Page 28 of From the Embers
She looks up at me surprised. “Wow, you’re good with kids, too?”
I grin. “I wouldn’t say I’m great with them, but kids love me, plus I’ve never dropped one on its head, so that’s a bonus.”
She smiles, handing me her precious bundle. My cousins have kids, so it’s not the first time I’ve rocked a baby to sleep. I adore the twins, but they’re at that stage where they’re crawling around and getting into everything.
“Hey, bud,” I say as the baby looks up at me. He’s actually cute, and I say that with all sincerity. Not every baby is blessed with good genes, not that I’d say that outloud.
I don’t make him cry, so that’s a bonus. Dylan shakes his head when he comes to check on us, then tells us he’s gonna head downstairs to let JJ know we’ve got Julia and the baby out safely. Lucky for us it’s not a busy time of day, and another tenant was able to get the doors open and crawl out—not something I’d recommend, but people panic.
Julia talks to her husband, and from what I can hear, he sounds pretty frantic.
“JC,” I say as he heads my way. “Gotta get this stroller downstairs, you good to grab it while I help Julia down?”
“Sure, bud.”
She ends her call and I confirm with her that she was on her way down. “My husband was going to come home, but we’re going to meet him halfway,” she says. “He was pretty frantic.”
“I guessed as much,” I say. “We’re happy to get the stroller down for you, and anything else you need.”
“Thanks,” she says, then smiles at me as I go to hand back Lachlan. “You’re so good with him.”
“Well, clearly he’s a momma’s boy. Are you good carrying him down?”
She nods. “Thank you, all of you, so much.”
JC, always a man of few words, gives her a chin lift, then picks up the stroller like it weighs nothing and we head for the stairs.
“Anytime,” I say, tongue in cheek. “Not that we wanna be back here again, but the tech is downstairs, and they should have everything sorted out soon. The super will know more.”
When Julia is safely on the ground level with Lachlan, I check my phone while I wait for the guys. I smile at the incoming text.
Red Robin
My new friend from work asked if I wanted to go to a club this Saturday. You down for it, old man?
I laugh out loud.
Denver
Don’t tell me it’s Shadow and Sin
A few moments pass.
Red Robin
I just googled it. Wow, D, a sex club? I’d never have pegged you for it
Denver
I haven’t been there, but some of the guys have, and Crown and Veil, but that’s a gay strip club
Red Robin
Any secret kinks you wanna work out?
My eyes round.
Denver
