Maverick (The Family Simon 3)

She winced as the door squeaked and paused, relieved that the swell of voices coming from the front room didn’t stop. She could hear Connor talking excitedly about the Bruins and his keyboards. With a grin, Charlie hopped over the squeaky bottom step and crept upstairs.

She strode into her bedroom hands tangled up in her shirt, and tossed it onto her bed. No. That would be a lie. Charlie stood in the middle of her bedroom, dressed in dirty jeans, her work boots, and a bra. And she gazed in horror at her grease stained T-shirt as it lay beside none other than Donovan James.

Donovan James who was breastfeeding her baby.

Donovan James whose smile was as startling as her face.

“Shit,” Charlie said softly. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” Donovan said with a wink. “Unless you’re someone other than Charlie.”

“No one but me would whip a dirty shirt at a new mother.” Charlie crossed the room and scooped the T-shirt up, this time aiming for the laundry hamper next to her closet.

“I’m just going to grab some clean clothes and…” She pointed to the bathroom.

“Do whatever you want sugar. I’m almost done here.”

Charlie rummaged through her dresser and found a clean pair of jeans, along with a simple black T-shirt. She washed her hands and quickly got dressed. She brushed her teeth and tried not to think about the fact that Rick’s family was here.

She loosened her knot of hair and brushed it out quickly and after sliding her feet into a pair of flats, walked back out into her bedroom.

“Honey, can you take her for me?”

“Oh,” Charlie replied a little uncertain. “Sure.”

She took the baby, marveling at how small and delicate she was. “She’s got a lot of hair,” Charlie murmured, smoothing the unruly strands from the baby’s forehead.

“I know right? It’s the reason I had so much heartburn. Or so I’m told.”

Donovan got her clothes put back together and smiled at Charlie. “I’m so happy to finally meet you. I swear these past few weeks have just whipped by and I hope you don’t think we’re rude because it took so long to come out and visit.”

“No. Not at all.”

Charlie held the baby and rocked her gently, loving the way the little girl’s eyes were so expressive. A feeling of such longing rushed through her, that it brought tears to her eyes.

“That’s a good look on you.”

Her head whipped up and she spied Rick standing just inside the door, with a handsome man, a few paces behind. As always, when she saw Rick Simon her heart turned over.

“Are you guys keeping something from us?” his cousin Jack asked with a grin as he moved into the room.

“No,” Charlie answered, more than a little rattled.

“Not yet, anyway,” Rick murmured, coming up alongside her and staring down at little Lily. “I’m going to make an honest woman out of her but she wants to finish school first.”

“Maverick told me you’re heading back to MIT?” Jack asked.

Charlie nodded. “Yes. My friend Davis is taking over the garage and I’m going to get my degree and Rick’s going to…”

“Stay right here,” he said softly, dropping a kiss onto the edge of her nose.

She swallowed hard when he took the baby from her. What was it about the sight of a big, strong man holding a small child that made her weak in the knees?

“Why is everyone in here?” Connor asked brightly, poking his head in from the hallway.

“We’re heading down bud,” Rick replied. “Donovan wants to hear that song you wrote.”

“Okay. Come on.”