once the diaper had been removed and was now looking at Lori and Ty, her brown-eyed gaze watching both of them.
Ty had stood next to her during the changing operation. This close to him, she could smell his scent of fresh country air and hay, even over the lingering aroma of eau de poo. It was far nicer than the soiled diaper.
She reached for a new diaper, aware of his gaze upon her. Growing flustered when one of the tabs proved difficult to fasten, she stepped back when he moved in to help.
“Like this.” Ty expertly fastened the diaper and was rewarded with a gurgle from the baby.
“How do you know how to do that?” She looked up at him, then was sorry she did. For a moment she felt as if she were drowning in his molten brown gaze.
“My sister has a little boy. I babysat when I stayed with her last year.” He picked up the infant, smiling at the tot. “There. All done, sweetheart.”
Jessica chattered unintelligibly, as if thanking him. What about me? Lori couldn’t help wondering. She was the one who’d actually taken care of the dirty diaper.
Perhaps everyone except her was charmed by Ty.
“Why don’t you hold her?” He placed the baby in her arms. “I think the diaper was all that was bugging her.”
Lori smiled down Jessica, who didn’t seem unhappy to be held by her instead of Ty.
“You can sit down over there with her.” He motioned to a white wooden rocking chair on the other side of the crib.
Lori sank into the chair, careful not to jog the infant. Jessica gurgled once, then fluttered her eyes closed, her delicate dark eyelashes a startling contrast to her pale face, but matching her mop of hair.
“I think she’s gone to sleep,” Lori whispered, finding it hard to keep her gaze off the baby’s face. This is what she wanted one day. To hold her own baby in her arms, and to have a loving husband by her side.
“She’s a cutie, that’s for sure.” Ty looked down at the sleeping baby, seeming to be just as careful to keep his voice low.
For a second, Lori could almost imagine that this was her baby, and her husband. Then she snapped back to reality. Ty, her husband? She couldn’t imagine that happening, no matter how often she felt a tug of attraction to him. Even if that tug was actually a tidal wave.
She slowly rocked for a couple of minutes, aware of Ty’s gaze on her. Lori kept her eyes on the baby, tracing her finger over Jessica’s chubby fist, marveling at how soft her skin was.
Her heartbeat quickened, and she shifted in the rocker, no longer able to ignore the effect of Ty’s perusal.
“I should put her back in the crib.” She struggled to get out of the chair with the infant in her arms. The last thing she wanted to do was jog Jessica and awaken her.
“Let me.” Ty placed his arm under her elbow and helped her stand.
A shiver ran down her spine at his touch.
“Thanks,” she murmured, carefully walking the few steps to the crib. She couldn’t believe how his touch affected her.
Lori placed the infant down, stroking her forehead. “There you go, little one,” she whispered.
Ty cleared his throat. “Maybe we should go back to the living room.”
She nodded, following him back down the hall.
“Want to watch some TV?” He gestured to the big screen standing in the corner.
“I guess.” She sat down in the armchair and picked up her half-full glass of lemonade, taking a healthy sip. She still had trouble believing that Ty was good with handling babies.
Ty picked up the remote and turned on the TV, lounging back against the sofa. Lori turned her head to view the crime show on the screen.
“You’ll be able to see better from here.” He patted the empty seat next to him.
She hesitated. Her head was turned at an awkward angle in order to see the TV. It would be ridiculous to turn the armchair around just to get a better view of the television, when there was an empty seat next to Ty. And sitting next to him would prove to him that she wasn’t attracted to him.
She rose from the chair and walked over to the sofa, sitting down on the edge of the leather seat.
“Better?” Ty grinned at her.
“Mm-hm.” Lori pressed her lips together. She did have a better view of the screen, but now she had to deal with the fact that his thigh was a couple of inches next to hers. His strongly muscled thigh. That’s what it looked like through the faded denim of his jeans, anyway.
Telling herself not to be fanciful, she focused her gaze on the screen. After a couple of minutes, she’d realized she’d watched this episode before, and her thoughts drifted.
This close to Ty, she could smell his tantalizing scent again. His body heat enticed her to inch closer to him. She resisted the temptation.
“Comfy?” He asked, stretching out an arm and resting it on the back of the couch.
“Uh-huh.” Actually, she wasn’t that comfortable, perched as she was on the edge of the sofa. But there was no way she was going to wriggle back against the soft, inviting cushions and relax, when he had his arm stretched out like that.
What would his arm feel like around her shoulders? The weight of it resting against the wool blend of her sweater, the warmth of it making her pulse skitter?
Don’t go there.
She wasn’t going to give herself the chance to find out. Lori sat upright, her back ramrod straight, as the commercials came on. She was determined to sit like that until Sarah and Chase returned home.
During the next hour, Ty got up from the sofa, offered to get her another drink, which she refused, and made himself a cup of coffee. Throughout, she sat tensely, never wavering from her intention of not succumbing to temptation and relaxing against the squashy cushions. Relaxing next to Ty.
Her eyelids drooped for a second, before she jerked them open. It had been a long day: a normal work day, having a quick dinner and coming over here. And then meeting him.
