I don’t know how she’s managing to attend classes, get her reading done, write papers, and still be there for our daughter. It’s a testament to her strength and determination, I guess, though I wish she’d let me do more to ease her stress. Hell, even asking her to come over today, where she can study in silence while I take care of the baby, required a thirty-minute debate before she eventually caved. She’s having a tough time studying at home, with her grandmother constantly chatting her ear off about what the Kardashians are up to while Ray stumbles in and out of the kitchen to get a fresh beer.
Here, I have a roommate who works during the day, so it’s nice and quiet. Plus, I haven’t been getting much construction work lately due to a recent spate of non-stop rain, so this last week I’ve been at home, bumming around and researching various business ventures.
When a disgruntled squawk comes from the stroller, I chuckle softly.
“The little princess doesn’t like being ignored, huh?” I squat in front of the stroller and carefully undo the various snaps and buckles that are keeping Jamie secure. Then I lift her into my arms, one hand cupping her tiny butt, the other supporting her neck as I hold her up in front of me.
As always, the sight of her takes my breath away. She’s the most beautiful baby in the world. Even my mom says so. I send her pics every day and she’s constantly marveling about the perfection that is James Tucker. Mom is dying to meet Jamie in person, but she can’t get away until the holidays, which are still a couple of months out. For now, the daily pictures seem to be pacifying her.
“How’s Daddy’s little angel this morning?”
Jamie gurgles and flashes me a toothless smile. And yes, it’s totally a smile. Sabrina keeps insisting it’s gas, but I think I know when my own daughter is grinning at me, thank you very much.
I kiss her impossibly soft cheek and she nuzzles her sweet face against my pec. A sharp sting immediately jolts through my nipple. I yelp as her eager mouth tries to latch on.
Shit, I forgot I wasn’t wearing a shirt. Brody doesn’t like to turn on the air conditioning if we don’t have to, so most of the time we leave the windows open. I’ve taken to walking around in basketball shorts and nothing else.
“Easy, darlin’,” I chide, easing her face away.
Her mouth opens and closes rapidly as she tries to suck on air, which melts my heart.
I look up to share a smile with Sabrina, only to find that her dark eyes are glazed and her mouth is hanging open.
I wrinkle my forehead. “What?”
It takes her a second to answer. When she does, her voice is a tad husky. “You’ve just provided me with about hundreds of hours’ worth of spank bank material.”
I choke out a laugh. “Jesus, Sabrina. You’re getting off on our daughter trying to nurse on me?”
“No, I get off on that.” She gestures to us.
I still don’t get it.
“A gorgeous, bare-chested man holding a tiny infant?” she prompts. “It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Damned if my dick doesn’t stiffen beneath my shorts. “Yeah?” I say slowly.
“Oh yeah.” She sighs. “Damn you, Tuck. Now I’ll never be able to concentrate on Contracts today.”
“I’ll put on a shirt,” I offer graciously.
“You do that.” Sabrina sets down the diaper bag, but holds on to the messenger bag hanging off her other shoulder. She stalks toward the living room table, drops the bag, and starts taking out her books.
I whistle under my breath. Man, she’s been lugging around that heavy diaper bag in one hand and all those textbooks in the other? She’s the freaking Hulk.
“How was class this morning?”
“Long-winded.” She glances over her shoulder. “Should I study out here or in your room?”
“You might as well stay out here.” I shift Jamie to my other arm, loving the small weight of her and the little cheek pressed against my bare shoulder. “I was thinking of taking the princess for a walk around the block.”
Sabrina nods. “Okay, but make sure you keep her out of the sun.”
I nod back. We’ve both read the same books, so I know direct sunlight is harmful for babies. Whenever I take Jamie out, I make sure she’s wearing her hat and is hidden safely beneath the stroller’s shade screen. I pretty much treat her like she’s a vampire.
“Mind holding on to this precious cargo while I throw on a shirt?”
Sabrina opens her arms, and I deposit Jamie into them. My chest turns to hot goo as I watch Sabrina bend down to smack tiny kisses on Jamie’s cheeks and forehead. In response, Jamie wiggles around like a worm and pumps her fists in the air. She hasn’t learned to laugh yet, at least not with her vocal cords, but I’ve discovered that her squirming body is a sign that she’s having fun.
I duck into my room and throw on a wife beater, then roll on a pair of athletic socks and shove my wallet and phone in my back pocket. In the front hall, I lace up my sneakers before collecting Jamie and her mountain of stuff. Once she’s buckled up in the stroller, I wheel it toward the door, while Sabrina gives us a little wave.
“Study hard, Mommy,” I tease.