Page 32 of Talk Wicked to Me

“Thanks. I’m going to use the bathroom and change into something comfier.”

“Take your time.” He laid Brennan on the changing table as she closed the bedroom door. “Hey, buddy, let’s make a deal,” he whispered as he took off Brennan’s dirty diaper and cleaned him up. “You don’t show me your mama’s breast, and I promise to get her to slow down so she doesn’t get worn out.” As he slid a clean diaper under Brennan’s bottom, a stream of urine hit his shirt. “Dude, really?” He chuckled. “It’s a good thing you’re so cute, little man.” He cleaned and dressed the baby, laid him in the bassinet, then headed into the kitchen.

He tossed his shirt in her washer and rinsed the urine from his chest. He was walking past the bedroom as Emerson came out and nearly bumped right into him. “Whoa.” He caught her by the arms.

“Sorry.” Her gaze flicked up to his, then back to his bare chest, where they lingered on his ink. “Um…Why is your shirt off?”

“He peed on me.”

A laugh bubbled out. “Sorry. He gets me all the time. You have to hold a diaper over him after you take off the dirty one.”

“I’ll remember that. I hope you don’t mind—I put my shirt in your washer.”

“That’s fine.”

“Why don’t you try to catch some shut-eye, and I’ll take care of him and bring him in when he needs to nurse.”

“Stop pushing sleep on me. My body’s all out of whack. I’m not tired, and we’re just going to sit and watch TV. That’s like resting.” She grabbed the remote, and they sat down as she surfed through the listings. “How about Schitt’s Creek? Or have you seen it too many times?”

“I haven’t even seen it once.”

“Ohmygod. Seriously? Have you been living under a rock? It’s the best show. I’ve watched the entire series three times.”

“Then let’s watch something you haven’t seen.”

“No. I love this show, and you need to watch it.” She started the first episode and sat back with a sigh.

He glanced at Brennan, sleeping peacefully in the bassinet, and relaxed as they watched the show. A few minutes into the second episode, Emerson rested her head on his shoulder, and not five minutes later, the even cadence of her breathing told him she was sleeping, too. He eased his phone from his pocket and texted Gunner.

Baz: I won’t be back to get Ollie tonight. Can he sleep with you?

Gunner: Nope.

Baz: ??

A picture popped up of Sidney lying in bed with all of their dogs and her arm around Ollie.

Gunner: He’s already claimed my wife. Need anything else?

Baz: I’m good. Thanks.

He set down his phone and kicked his feet up on the coffee table. Emerson snuggled into his side, making a sound that rivaled Brennan’s for the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. He put his arm around her, her scent stirring those emotions he couldn’t afford to decipher. Evie had fallen asleep on his shoulder a million times over the years, and it had never affected him like this. He should hightail it out of there and go to the Hog to catch up with the guys, but he made no move to leave. For the first time in forever, there was nothing more intriguing than the woman beside him.

Chapter Ten

BRENNAN WAS FUSSY in the middle of the night, and when nursing and rocking hadn’t calmed him down, Baz paced the floor with him, insisting Emerson try to sleep. But her mind wouldn’t turn off. Not only had she been missing her parents more since having Brennan, but she felt too guilty to sleep. Brennan wasn’t Baz’s responsibility, and no matter how many times he said he didn’t mind and she should rest, her mind continued spinning. The next thing she knew it was five thirty, and Brennan was ready to nurse again. After Baz left to go home and get ready for work, she’d hoped to get Brennan down for a nap and catch up on her sleep, but Zeke and Zander had shown up to finish the fence and install the gates. She didn’t want to sleep while they were there in case they needed to come inside to use the bathroom, so she’d done some editing.

Baz texted to check on her, and she reassured him that she and Brennan were fine.

They were fine. Well, Brennan was, and she would be, once she got some sleep.

By the time Zeke and Zander finished the fence, Emerson was running on fumes. She could barely keep her eyes open as she nursed Brennan, and when she put him down for a nap, she crawled into bed and was out like a light.

“EMERSON, HONEY, WAKE up.”

I open my eyes and see Gwen’s parents looking down at me and remember I’d slept over, and my parents and I were leaving early for our vacation. I sit up. “Did I oversleep?” Gwen and I had stayed up late talking about all the things we wanted to do over spring break.

“No,” Gwen’s mother said. “Let’s go into the living room.”