Page 65 of Filthy Twisted Devil

“Looks like Hazel has some spit-up on her shirt,” Maura says. “Can you come back to her room and help get her changed, Eden?”

I blink, surprised at the invitation. “Yeah, of course.”

Maura takes her daughter from Luke and I follow them back to the nursery. The soft green walls make it feel cool and cozy, especially with the cloudlike painting Maura hung over the crib. A comfy-looking forest green rocking chair sits by a window, inviting you to sit down and read one of the children’s books on the shelves next to it.

“Hold her for me while I find her a new outfit?” Maura asks.

I happily take the wide-eyed baby, who stares at me like I'm the most fascinating person she's ever seen. My heart might just grow one or two sizes.

“How do you get anything done with this cutie around?” I ask. “If I were you, all I'd want to do is stare at her.”

“I admit, that's what I spent most of the past month doing,” Maura laughs. “Every once in a while, I let James stare at her while I take a shower, but I haven't been to the studio once. It just feels like everything else can wait.”

“So you're liking parenthood so far? You're not overwhelmed?”

“Oh, I'm definitely overwhelmed. I probably ask myself ten dozen times a day if I'm changing her diaper right or feeding her enough or rocking her the right way. It helps to have James, plus Cat comes down all the time for practice.”

I hand Hazel back to Maura so she can dress the baby in a new footed onesie patterned with little giraffes.

“So,” she says casually as she sets the baby on the changing table. “I had a feeling things between you and Luke weren’t going to stay fake for long. It looks like I was right.”

Her words practically knocked the wind out of me. I was sure that Luke and I were the only ones who knew we’d gone beyond our original agreement. Maybe he mentioned something to James, or maybe Maura spotted us kissing at some point? Did she see Luke touching my lower back?

Maura’s still looking at me, waiting for an answer. I open my mouth, only for complete gibberish to spill out. “We’re not—I mean, who—I don’t⁠—”

“Nobody told me anything,” she says, smiling gently. “I could just tell from the way you were looking at him. You don’t have to say anything. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here if talking about it would help.”

I swallow. Part of me would love to spill everything to Maura—the early kisses, the secret tryst after the Christmas party, the intense almost-sex we had after leaving the hospital. The way they made me want something I can never have.

At the same time, talking about it would make it real. That would mean acknowledging to another person that I let things go way too far. My pride stops me from admitting it.

“Thanks,” I tell her. “It’s a nice offer, even though there’s nothing to say.”

“Okay.” Maura inclines her head, a silent confirmation that she’ll drop it. “We should get this little girl back to her party, huh?”

She lets me carry baby Hazel back to the living room, where we’re descended on immediately. Ryan wants to make silly faces at the baby, James wants to give her a bottle, and Beau wants to take pictures of every single move she makes.

When I hand Hazel off to her father, Luke appears beside me. He hands me the seltzer I was sipping before I left with Maura.

“Hazel is pretty incredible, isn’t she?” he asks.

I nod eagerly. “I’m not even sure that I want kids, but I definitely want that exact kid. Do you think James and Maura would forgive me if I kidnapped her?”

He lowers his voice. “I think James has anyone who even looks at her twice on a list. He’s probably got a sniper watching you right now.”

“If that’s true, there’s definitely a second sniper right next to him aiming at you, Mr. I-Practiced-Holding-The-Baby,” I tease.

“That’s probably true. Do you think our snipers are also fake dating?”

“Definitely. They’re probably making out right now, so if we want to make a play for Hazel now’s our chance.”

Luke laughs, and his hand finds the small of my back. My heart thuds. There’s no audience here, no brothers, no good reason. He’s touching me because he wants to.

I don’t want him to stop, which scares me even more than being caught by my brothers.

27

LUKE