Temptation - Brenda Jackson [23]
“Shh, little one. Sheila needs her rest. Come on, I’m not that bad. She likes me. I kissed her. Get over it.”
When her crying suddenly slowed to a low whimper, he wondered if perhaps this kid did understand.
Five
Something—Sheila wasn’t sure exactly what—woke her up, and her gaze immediately went to the clock on the nightstand: 7:00 p.m. She quickly slid out of bed and raced down the stairs then halted at the last step. There, stretched out on the sofa was Zeke with Sunnie on his chest. They were both asleep and, since the baby was wearing one of the cute pj sets they’d purchased yesterday, it was obvious he’d given her a bath. In fact, the air was filled with the fragrance of baby oil mixed with baby powder. She liked the smell.
She wished she had a camera to take a picture. This was definitely a Kodak moment. She slowly tiptoed to the chair across from the sofa and sat down. Even while sleeping, Zeke was handsome, and his long lashes almost fanned his upper cheeks. He didn’t snore. Crawford snored something awful. Another comparison of the two men.
She wondered if he’d ever dumped a woman the way Crawford had dumped her. Good old Crawford, the traveling salesman, who spent a lot of time on the road…and as she later found out while he’d been on the road, in other women’s beds. She remembered the time she would anxiously await his long-distance calls and how she would feel when she didn’t get them. How lonely she would be when she didn’t hear from him for days.
And she would never forget that day when he did show back up, just to let her know he was marrying someone else. A woman he’d met while out peddling his medical supplies. He had wanted her to get on with her life because he had gotten on with his. She took his advice. Needing to leave Dallas, the next time an opportunity came for a transfer to another hospital, she had taken it.
She continued to stare at Zeke and wondered what his story was. He’d told her bits and pieces and she figured that was all she would get. So far he hadn’t mentioned anything about a mother. His comment yesterday pretty much sealed the fact he hadn’t known his father. And from what he’d told her today, his aunt in New Orleans had raised him. Had his mother died? She drew in a deep breath, thinking it really wasn’t any of her business. Still, she couldn’t help being curious about the hunk stretched out on her sofa. The man who had kissed her twice. The man who’d literally knocked sense right out of her brain.
And that wasn’t good. That meant it was time for him to leave. Yesterday she had appreciated his help in shopping with her for baby items. Today she appreciated the pizza. There couldn’t be a tomorrow.
Easing out of the chair, she crossed the room and gently shook him awake. She sucked in a deep breath when his eyes snapped open and his beautiful dark eyes stared up at her. Pinned her to the spot where she was standing. They didn’t say anything but stared at each other for the longest time. She felt his stare as if his gaze was a physical caress.
And while he stared at her, she remembered things. She remembered how good his mouth felt on hers. How delicious his tongue tasted in her mouth. How his tongue would slide from side to side while driving her to the brink of madness. It made her wonder just what else that tongue was capable of doing.
She blushed and she knew he’d noticed because his gaze darkened. “What were you thinking just now?”
Did he really expect her to tell him? Fat chance! Some things he was better off not knowing and that was definitely one of them. “I was thinking that it’s time for me to put Sunnie to bed.”
“I doubt that would have made you blush.”
She doubted it, too, but she would never admit to it. Instead of responding to what he’d said, she reached for Sunnie. “I’m taking her upstairs and putting her to bed.” Once she had the baby cradled in her arms, she walked off.
When she had gone up the stairs, Zeke eased into a sitting position