Page 13 of A Complicated Bride

“You go and we’ll see you later.” Then he turned to me, winked and said, “Follow me to the baby’s bathroom.”

I picked up the second little girl who stopped whimpering immediately when I hugged her to my chest. I don’t know which one of us was more comforted, me or the sweet little girl. I touched her peach fuzz hair and smelled that baby smell wafting from her and followed Bradley Simmons, world-renowned photographer of the stars to the bathroom to bathe the babies. Lead by my drooling uterus, I stuck close behind the man with the broad back and the baby on his shoulder and almost wept with longing when he nuzzled her cheek and coochie cooed her, making her laugh.

I ran the water as soon as we found the correct bathroom, denoted by the floaty toys and changing table. Brad tested the temperature, for some reason using his elbow.

“It’s a better measure of what the baby will feel. Your hands being out in the weather and touching all manner of things are too de-sensitized to give the true sense of heat.”

I nodded at him, taken in whether he had a clue for real or not, while I sat on the edge of the platform surrounding the giant tub with the two babies in my lap squirming.

“I think they love their baths. Please tell me the water is ready.”

“Don’t get frazzled yet, honey. We’ve barely begun. Almost there.” He turned the cold water faucet on again.

“How is it that a confirmed bachelor like you, admittedly knowing nothing of babies, could be so without … frazzle?” I really wanted to know.

He aimed his lady killer grin at me and damned if it didn’t work. Teddy never smiled at me like that. I didn’t think Teddy knew how to smile like that. But Bradly had lots of practice didn’t he. I calmed down my quivering mess of a stomach before the infectious excitement went any further.

“Cool is my specialty. Coaxing difficult spoiled stars out of their tantrums can’t be much different than handling a couple of ten-month old babies, can it?”

“I suppose you have a point there.”

When he dipped his elbow a second time, competence oozing from him, the quivering started up again and my shaky smile couldn’t be stopped along with the vibrating, melting sensation that reached deep inside me to those most private and sensitive of places. I had to stop watching him. I had to stop talking to him. I’d just broken off my engagement that morning, hadn’t I? This was no time to jump into a dead-end rebound romance with a world-class playboy.

Or was it?

“Water’s ready.” Brad reached out and took the baby from my left knee and I squelched the disappointment that it wasn’t me he’d reached for.

I was far too horny than was healthy. Maybe I needed to do something about it after all. But the squirming screeching baby on my knee rescued me from throwing myself at a man who’d been far too used to women throwing themselves at him.

Once we got the babies in the bath and settled into their floating seats I focused on them and getting them clean and enjoying their baby fun. I was glad I was properly dressed for water games and splashing babies. Their screeches of delight echoed through the room and I found myself joining in the laughter.

“This soap is slippery enough little tike, hold still,” Brad spoke half to himself and looking intent on getting the cleaning job done.

“Don’t worry, there’s enough soapy bubbles in the water to get them good and clean.”

“You ever bathe a baby before?” He flashed a glance at me, holding his charge firmly with one hand and the soap with the other.

“No. What’s your point?”

The soap slipped from his hand. The baby screeched and dipped sideways and splashed as he leaned forward. Brad looked like he’d been through a tsunami. I laughed, nothing ladylike, a belly rolling laugh that took up my whole body.

“At least I know not to wear a designer suit and expensive shirt while bathing babies.

“Touche.” He grinned, going with the flow. He seemed to be very good at going with the flow, easy and unflustered by whatever came his way. Whether it was Julie with a head of steam, Roark with a murderous look, or baby twins in a bath.

I knew I shouldn’t and I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help comparing him to Teddy. Theodore would have been flustered into shut-down mode at any one of those provocations. He’d have turned beat red and his mouth would have gone thin and he’d have pushed the glasses up on his nose a dozen times and maybe tried sputtering some inane apology whether one was needed or not.

I’d seen it. Not often because Teddy was good at running before things got out of hand. Unlike Brad who walked toward Julie, meeting her head on and how he volunteered to bathe the wins. Although I had to say he’d been wise not to turn and confront Roark back at Tammy’s house. He’d made a wise decision ignoring all that macho possessiveness.

Brad knew how to handle people. I’d better make sure I remember that while he’s handling me.

If I’m lucky.

Enough of the drooling.

“Let’s get you out of this bath know before you shrivel that beautiful baby skin,” I said to my baby girl.

“Good idea.” Brad tossed me a towel because I’d forgotten all about the fact that the soaking wet baby would need one. I caught it and because my defenses were back up I gave him sass.