LITMIR.BIZ

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would happen. Little things would be the problem. Close quarters would multiply their awareness of each other and that would make the night long and uncomfortable.

      Jared walked over to the seating arrangement and took the bags from her. “We’re just around the corner. I’ll go with you and Molly to the room, open the door and then go back and park the SUV.”

      He looked so nervous that Elise smiled reassuringly. “Thanks.”

      He motioned her to precede him out the door. Elise stepped out into the cold again, tucking Molly’s blanket tightly around her as they ran to the door of the hotel room. Jared let them in, deposited her things in the closet and left quickly.

      When he was gone, Elise got a fresh bottle for Molly and sat on the bed. Spending the night in the same room was going to be too awkward for words. But right now her baby needed to be fed, so she occupied herself with feeding Molly, cooing to her as she suckled, putting her fears behind her until she actually had to face them.

      When Molly was done eating, Jared opened the door. He walked his duffel bag to the closet and tossed it beside her suitcase. The intimacy of their things sitting together sent nerves thrumming through Elise. She swallowed.

      “Do you and Molly need the bathroom first?”

      He turned as he asked the question, and Elise’s eyes made an involuntary sweep of his body. Strong thighs encased in his jeans. Tight tummy beneath a T-shirt. Broad shoulders.

      A shiver of feminine longing raced through her.

      Lord, why had she done that?

      She redirected her gaze and her attention to Molly’s diaper bag and began rifling through it for a clean diaper and pajamas. “That would be a good idea. That way I can put her to sleep while you’re showering.”

      He frowned. “I know I’m new at this whole baby thing, but what do you do with her while you’re showering?”

      “She sits in the baby seat in the bathroom, so I can peek at her occasionally and hear her if she cries.”

      “Why not just bring her out here once she’s had her bath and is in her pajamas?”

      “I don’t want to bother you.”

      He met her gaze. “Aren’t we past that yet?”

      His usually stormy-gray eyes were no less troubled tonight. If anything, they seemed to be churning with even more emotion. Or maybe a new emotion. He needed her to trust him. Their situation was awkward but they were both honest, decent people. If she didn’t know at least that about him, how could he stay in the same room with her for an entire night? And if he couldn’t sleep in the only room left in the hotel, where would he sleep? The SUV? The hotel lobby?

      They’d been handing the baby back and forth enough already that it really did seem ridiculous to have Molly sit in the baby seat on the floor of the bathroom. Surely she could muster that much trust.

      “I guess.”

      “So when you’re done with her, bring her out and tell me what to do.”

      “Okay.”

      “Okay.”

      He picked up the television remote control from the dresser, and Elise took Molly, her clean clothes and her baby soaps and lotions into the bathroom. She didn’t have any accessories like a baby tub, so she had to hold Molly with one hand and scrub her with the other. By the time she was done, Elise was nearly as wet as Molly.

      She walked the baby into the bedroom. Jared sat on the bed, pillow propped behind him, watching the news. He met her gaze. “What do you want me to do with Molly?”

      She could have happily drowned in his pretty gray eyes. But except for the fleeting attraction she’d felt from him the time they loaded her things into the SUV at the bus stop, the only emotion she’d gotten from him was his need to be trusted. The physical attraction appeared to be only her battle. And it was a stupid battle. Really. Her being worried that a rich guy who worked with celebrities wanted her so much he wouldn’t be able to control himself? Now that was wishful thinking.

      So she looked away, pretending great interest in stowing Molly’s dirty clothes in the plastic bag she kept in her suitcase for laundry. “She’s eaten and she’s clean. So she’s probably sleepy. Usually I would hold her or play with her until she rubs her eyes, then I’d put her in bed.”

      “Then, that’s what I’ll do.”

      “Crib’s not here yet.”

      “It’s a busy night. I’m sure it will be here by the time Molly’s ready to go to sleep. If not, we’ll watch TV.”

      She took a breath, suddenly uncomfortable. Deep down, she knew he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Molly. Yet part of her shimmied with fear over leaving her with him. “I don’t feel right about this.”

      “Afraid I’ll wait until you’re occupied and steal her the way I was afraid you’d steal my SUV if I left you with the keys?”

      She laughed uneasily. “No. But—”

      “But you don’t think I’m capable of entertaining Molly?”

      “I know you are.”

      “Then what?”

      It seemed foolish to lump him in with her untrustworthy dad and equally untrustworthy Patrick, when all Jared was asking to do was watch her baby for a few minutes. Still, now that the moment was here it felt wrong to simply trust him. To trust anybody.

      “I just don’t like anybody doing the things I’m supposed to be doing.”

      “Why?”

      “Why?”

      “Yeah, why?”

      She remembered being about ten, sitting by the window of the little house she shared with her mom, praying her dad would come back—wishing her mom wouldn’t have to worry anymore, but he never did. Not even for a visit.

      She thought of Patrick. Thought of how much easier the first months of her pregnancy would have been if he’d simply stuck with her. But when the going got tough, Patrick definitely got going. It never even occurred to him to stay with her. To help her.

      Was it any wonder she didn’t believe any man would follow through?

      “Just go shower. We have to be on the road early.”

      The faint amusement in Jared’s voice brought her back to reality. He thought she was silly to argue. He’d been doing things like this all along. Taking the baby while she registered in the hotel the night before or paid restaurant checks when they stopped to eat. He didn’t understand that this time she wouldn’t be a few feet away. She’d be in another room. In a stream of water too loud to hear what was going on with her baby in the bedroom. And even if there was a noise loud enough to reach her, she couldn’t run out to check because she’d be naked—

      Oh Lord, maybe she knew what her problem was. She didn’t so much fear leaving Molly with Jared, as she feared that she’d hear a noise and she’d bolt out of the bathroom half-dressed. And it was ridiculous. Not only was Jared capable of keeping something earth-shattering from happening in the five or ten minutes she’d need to shower, but also she wouldn’t come running out of the bathroom without at least grabbing a towel.

      There was nothing to worry about.

      After one quick glance to be sure Molly was okay, she turned and went into the bathroom.

      She came out a few minutes later clean and dry, wearing sweatpants and a huge T-shirt to sleep in—the most unsexual outfit she could find in her suitcase. The crib had arrived and was set up in a corner of the room. Molly slept soundly surrounded by her familiar blankets. Jared still sat on the bed, propped on the pillow that leaned against the headboard, looking casual and comfortable and oh, so sexy.

      She told herself to stop

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