Jennifer Morey - Colton's Fugitive Family

Lucas left the window and checked the taller, narrower windows. When he finished, he turned on the fireplace and sat on the sofa with the restaurant menu.

“Pizza?”

Anything sounded good right now. “Sure.”

He took out his mobile and put it away. There must have been no service because he went to one of the nightstands and used the phone to order.

Demi looked down at Wolf, with his red hair and closed eyes, as he suckled the bottle. He’d been a real trouper on the long, cold walk here. He’d only started complaining when he got hungry. Maybe he’d grow up to be an outdoor person, like her.

Lucas finished ordering and sat down on the sofa and watched them. Wolf began making tiny grunting sounds, contented with a full tummy. He opened his eyes and met hers. Their bond was magical. She’d heard other mothers talk of it but hadn’t come close to imagining what it would be like for real. Indescribable. Miraculous.

Wolf finished his dinner. She needed to get him ready for bed.

Standing, she walked to Lucas. “Will you hold him so I can get us ready for bed?”

Lucas looked up at her and then reached out to take the baby. He cradled Wolf in his arms, his size dwarfing the little one.

Demi dug into her backpack, which she had strategically packed to fit the most items. She found Wolf’s pj’s and a fresh diaper and set them on the counter. In the bathroom, she flattened a towel out on the vanity next to the sink. Before retrieving Wolf, she washed her face and got into her own pj’s—she’d opted for pants and a top.

When she emerged from the bathroom, Lucas was at the counter with Wolf, changing his diaper and talking to him in a baby voice. She couldn’t hear exactly what he said, something to do with fresh and clean for bed.

She stopped beside them and saw Wolf’s big smile. He giggled and waved his arms.

“It didn’t take long for him to latch on to you.”

Lucas smiled with a glance at her. He finished dressing Wolf and lifted him, raising him high and then bringing a pudgy cheek down for a blow-kiss. Wolf squealed in delight.

“I am never going to get him to sleep if you keep that up.”

“We can hang out for a little while.” Lucas cradled the baby in one arm as though he’d held infants all his life.

“How are you so adept at handling babies?”

“Friends and family gatherings.”

“You like them.”

“Kids? Yeah, of course. What’s not to like?” He offered his pinky and Wolf grabbed hold. “Yeah.”

His sing-song tone contrasted mightily with all his brawn. Adoration suffused her. After that kiss, the whole spectacle warmed her much more, having more sentimentality and heat.

“You said you don’t want to have kids.”

“Not my own. It’s easy to enjoy them when they aren’t yours.”

A laugh bubbled up and out of her. She used to think the same before Wolf came along.

“He’ll have to sleep between us tonight,” Lucas said in his normal man tone. Then, to Wolf, the sound changing again, he said, “Won’t you? Yeah.” He brushed his nose with the baby’s, eliciting another raucous bout of giggles. “We can’t have you rolling off anything.”

The baby would serve as a barrier between them. Demi should be glad for that.

“Are you sure you won’t roll onto him?” she asked.

“I doubt I’ll get much sleep tonight anyway. I won’t roll over on him.” Lucas’s voice reverted to the animated version for the last declaration. “No I won’t.”

“How did I ever miss this Jerry Maguire character you have in you?”

His deep chuckle rendered Wolf still. His eyes grew big and he stared up at Lucas as though the rich sound fascinated him.

I’m with you, pal. More than his voice fascinates me.

Demi had to endure another half hour of Lucas playing with Wolf before sleepiness finally took over and the baby conked out in his arms. She also had to endure the way Lucas watched the transition from play to sleep. He held Wolf until the phone rang, signaling their pizza had arrived.

Demi took Wolf from him and laid the baby on the bed while Lucas took care of the pizza delivery. She arranged a blanket around Wolf and leaned down to kiss his forehead. She wasn’t accustomed to sharing him with anyone. No one else had been around. She had to admit to a little jealousy, seeing how smitten her son was with Lucas. More disturbing, though, was how Lucas bonded with him. Wolf could almost be his own son. Being his brother’s son was close enough.

Lucas put the pizza on the oval wood coffee table and retrieved some paper towels from the counter next to the microwave.

It was after seven, and she was starving. She sat next to him on the sage sofa. He handed her a slice on a paper towel.

“I don’t understand why you deprive yourself of having children when you love them so much.”

He chewed a bite of his own slice and looked at her. After he swallowed, he said, “Eat.”

“No, really. Why do you?” To make him happy, she bit into her pizza.

“I don’t look at it like I’m depriving myself.”

“But you are.” He’d made the decision not to have them when it was obvious he adored them.

“I enjoy other people’s kids. Why do I have to have my own to satisfy that urge?”

He called it an urge?

“Did you plan on having Wolf?” he asked.

She scoffed. “No. He was an accident. A very special one.”

“Did you plan on having kids in general?”

She supposed she deserved the questions since she’d gone after him for answers on the same matter. “Actually, no. I hadn’t given it much thought. Having them wasn’t a top priority. Don’t ask me why.”

“But after Bo, you decided to stay away from marriage?”

“Marriage, at least for a while, and definitely not until I find a man I can trust. If I never do, that’s okay with me.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Well, good, because I don’t believe you, either.”

And she didn’t trust him, either. He didn’t believe she’d stay away from marriage and she didn’t believe he would, either. Where did that leave them?

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