Page 48 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
Nine
They returned home the last week of January and she moved into his condo with a suite containing an enormous master bedroom. Her first task was to redo the adjoining room into a nursery so Michael would be close at hand.
She went to the office twice a week, but the rest of the time was spent at home with Michael while decorators transformed the room into the new nursery. It was idyllic and after the passionate honeymoon, each night with Nick was paradise.
The last day of January, she bubbled with eagerness for Nick’s arrival. She had bathed and dressed in new red pants and a red silk shirt. She was on the nursery floor with Michael, stacking toy plastic rings on a wide plastic peg when Nick entered the room.
“At last you’re here,” she said, coming to her feet to cross the room to kiss him. He pulled her close, kissing her long and thoroughly before releasing her because Michael was throwing blocks.
“I think I miss you more each day.”
“I hope you do, because I miss you and can’t wait for you to walk through that door.”
“I can’t wait for bed,” he said, kissing her again. “Whoa,” Nick said, abruptly ending his kiss and looking down at Michael, who was tugging on his pant leg and trying to pull himself up.
“Hey, fella.” Nick bent to scoop up Michael “Are you wanting some attention, too?” he asked, swinging Michael up to kiss his cheek. “Have you been waiting for your dad to get home?”
She wondered how long it would take her to get used to hearing Nick refer to himself as Dad. It had been Nick’s suggestion because he said he was legally going to become Michael’s father. It suited her, but she hadn’t grown accustomed to thinking of Nick as a dad. She had tried to teach Michael to say “dad.”
Michael laughed and held out his small arms and Nick hugged him. He handed Michael to Grace. “Take him a minute and let me get out of this jacket and tie.”
When she sat on the floor again and took Michael from Nick, she watched Nick shed his coat and tie. Wind had tangled his thick hair. He looked virile, energetic, sexy. She wanted to be in his arms and to make love, but Michael was awake and she needed to care for him and, shortly, feed him.
Nick dropped down beside her, brushing a light kiss on her mouth while Michael wiggled to get free. She set him down and he began to climb on Nick, who lay on the floor and swung Michael above his head, making Michael giggle.
“You’re an easy one to please,” Nick said to the baby while Michael babbled. He swung Michael to the floor and set him down, scooting back to roll a ball to him. Michael laughed and picked it up to try to chew on it.
“Hey, that’s not what you do,” Nick said, taking the ball. “When does he outgrow chewing on everything?”
“Probably when he has more teeth.”
“That’s going to be next year at the rate he’s going,” Nick said, and she smiled.
“The pediatrician said his teething is quite normal,” she said. She had been surprised and pleased by how much Nick enjoyed playing with Michael. His attention to Michael seemed to grow steadily. She wondered if it was a deliberate effort on Nick’s part to make her happy or if he truly enjoyed Michael.
“Your dad called today and I told him we would bring Michael to see him either this evening or tomorrow.”
“We can go now. We can grab something to eat on the way. Dad will have already eaten.” Nick continued to play with Michael, but he turned to smile at her. “I’ve thought about you all day. Let’s go right now so we can come home early.”
“Good plan, Nick,” she said, thinking that he sounded like a man in love even if he didn’t say he was. Or was she fooling herself? Nick seemed deeply interested in Michael. She prayed he was falling in love with her and that love for Michael was growing, real love that would make him want them all to stay together.
Nick stood and picked up Michael, carrying him to put on his jacket and place him in the carrier. She watched Nick bending over the baby, talking to him and Michael smiling at Nick.
“Da,” Michael said, holding up his arms.
Startled, Nick glanced at her. “Did you hear him? He called me ‘Da.’”
Surprised herself, she watched Michael as Nick picked him up again. “Da,” Michael mimicked, playing with Nick’s nose.
“Hey, he’s calling me Dad,” Nick said, grinning at her.
She placed her hand on her hip and stared at Nick. “I never thought I would see you happy about that,” she said, amazed at Nick’s reaction.
“I think it’s great. I’m his dad now and will legally be for the rest of both of our lives whatever happens with you and me,” Nick said, making cute faces at Michael and shaking his head, causing Michael to giggle.
Nick’s casual “whatever happens to you and me” hurt. The marriage was still a temporary state in his mind, and it didn’t sound as if he had given the slightest consideration to making it something lasting.
“You’re turning into a good dad, Nick.”