And now she couldn’t even settle in on the couch this evening, because she wanted to make sure Ty got the message that she wasn’t attracted to him. At all.
Gradually, she sank back against the comfy cushions. Just a couple of minutes, she told herself. The softness of the pillows felt blissful against her tense back muscles, and she allowed herself to relax against them.
Her eyelids fluttered closed again before she opened them with an effort, forcing her gaze back to the TV screen.
Now she was settled on the couch, she was even more aware of Ty than ever. His shoulder was practically touching hers, the cotton fabric of his shirt brushing the sleeve of her sweater. This wouldn’t do at all.
The sound of the front door opening galvanized her into action. She jumped up, instantly awake, trying to ignore the wryly amused expression on Ty’s face.
“Sarah’s home,” she said unnecessarily, relief sweeping through her.
“Hi.” Sarah entered the room, Chase right behind her. “How was Jessica?”
“Good.” Ty rose from the sofa, standing next to Lori. “We changed her diaper but other than that we haven’t heard a peep.”
“You both did?” Sarah looked surprised.
“Yep.” Ty smiled at the couple. “No problem.”
“Lori?” Sarah turned to look at her.
“What Ty said,” she murmured. Right now she didn’t want to explain that Ty was better at changing a diaper than she was.
“So
… did you two have a good night?” Sarah looked at Lori and then at Ty.
“We just watched some TV.” Ty flashed a grin at Chase. “Thanks for the beer.”
“No worries. Thanks for baby sitting,” Chase said.
“Did you and Chase have a nice time?” Lori felt duty bound to ask, although the only thing she wanted to do was jump in her car and drive home. Away from Ty. And her annoying attraction to him.
“Yes.” Sarah gave her friend a dreamy smile. “The food was the best. I had duck a l’Orange and chocolate mousse. Chase booked us a corner table so we had some privacy.” She looked at her husband adoringly, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her to him. Whatever misgivings she’d had about Ty babysitting as well seemed to have been worked out during dinner.
The Petite Duck was the fanciest restaurant in Coldwater Springs and a new addition to the local dining scene. Apart from the diner, and Lori's new friend Kate’s bakery, it was really the only other place to go. And if you wanted a romantic date night, the only place to visit.
Perhaps, one day, a gorgeous guy would take her there for dinner. And he didn’t have to be gorgeous on the outside, either. A kind, thoughtful and considerate man would certainly brighten up her non-existent love life. She cast a sideways glance at Ty, talking easily with Chase. Too bad it seemed he was only gorgeous on the outside.
Telling herself she wasn’t in the market for a new boyfriend now, anyway, she made herself break into the conversation.
“I should be going, Sarah.” She grabbed her purse, purposely not looking at Ty.
“Want to stay for a cup of coffee …” Sarah’s voice trailed off as she read the expression on Lori’s face. “I’ll walk you to the door,” she hastily added.
“Bye, Chase.” Lori forced herself to say the next name. “Ty.”
“See you around.” Ty smiled at her, looking as if he was prepared to stay there and talk to Chase all night long.
“So how was it?” Sarah whispered as they reached the front door. “Did Ty behave himself?”
“Yes.” Lori nodded. In truth, Ty had been a perfect gentleman, if you didn’t count his confident grins. And she’d have to be pretty prudish to hold those against him. “He was fine.”
“Good.” Sarah hesitated. “Chase admitted he’d hoped you two would get along. I think my cousin Libby inspired him when she helped Kate and Flynn get together last Christmas. I swear I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay,” Lori reassured her friend. “It wasn’t that bad.” She stepped onto the porch. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow. And I’m happy to baby-sit anytime - without Ty.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen again.”
***
Two days later, Lori drove home from school. She’d had a busy day with her students, and all she wanted to do was relax on the sofa with her feet up and watch some mindless television for an hour. With a cupcake from Kate’s bakery.
She suddenly heard a bang. The steering wheel veered to the left and she turned it hard to the right to correct her course on the road. She frowned, listening to the constant thud, thud, thudding noise as the car lost speed.
Pulling over to the side of the road, she turned off the ignition. Did she have a flat tire? Was there a spare in the trunk? Although she’d been driving for eight years she’d never had a flat before.
The occasional car whooshed past, but nobody stopped to see why she was parked on the shoulder. She walked to the left side of the car and studied the tire. Flat as a pancake. Great.
Lori opened the trunk and picked up the black matting that covered the bottom. A yellow donut tire, smaller than a regular tire, lay inside the well. At least that was something.
She got back into the car and reached for her purse. She’d have to call for help. Finding her membership card in the glove compartment, she dialed the number, telling herself it could be worse. She could be on her way to work, instead of on the way home.
After speaking to the customer service representative, she placed the phone back in her purse with great restraint. An hour’s wait.
Her tummy rumbled, reminding her she’d barely had time to eat lunch. She’d had to handle a dispute between two little boys in her class, and then another teacher had wanted to discuss the Math curriculum with her. By the time lunch was over, she’d only eaten half her sandwich. She’d comforted herself with the thought of buying a delicious red velvet cupcake from Kate’s bakery on the way home.
