“I was just going to feed the boys and get them to bed.”
“I’ll help.” He stepped inside and moved to the kitchen, putting the food and wine down on the counter. “We can heat dinner up when we’re done.”
He swooped in and picked up Caleb. “Now tell me, did mommy behave herself on her first day?”
Caleb just giggled. Saxon looked over at her and winked.
She shook her head but didn’t argue as he took over watching the boys while she quickly fixed their bottles. He gave Caleb his bottle. Damn, he looked far too good with a baby in his arms.
The boys went off to sleep easily. Thank God. But as soon as they were down, she realized she no longer had a buffer between her and Saxon.
She walked into the small kitchen area and pulled out some cardboard containers. She looked inside. Fried chicken. Her stomach growled.
“Thank you for bringing dinner, it looks delicious.”
He grabbed some plates and cutlery while she heated up the food. “Did you eat lunch?”
She shook her head. “I was too busy.”
“That’s not good enough. You need to eat to keep up your strength. Don’t let it happen again.”
She saluted him behind his back.
He turned and gave her a stern look. She smiled brightly.
“Aspen, I want you to tell me if Renard is being too much of an asshole. I mean, I know it’s his personality . . .”
She laughed. “That it is.”
“Want some wine?”
“Oh no, I’m a lightweight. I’m happy with water.”
“Is the stroller all right?” he asked as they sat at the counter to eat.
“All right? It’s amazing. But you really shouldn’t have.”
“It’s a gift. And don’t you even dare tell me that you’ll pay me back.”
She heard the warning note in his voice and nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
He stood to take his empty plate into the kitchen and stopped to brush his hand down her back. “You’re welcome, sprite. Remember, I want you to come to me if you need anything. With Renard or the boys. All right?”
“Sure,” she agreed, even knowing she wouldn’t.
7
Exhaustion pulled at her.
She tried to calm herself as she walked up and down the small living room in the guest house. Caleb was held against her chest as she bounced him up and down slightly, attempting to soothe him.
“Poor baby,” she said to him in a low croon as he snuggled in against her with a pained cry. “If I could take away the pain, I would.”
It was all she could do not to cry herself. Her head was throbbing. It was after midnight. She hadn’t been sleeping well and now she had one very grumpy little boy to look after. Teething was the pits. Poor little guy.
She’d given him some acetaminophen and a cool teething ring she kept in the freezer, but he didn’t want anything but her. A wave of dizziness rushed over her. She needed some sleep but she didn’t see how that would be happening tonight. Moving tiredly to the recliner, she sat. Immediately, Caleb started crying.
“Sh, sh, sh,” she told him desperately as she rocked back and forth in the chair. “It’s okay. Mama’s here.”