Page 2 of Best Kept Secret

“That’s so sweet.”

He nodded but scratched the back of his head and seemed uncomfortable. She was surprised by his reaction as it went against her previous interactions with him. He’d always seemed confident and comfortable in his skin until now.

“I didn’t mean to intrude. I went out for donuts this morning and thought you and Jared might like some. If I knew you had company…”

“It’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting anyone, that’s all.”

“Should I leave the donuts with you?”

He eyed the box and then glanced down at Annie. “Do you have a key to the apartment?”

She shook her head.

He fished a set of keys out of his jeans pocket and handed them to her. “Why don’t you put them inside, and I’ll wait here with Annie?”

“Okay,” she said, taking the keys from his outstretched hand. “Be right back.”

As she let herself into the building, she sighed. Did he know how sexy he was? And babysitting his niece made him more so. There was nothing sexier than a hot guy taking care of a cute kid, at least to her.

She went into the apartment and paused. The living room looked like a tornado had passed through—a baby tornado! A diaper bag lay open on the sofa, with diapers and wipes spilling out of it. A crocheted pink blanket was spread on the floor, covered with colorful baby toys. There was also a large car seat with complicated straps crisscrossing every which way.

Somehow the mess made her smile. She hadn’t had much experience with babies, but she wanted them someday. Then she remembered that Hudson was waiting for her, so she quickly set the donut box on the kitchen counter. She pulled a pen out of the junk drawer and scribbled a note on the lid.

Stopped by to see you. Share these with Hudson. Love, K.

Then she locked the door, went outside, and rejoined him and Annie. He was standing right where she’d left him; however, now he was holding the baby, and her sweet little face peeked over his shoulder. He’d put a sunhat on her head and tied it under her double (or maybe even triple) chin.

“Aww,” Kelsey gushed as she came up beside them.

He gently bounced Annie up and down like people tend to do whenever they hold a baby. “She was getting fussy,” he explained.

“You call that fussy?” Annie was quietly looking around, with bubbles coming out the side of her cute little mouth.

“Well, not now, but she was a minute ago.”

“Must be because I left,” Kelsey teased.

“Maybe,” he said, his sexy lips quirking up at the corners.

She handed back his keys, and he stuffed them in his pocket.

“If you ever want an extra set of hands, I’d be happy to help you babysit.”

Something flickered in his hazel eyes that she couldn’t quite identify.

“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

His expression belied his words, though, and she wondered if she were intruding. While she would have liked to spend more time with him and his niece, she decided to back off for now.

“I left Jared instructions to share the donuts with you.”

He smiled, looking relieved at the change of subject. “Thanks.”

“Bye, Annie,” she said. Then, because she couldn’t resist, she squeezed the baby’s socked foot.

As she walked away, he called, “Have a good day.”

She turned and smiled. “You too.”