Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Thank you. It’s perfect,” I whispered as I stepped out of his embrace.
Declan released me and glanced at Joy. “There’s an elephant on that bag you carry. And she has a stuffed elephant. I told Patricia to go with that theme.”
“Great idea. Molly loved elephants. She would have approved of this room for Joy.”
Declan grunted, and our awkward conversation ground to a halt. I wandered the room, looking over the toys and decorations. There were even elephants on the bedsheets. I’d made a complete circuit without coming up with something new to say. It wasn’t as if Declan were a big talker. It was usually me rambling about a bunch of nonsense that he didn’t care about. Yet things felt different now, and I didn’t think it had anything to do with the baby in the center of the room playing “Pop Goes the Weasel” on an endless loop.
Thankfully, Declan’s assistant rescued us.
Franks stuck his head into the room. “I apologize for the intrusion, sir, but Chef Donovan was wondering about lunch. Should he serve it at the regular time of noon, or should we make new accommodations for Miss Cain?”
Declan said nothing but stared at me.
“Lunch! Yes, that’s a brilliant idea. What time is it now?”
“Twenty until twelve now, sir,” Franks replied.
“Wow! Time flies when you’re shopping. Yes, Joy needs to eat, but first she could use a fresh diaper. Joy and I will be down shortly,” I announced in a very loud rush before darting to lift the child out of her new chair.
“Excellent. Shall we do the same as breakfast—two purees and half a bottle?”
“That would be perfect.”
Instead of leaving, Franks entered the room and motioned toward the changing table and dresser. “I didn’t have the chance to put away her clothes, but I set up the changing station for you.” With a bit of a flourish, Franks pulled open a drawer neatly filled with diapers. He then took a step to the side and opened another box that I thought was purely decorative. Inside there was a stunning assortment of lotions, wipes, and even ointments to treat diaper rash. Fucking everything I could need for changing Joy’s diaper, all within easy reach. No more frantic hunting and scrambling to find things.
“Holy crap, that’s amazing!” I exhaled as I laid Joy on the padded table.
“Wonderful job, Franks,” Declan murmured.
The assistant beamed at his employer, looking as if he were about to burst. I bit my tongue to keep from laughing, only because I knew that feeling all too well. Declan wasn’t effusive in his praise, but there was something about getting a taciturn guy to say you did a good job that made you want to preen.
“Thank you, sir. I will go alert Chef Donovan to your lunch plans.”
“I would be surprised if she eats all of her lunch,” I mumbled as I worked on getting Joy’s shorts off.
“You don’t think she’ll be hungry.”
I shrugged one shoulder as I pulled out a fresh diaper. “She is, but it’s been a busy day. I suspect she’s going to fall asleep while eating.”
“Oh.” There was a long pause where Declan didn’t speak, and I fought a wiggling baby who didn’t want to let me get at her diaper. “Parker?”
“Yeah?”
“Could you…teach me how to change a diaper?”
Joy’s wiggles were forgotten for a moment as my head jerked to stare at my companion. “What? Really?”
Declan nodded. “In case you need me to watch her. I’ve never changed a diaper. It’s not something I wish to do incorrectly.”
“Ah…okay,” I mumbled while trying to kick my brain out of neutral. I’d never imagined Declan wanting to watch Joy. Not that I’d gotten the impression it had been a terrible experience for either of them—but I’d thought it would be a quick, one-time thing. I’d expected Declan to cut all ties with me once I was out of his hair. Who wanted to schedule a weekly fuck with a guy who had to plan around his kid’s sleep schedule?
“Is that a problem? Would you not feel comfortable with me—”
“No! It’s fine. I trust you. Your request surprised me.” I rebounded after hearing the hesitance in his voice and jumped right back in. “Diaper changing is super easy. Especially with these disposable ones. I remember Molly debating between cloth diapers and these disposables. When she considered all the washing, she went with disposable and I am so freaking glad. The first step is getting the wiggle worm to lie on a blanket or on the changing table. You’ll need a fresh diaper and some wipes close at hand. Once you get her undressed from the waist down, you pull these little tabs to unfasten the diaper and—”
I didn’t get any further in my instructions. My sweet, precious daughter had dumped a massive stinky load into her diaper. Poor Declan gagged and gasped before charging out of the room. I might have gasped, but that gave way to near-crippling laughter. My vision blurred from the unshed tears and I kept one hand on Joy’s belly as I laughed, struggling to stay on my feet.