Southern Pleasure (Southern Heart 1)

I look at my daughter so tiny in the backseat of my new Dodge one-ton truck. “Yeah, we’re good. See you soon.” I fight the urge to pull her in for a kiss. That seems to be our thing, kissing. Instead, I watch her climb into her Durango and drive away.

I take my seat and adjust the mirror so I can see in the backseat. Kinley said I have a mirror at the house that I can hang on the back of the seat so I will be able to see Lexi while I’m driving. That must be installed pronto. Lexi whimpers and I know it’s getting close to time for her to eat again. “Let’s get you home, baby girl.”

I didn’t tell Evan why I needed to stop by the house first, and he didn’t question me. I plan to pack a change of clothes and stay with him and Lexi tonight. He needs help until they get into a routine. I have nothing going on tomorrow, or for the next few days actually. It’s the perfect time for me to help him. I also want to talk to Mom, if she’s there, to see if she is interested in watching Lexi for him on the days I have a full schedule. I’m positive she’s going to be over the moon excited, but I want to ask her just the same.

“Just the lady I need to talk to,” I say when I see her sitting at the kitchen table.

“Well, that’s a warm welcome. How are Evan and Lexi doing today?” she asks.

“Good. When I got there today, Evan was exhausted and frustrated. I guess Miss Lexi was up most of the night and he was running on no sleep since the night she was born.”

“That boy, he should have called us.”

“Yeah, he had almost convinced himself he can’t do this—-that he can’t be a dad to her. I made him eat some of your lasagna, which he inhaled by the way, and take a nap. I took care of Lexi, snuck in some shots with her little Alabama outfit, and cleaned up while they were both sleeping.”

“I can’t wait to see them. Evan didn’t catch you?” she asks.

“Nope, he slept through it all, so did Lexi,” I laugh. “Anyway, I’m going to grab a few things and stay over there tonight. He didn’t ask me to, but I don’t think he will. He’s too busy trying to prove he can do this. I feel bad for him because most people have a spouse or significant other to share in the duties. Evan is adjusting to all of this on his own,” I explain.

“That’s very nice of you, dear. I think Aaron is planning on stopping over in a little while also.”

“Even better. I can nap while he’s there and then take the last shift with Lexi. That will help Evan be available for her tomorrow during the day, so he can start to get a rou

tine down. Maybe once he gets the daytime routine without being exhausted, the nights will fall into place.”

“How did you get so smart?” she teases.

“Hey, Evan’s looking for someone to watch Lexi during the day. You know of anyone?” I ask her. I don’t even get to count to ten before she’s volunteering her services.

“Me. He can bring that sweet girl to me. I would love to watch her. I know Carla would do the same thing if I wasn’t able to do it for you or Aaron.” Mom and Carla are best friends. She was heartbroken when they moved to Alabama, but that’s what was best for Jeff and his treatments.

“I had a feeling you might feel that way. I’m good with helping too.”

“You make sure you tell him I would be honored to watch that little angel.”

“Will do. I’m going to go gather a few things and head over there. When Aaron gets there, I’ll sleep.” I dash up the stairs, throw some clothes into a bag, grab my toothbrush, and call it good. It’s not like I’m trying to impress him. I’m just trying to keep the guy from being dead on his feet, so he can take care of his daughter.

When I get back to Evan’s, I don’t bother knocking. I just walk on in. “Kinley?” Evan yells from what sounds like upstairs.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I call back. I can hear Lexi crying.

“Could you come up here please?” he yells back. His voice sounds funny. I drop my bag in the living room and make my way up the steps. “Where are you?” I ask. Her cries are getting louder as I reach the top of the steps.

“In the master bathroom,” he replies.

I slowly push open his bedroom door and Lexi’s cries are coming at me in surround sound. “Kinley,” Evan yells for me.

“Yeah, I’m here. What’s wrong?” I ask, pushing open the bathroom door. What I find has me biting my tongue, trying not to laugh. Evan has a naked Lexi, holding her high over the bathroom sink, and she’s covered in, well, shit. “Oh, my God, what happened?” I manage to ask. The look on his face is just too damn funny.

“What does it look like happened? My little angel made all this,” he says, nodding to her. “I’m in over my head here, Kinley,” he admits.

“Where is her bathtub?”

“Uh, I don’t know. In her room, I guess,” he breathes out. I rush out of the room and into Lexi’s in search of her bathtub. Sure enough, I find it in the bottom of her closet. I grab the caddy, which has all the baby wash, and snag one of her washcloths and towels before I dash back to Evan’s room.

“Give me just a second,” I say to Evan as I race back into the bathroom. I set the baby tub inside the big tub and turn the water on, throwing in the little rubber ducky that tells you if the water is too hot. Once the temperature is good, I stand and reach for the messy baby. “Let me have her.”

Evan hands her over, and I place her into her baby tub. The screams get even louder. “Looks like Miss Lexi doesn’t like bath time. It’s okay, sweet girl,” I coo to her.