I straightened. "Orthree. You heard that part, right?"
"Big difference between ten and three."
I loved kids. But would Itrulyhave ten?Doubtful.For one thing, kids were expensive – as my mom had reminded me nonstop when I'd been growing up.
Going for a joke, I said, "Well maybe there's three sets of triplets." I did the math and hesitated. "Plus one extra."
Carry the one, right?
"Yeah?" Jax said, looking oddly intrigued. "This extra kid, does he have a name?"
His eyes were so compelling, I could hardly think. Absently, I murmured, "Jax." I gave a little gasp.
Isohadn't meant to say that.
And now, that name –hisname – hung there like an accidental burp.
Oops.
Quickly I added, "I mean, well, it's a nice name."
He grinned. "Yeah?"
"Definitely. And um, you could be its uncle or something."
Uncle?
Good Lord.
His eyebrows lifted. "So who's the dad? Jaden?"
"What?" I forced a laugh. "God, no. Why would you saythat?" And then it hit me. Of course, in order for Jax to be the uncle, I'd have to create this fictional baby with his brother.
Yikes.
What I needed now was a muzzle.
For myself.
I said, "You know what? Forget I said that."
"I guess I'd better," Jax said, looking highly amused, "unless youwantme to kick Jaden's ass."
I was flattered and flustered all at the same time. Now, I laughed for real. "I was thinking you'd be more of anhonoraryuncle."
He was still giving me that look. "But just an uncle, huh?"
Or something more.
But there was no way on Earth I'd be sayingthat, especially on our first official date. And besides, I wasn't even going tothinkabout kids without marriage first.
My mom had plenty of faults, but there was a reason I cut her too much slack. I'd seen firsthand, it hadn't been easy raising a kid alone with no dad in sight.
Now, looking at Jax, I didn't know what to say. Finally, I settled on, "Well, we're just joking, right?"
His gaze didn't waver. "I'm not. Are you?"
Oh, God.I hadn't expected him to say that. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I mean, I haven't given it a ton of thought."
