Part 10 (1/2)
Hannah rose to her feet, just as eager for his attention as her daughter. ”Your baby girl is six months old today.”
Jackson turned to her. ”I can't believe it.” With his free hand, he drew Hannah close and bent to kiss her cheek. ”How was your day?”
At first, such simple gestures of affection from him had been enough. She knew that anything else would potentially complicate their situation. But more recently, her feelings on that subject had begun to change. Hannah was spending more and more time wondering if she should suggest to Jackson that they move beyond the platonic relations.h.i.+p they'd settled into.
”Exhausting, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”
He touched the dark circles under her eyes. ”Well, the weekend is here which means I'm taking over. Sophia and I planned the whole thing last night.”
Her lips twitched. ”What are these plans?”
”They're a secret.” He slid Sophia back into her walker. ”Let me change clothes and then you can consider yourself off-duty.”
Hannah pulled the clip out of her hair allowing it to fall over her shoulders. She felt Jackson's intent gaze.
”You look like you did in high school,” he said softly.
She laughed. ”My hair might look the same, but everything else has changed and not for the better.”
”What are you talking about?”
”I've got stretch marks, and I can't even begin to get into my old jeans.”
He let his eyes drift from her head to her bare feet. ”I don't know anything about that. All I know is I'll be dreaming of the way you look all night.”
She blushed. ”The pizza should be here soon.”
”Do me a favor, Hannah, and let me answer the door when the delivery guy shows up.”
”Why?”
”Just because.”
She threw her hands up in the air. ”I'll never understand the male mind.”
As he headed to his room, Jackson said over his shoulder, ”Trust me, I'm not that complicated. Protective and selfish, maybe, but not complicated.”
Hannah ran over and caught him by the arm. ”You're the best man I've ever known.”
A doubtful expression appeared in his eyes. ”I don't want you to say or do things out of some mistaken sense of obligation or grat.i.tude.”
She put her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. ”I would never do that to you, Jackson.”
Before he could respond, the doorbell chimed. ”I'll take care of that. As we just discussed, you won't be answering the door.”
Putting another cheerio in front of Sophia, Jackson watched her repeated attempts to stick her finger into the hole. It sometimes took five or six times, but once it was on her finger, an adorable smile appeared on her face. This activity was probably the only thing that could have taken Jackson's mind off what happened in the living room. As it was, he found his glance slipping in his wife's direction more often than usual. Whether the object of his attention noticed or not, he couldn't tell.
Once the pizza had been eaten and the dishes done, Hannah walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. ”I'm going to take a shower and wash my hair.”
”Take your time. Sophia and I are going for a walk.”
When they returned, Jackson carried Sophia into the pink and gray bedroom and sat her in the crib. ”It's time for your bath, pumpkin.” He opened the top drawer of the dresser. ”Well, let's see what we've got here. I can offer you flowers, polka dots or kittens.” He held up three sets of pajamas in front of Sophia. ”Take your time. This is a big decision.”
Hannah came in behind him. ”What are you doing?”
”Selecting our attire for the evening.” He turned back to Sophia. ”I see you're looking at the kittens. Excellent choice. This is what all the stylish babies are wearing this year.” After putting the other two outfits away, he laid the kitten pajamas over the railing of the crib along with a clean diaper and bent down to pick up Sophia. He tweaked a lock of Hannah's wet hair as he walked out the door. ”We're heading to the spa now. You're welcome to join us.”
Jackson strolled into the hall bathroom and started filling the tub. After testing it several times, he lowered Sophia into the water. He was drying her curly blonde hair when Hannah stuck her head through the door.
”I made chocolate chip cookies. They're on the kitchen table.”
Wrapping a soft towel around the wiggling body in his arms, he said, ”You're supposed to be relaxing.”
”Baking is relaxing.” She eyed the numerous wet spots on his t-s.h.i.+rt with amus.e.m.e.nt. ”How was the spa?”
Jackson laughed. ”I got my money's worth.”
Hannah held out her arms. ”Give her to me. I'll get her into her pajamas while you go change your s.h.i.+rt.”
With a last kiss on Sophia's head, he handed her to Hannah. ”I won't be long, pumpkin.”
After they left the bathroom, he surveyed the disorder with a grin. How had bathing one child made such a mess? Picking up the wet towels, he headed to the laundry room. Once in the large room off the kitchen, Jackson disposed of the towels, stripped off his s.h.i.+rt and hung it on a clothing rack to dry. Then he let Freya into the garage and made sure she had water. On his way back to his room, he ran into Hannah in the hallway. Her eyes widened as they fell on his muscled torso and arms. Jackson laughed at her expression.
”Now you know how it feels,” he said softly.
”I have no idea what you mean by that.”
”Yes, you do.”
She tried not to smile and failed. ”I'll admit to pleasant surprise.”
”Well, no one can say I didn't try.” He walked past her and grabbed another s.h.i.+rt out of his closet. When he turned around, Hannah was right behind him. He knew by the look in her eyes that she'd seen the scars running down one side of his back.
”Where's Sophia?” he asked briskly as he pulled the s.h.i.+rt over his head.
”She's in her crib. I, um, should get back to her. She's getting sleepy. Do you mind if I go ahead and feed her?”
”I was going to suggest that. Then I can give her a bottle if she wakes up during the night.”
After she left, Jackson sank down on the bed and absently rubbed his leg. It hadn't taken long for Hannah's admiration to turn to pity. At least she hadn't looked horrified like the girls in his physical therapy cla.s.ses in college. When they'd practiced manual therapy on each other, Jackson actually felt sorry for them. It was painfully obvious they hadn't wanted to touch him.
He was still sitting in the same position when Hannah returned. Dropping down beside him, she handed him a cookie. ”Your daughter is asleep.”
”Thank you.” He took a bite and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. ”It's only ten. What time will she wake up?”
”About five; six if you're lucky.”