Glenna worried her bottom lip, then reached for her seat belt. “Sure, we could get started on work.”
Or they could talk.
Yes, they were here for Fleur and for their families, but he also needed to use every moment of this time together to figure out his attraction to Glenna. If the opportunity presented itself, he wanted back in her bed. Because his desire for her messed with his thinking at a time when he needed clear focus.
The plane hit a pocket of air, bobbling for an instant, then settling. He latched on to Fleur as a topic that could open an honest dialogue with Glenna about how they would move forward. “Looks like Fleur is sleeping well. She’s a cute little munchkin, for sure.”
Glenna didn’t immediately respond, but when she did her words hit him with an emotional punch. “She could be your munchkin. Have you thought about being a father? And please don’t make a joke. I’m asking a serious question.”
He thought it over while the plane slid through the clouds, the white puffs dragging along the windscreen. He needed to offer up honest answers if he wanted her honesty in return.
“I’m known as the commitment-phobic sort, so I guess the answer naturally follows that I never expected to be a father.” He shrugged, eyes darting to the equipment on the dash. Everything was as it should be. “I’m careful,” he added, hoping the comment reminded her just how attentive he could be.
She inched down the zipper on her parka, the sound hinting at the intimacies he wanted to share with her.
“Broderick? Do you like children?” Her question corralled his heated thoughts.
“I’m not sure I’ll be a good father, but yes, I like children. I thought—hoped—I would be an uncle several times over by now.” Like him, his siblings were focused on their careers and less focused on child rearing.
“I just wondered, because you’ve made a concerted effort not to hold her, even though I could swear I see the hint of a natural.”
He thought about her words and the squeeze to his heart each time he saw the kid. “Oldest brother syndrome, I guess. I helped out with my siblings. But I honestly don’t have much experience with babies beyond the occasional employee bringing in a new son or daughter to show off around the office.”
“I hear Steele Oil has a top-notch on-site child care facility. I would assume you’ve seen it.”
He nodded in her direction, keeping his eyes on the horizon. “Yes, I tour every part of the building.”
“Hmm. So, the magazine photo shoot of you on the floor in the child care facility playing with toddlers wasn’t a publicity stunt.”
He could hear the playful smirk in her voice.
“You set me up with that lead in about the on-site day care.”
“I did. Although I am curious. Was it a ploy to win women?” she asked with a challenge in her voice.
“I was there visiting a friend’s child. I didn’t know the photos had even been taken until they showed up in the article.”
“That’s nice to know.”
“Don’t let those photos fool you, though. I’m still not the go-to guy on anything more than the fractions for mixing formula. I’m hoping you know more than I do about what we’re supposed to do with her.” They’d been dropped into caretaking with no warning. If Fleur was his, he would read all the books, figure it out.
“I have taken care of friends’ babies,” she said. “I have the nurse practitioner on speed dial, and we can look up answers on our phones. I expect you to give one hundred percent.”
“Totally on board with that. Willing to learn what I don’t know.” He’d always been willing to solve tough problems. He just needed the chance to get acclimated.
“Which brings me back to my original question. What happens if she’s your daughter?”
“Then I will be a father and I will work to be the best father I can be.”
And he meant it.
Although with each moment that passed, he saw Glenna growing more attached to the baby. He couldn’t help but worry about what it would mean for her to have no claim to the child.
His hopes of conversation making things easier between them had only reminded him of all the reasons this wasn’t a simple getaway meant to end with them in bed.
* * *
Broderick was certainly full of surprises. Or perhaps, more accurately, she was seeing a version of him that she’d forgotten about.
His commitment to the potential of being Fleur’s father reminded her of a twentysomething Broderick.
Memories floated in her mind’s eye as she watched him check some equipment, his lips forming a satisfied curl as he read the numbers.