Grandpa and Doc looked at each other with obvious amusement before Doc asked one more question. “What’s on his ass?”
I shot him a look.
“Pretty please? I’ve been sleeping with the same old saggy butt for almost fifty years. Let a man dream.”
Grandpa elbowed him. “It hasn’t always been this saggy. Need I remind you, there was a time when you thought it was downright bite—”
“Enough!” I blurted. “Fine. It’s ah… like, ah… big colorful peacock feathers on one side and a…” I blew out a breath, trying very hard not to get an erection in front of my grandparents. I looked up to the ceiling in hopes there were angels who could deliver me from the conversation. “A coiled snake on the other.”
The hooting and hollering that came out of those two was enough to send me scuttling from the room.
Chapter 23
Nico
The cake painting went much better than I’d expected, and I lost myself in the rhythm of creating images from my imagination. By the time I got back to the house, it was time for West to leave for his shift at the hospital.
“I’m sorry I kept you so long. I didn’t mean to lose track of time like that,” I told him.
West’s hands came up to cup my face before he leaned in for a kiss. “It was fine. I slept when Pippa napped. You look happy and relaxed. I’m glad you stayed if that’s what came of it.”
I let out a breath and smiled. “It did. After I did the practice cake, I painted some cupcakes Rox had set out for me. Nothing special, just flowers and shit. But it was cool. I never knew you could paint on frosting that way.”
“You sound like your sister,” he said, running his hands through my hair. “She always had a sketchbook with her. You two had that in common.”
I felt my heart shutter at the thought. Why hadn’t I reached out to her? I could have at least done it when I was finally settled as an adult. But I knew the real answer to that question. I’d been ashamed. I knew she’d ask me about those intervening years, and there was no way I could tell her what I’d had to do to survive on the streets. She wouldn’t have been able to bear it.
West’s finger tilted my chin up so I was forced to meet his eyes. “Hey, where did you go?” he asked softly. “I lost you.”
I shook my head and forced a smile. “No, I’m good. You should get going though. It’s late.”
“Shit, Nico. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“No, it’s fine. Really. I promise. Thanks for watching Pippa for me.” I twisted out of his grasp and went to check on the baby in the nursery. I heard West sigh behind me, but he didn’t come after me. Why the hell was I disappointed by that? I had been in his arms already. If I’d wanted to be with him, I could have stayed in his arms instead of pulling my usual turtle routine.
What the hell was my fucking problem?
I didn’t want to be that passive-aggressive asshole. Before I reached the crib, I turned around and returned to the main living area. West had already walked out, so I hurried to the front door and swung it wide open.
“Wait!” I called out, my heart thundering. He stopped before reaching for the door handle of his truck. I balled my hands into fists and said what needed to be said. “I’m sorry. That was shitty and moody. Forgive me.”
I’d never heard such reasonable words come out of my fucking mouth, and it almost made me laugh. West cracked a small smile.
“C’mere,” he said, holding out his arms and walking toward me. I swallowed my pride and jumped off the porch, jogging the few feet remaining between us and throwing myself into his arms.
The move was weird and unexpected. We barely knew each other. Neither of us wanted a relationship with the other, but I wondered if that’s why we were both willing to cling to whatever this connection was. There was so much less at stake than a normal coming together that maybe we thought we could find in each other whatever comfort and fun we wanted in the short term.
West held me in a tight bear hug—my face naturally pressing into the curve of his neck. He smelled amazing, as usual. “What time do you get off work?” I asked into the warmth of his skin.
He leaned back enough I had to tilt my face up to see him. “Six in the morning.”
“Come over after? A little postwork relaxation sex maybe?”
His face relaxed into a beautiful smile, and my heart thudded harder than normal. “Yes. Fuck yes. I’ll be here at six-oh-five. Leave the door unlocked so I don’t wake you up.”