By the time she got her tire fixed, the bakery would probably be sold out.
Lost in her thoughts, it took her a moment to realize that a silver pickup truck had pulled up behind her. She glanced at the door, checking she’d locked it when she made her phone call. Even living in a small community like Coldwater Springs, she didn’t like to take any chances.
A tap on the driver’s window made her jump.
She glanced to her left, her heart thudding in relief when she saw who it was.
Ty.
She wound down the window. “Hi.”
“I see you’ve got a flat.” He gestured to the tire.
“Unfortunately.” She grimaced, attempting to ignore the quickening of her pulse. She’d been telling herself for two days now that nothing could come of her attraction to this man, and the best thing she could do was put that whole night out of her mind. And if she wanted to start dating again, she’d ask Sarah if she could set her up on a blind date. As long as it wasn’t with him.
And now he was - here.
“Need some help?” He quirked an eyebrow.
For a moment, all she could do was stare at him. He looked just as good as he had two nights ago. And he still had that easy charm. Today he wore a red checked long-sleeved shirt and dark blue jeans.
“Someone should be coming in …” she glanced at her watch, “forty-five minutes.”
He frowned. “You shouldn’t have to wait that long. Got a spare?”
“In the trunk.” She unlocked the door and stepped out. “It’s only a donut though.”
“That should be able to get you back into town and to Bob’s garage. I’ll get my jack.”
She watched him stride to his pickup, determined to stifle the stirring of excitement in her belly. It was decent of him to help her out, but she was sure he’d do that for any friend of Sarah and Chase’s.
“Can I do anything?” she asked when he came back holding a jack.
“I’ve got it.” He grinned at her, but this time she didn’t find it so annoying. Perhaps it was because he was doing her a favor.
She smiled back, watching him hunker down, helpless not to admire his tight butt in those jeans. Why did simple denim jeans look so good on some men?
A few minutes later, Ty had the flat off.
“Roofing nail.” He examined the puncture in the tread. “How far did you drive with it like this?”
“Not long. I was coming home from school and the car suddenly veered to the left and started making a thudding noise.”
“You must have picked it up on the road.” He shook his head. “If something like this happens again, make sure you pull over right away. You mightn’t have made the few miles to Main Street driving on it. You’ll have to get a new tire. Once I get the donut on, follow me to Bob’s.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Although she was perfectly capable of going to the mechanic’s herself, she did appreciate Ty taking the trouble to help her. Not every guy would.
Ty attached the donut, tossed the flat into her trunk, then wiped his hands on a piece of cloth from the back of his pickup.
“Let’s go.” He climbed into his truck and waited until she turned on her ignition before he pulled out.
He drove slowly into Coldwater Springs. Lori followed him, glad he was so thoughtful, because the car felt different to drive with three normal sized tires and one smaller one. When they reached Bob’s auto shop, Ty pulled up outside the small brick building, and Lori did likewise.
Bob, a wizen
ed man of indeterminate age with a kind smile, told them it wouldn’t take more than thirty minutes to fix.
“Want to go to the diner?” Ty looked at Lori in invitation.
Surprise fluttered through her. She’d expected him to leave her here, not ask her out. But this wasn’t a date, she told herself firmly. It was either wait here, in the tiny office with a single hard backed wooden chair kept for customers, or go to the diner with Ty, enjoy a cup of coffee, and maybe a slice of cherry pie.
“Sure.” She hoped he hadn’t noticed her slight hesitation.
“We’ll come back,” Ty said to the mechanic, then opened the passenger door of his pickup.
Lori climbed in, hoping she did so without looking clumsy, glad she wore dark brown pants. His truck was a little higher off the ground than her compact car.
Ty pulled to a stop a few blocks down Main Street, snagging a prime parking space outside the diner.
Lori glanced across the road to Kate’s bakery. She’d have to buy a red velvet cupcake tomorrow, and enjoy cherry pie today. She was just about to open her door when Ty did it for her, and she looked at him in surprise.
“Come on,” he said. “I don’t want to miss out on the cherry pie.”
She bit back a giggle at their similar thoughts, raising her hand in a wave when she spied Kate through the sparkling plate glass window of the bakery. She’d have to explain to her friend what she was doing with Ty, especially when her friend gave her a surprised smile and wave.
Ty claimed a booth inside the diner. Its dark vinyl flooring, blue walls and rows of booths reminded Lori of a fifties diner. An old-fashioned country song played in the background, the male singer crooning about finding love.
Lori slid in on the other side of the Formica table, leaning back against the cushioned leatherette seat.
“What can I get you two?” Betty, the matronly gray-haired waitress who ran the diner, appeared at their table.
Ty gestured for Lori to order first.
“Coffee and a slice of cherry pie, please,” Lori said. Sarah had told her that Betty’s cherry pie was legendary, and after tasting it soon after she moved to Coldwater Springs, Lori had to agree. Although her friend Kate baked truly scrumptious treats, she didn’t make what the diner offered, and vice versa.
