Chapter 8
“Remind me never to complain about Boozer’s whining again.”
Sloane
“This is a mistake. This is the biggest mistake of my life.”
Boozer barks.
“Glad you agree.”
He barks again.
“You can’t be barking tonight. Baby Adele needs quiet.”
He whines before laying down. I swear he understands what I’m saying.
We arrive at Zane’s house and I park in the driveway. I blow out a breath and pause a moment to enjoy how lovely his house is. It’s a ranch with a big front porch and an attached garage. It’s not huge, but it appears cozy – a home.
My stomach sours. A home. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a home? A place with a family you can rely on. A safe place you don’t have to worry about being kicked out of.
I’ve been trying to build a home for myself since I was eighteen. I’m now thirty-one, and I’m the furthest I’ve ever been from having a home. Something needs to change. But I’m not sure what or how to make change happen.
Zane motions to me from the front door. How is it possible, he looks even sexier holding a baby in his arms?
As if he needed any help in the sexy department.
Zane Raider has enough sex appeal on his own with his lush brown hair that curls slightly at the ends, his piercing blue eyes, and the three-day scruff of a beard on his square jaw.
Not to mention those broad shoulders that appear able to carry the weight of the world on them.
Not for me, I remind myself. Zane Raider is not for me.
I snort. Zane is for every woman. One night only.
I have no interest in a player. Which is why Zane is off limits. With a capital O to the hell no.
I open the door and Boozer leaps over my lap. He rushes to the front door and I chase after him.
Zane bends down to scratch behind my dog’s ears and I nearly melt. There’s something incredibly sexy about a man who loves dogs.
Knock it off, Sloane. Zane isn’t your man.
“Come on in.” Zane motions into the house.
I was right. His house is a home. The sofas in the living room look comfy and well-used. The oversized television attests to hours spent relaxing in the room.
“This is…” I trail off to yawn.
He chuckles. “Let me show you to your room before you fall asleep standing.”
I can actually fall asleep standing. I’ve done it behind the bar once or twice.
Zane leads me down a hallway. We pass a bedroom I assume is his. It smells of the oaky musk he uses. There’s a huge unmade bed and not much else in the room.
We continue past another open door. This room is a mess of boxes. The only piece of furniture I can make out is the crib in the corner.
We come to the final door and Zane flings it open. “It isn’t much, but the bed is more comfortable than your car.”
I let the car comment go. I’m too tired to explain my current living situation.
“Thanks.” I scan the room. It’s smaller than his, but it’s an adequate size with a double bed, a dresser, and some nightstands.
Boozer launches himself through the air and lands on the bed. I cringe. “Sorry. He’s used to sleeping on the bed. I’ll get his doggy bed from the car.”
Zane stops me with a hand on my wrist. My pulse skips at the skin-to-skin contact. I can’t help but wonder. How would it feel if he were to touch other parts of my body? With his fingers? And his tongue? My stomach tingles with excitement.
I step away from him before I lose what little is left of my sanity and jump him. Bad idea. He’s a player. Plus, he’s holding a baby.
Zane clears his throat. “He can sleep there. I don’t mind. Sheets can be washed.”
I lift an eyebrow. “You know how to do laundry?”
He shrugs. “I have a washing machine. I can find directions on how to use it online.”
My mouth gapes open. Is he serious? Granted, he’s only twenty-five, but he must know how to use a washing machine.
He barks out a laugh. “The look on your face. I know how to do laundry.”
And why is his ability to do a domestic skill sexy? Why? I must be starved for affection. There’s no other reasonable explanation since I know better than to get involved with a player.
“I guess Boozer’s sleeping on the bed.” I yawn again. “Sorry. I closed the bar down tonight.”
“Not a problem.” He nudges me forward into the bedroom. “Bathroom’s down the hall. Towels are inside. Get some sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“Thanks,” I mutter before shutting the door.
I faceplant in the bed. Boozer cuddles up to me. I fall asleep before I can wrap an arm around him.
“Wah!”
I awake at the sound. I blink at the darkness. Where am I? This isn’t my car. Or my apartment.
Oh, right. Zane found me sleeping in my car. My face warms with embarrassment but I ignore it. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. The situation is temporary.
“WAAH!”
I roll over and cover my head with the pillow. Some little baby girl is not a happy camper.
The cries continue, but I ignore them. This is not my problem. I shouldn’t stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.
Boozer whines. “It’s not our problem to deal with.”
He barks. “Shush.”
He settles with his head on his paws to stare at me with his big brown eyes. I roll over. I’m not getting involved.
“WAAH! WAAH!”
“Oh, for mermaid’s sake.” I roll out of bed and stomp out of the room.
Zane is pacing the living room with Adele in his arms. “Go to sleep, baby girl. I need my sleep. If you think I’m cranky now, wait until the morning.”
My heart warms. Zane is utterly adorable, pleading with his daughter for a bit of sleep. It’s useless, but he’s adorable.
“Can I help?”
He whirls around. “Fuck. Did I wake you?” He shakes his head. “Of course, I woke you.”
“Technically, she did.”
“Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. She’s been crying all night. Walking her was helping before but it’s not anymore.”
“Is she hungry?”
“I fed her two hours ago.”
“Dirty diaper?”
“She’s dry.”
“Is she teething?”
“Teething?” The color drains from his face. “Will she cry this way while she teethes?”
“The entire time.”
He swallows. “Maybe she’ll be back with her mom before then.”
I blink. “You’re not keeping her?”
“I’m not cut out to be a dad.”
What a bunch of seal blubber. He is a dad whether he wants to be one or not. He can step up and be an adult about the situation. Or he can run away. I guess I know which direction he’s leaning toward.
“Is she sick?”
“How would I know?”
“Does she have a fever? Is she having difficulty breathing? Is her skin pale or blue or blotchy?”
His mouth drops open. “How do you know all this?”
“I worked at a daycare when I was in high school.”
I don’t bother to add I had to work because otherwise I couldn’t be sure my mom would remember to feed me. He doesn’t need to know my pathetic story. Besides, he wouldn’t care.
“She doesn’t feel warm.”
“Do you have a thermometer?”
He shrugs. “Maybe in one of the million bags Dakota and my mom gave me.”
His mom and sister-in-law gave him all the supplies he needs for his surprise baby? Wow. Must be nice knowing you can rely on your siblings and mom.
“May I?” I reach for the baby but wait for his nod before touching her. I place her against my shoulder and rub her back. “Sometimes rubbing a baby’s back helps.”
I feel Adele’s tummy rumble before she burps.
“Good girl. She just needed to release some trapped air.”
“Damn.” Zane runs his hand through his hair. “I forgot to burp her after her last feeding. I suck worse at being a parent than I thought I would.”
“There’s no need to become a drama queen. Any parent can be forgetful. Ask me about the time my mother left me at the gas station in Florida some day.”
Please don’t ask. I don’t want to explain how my mother forgot I was in the bathroom and drove off without me. I waited at the gas station for twelve hours before she returned.
Twelve hours. It took her six hours to remember she has a daughter.
“Here.” I offer him the baby. “I need to change my shirt.”
“Crap. I’m sorry.”
“It’s no big deal. But you do need to curb your swearing around Adele.”
“It’s fine. She doesn’t understand.”
“But she will some day.”
“Some day. Right.”
I can practically see the wheels turning in his head. He’s thinking Adele won’t be around long enough to understand his swearing.
Wow. Zane is a bigger jerk than I imagined. How can anyone abandon their child?
I could ask my dad. Assuming I knew where he was.