Page 71 of Blame it on the Kiss
The babies grew louder, crying at decibels to break the sound barrier.
“Nicholas, I said—” The dad nabbed him just before his little—bare—feet hit the floor. Spiderman sandals sat under his seat.
“Here, let us help,” Sophie said, elbowing Zane before standing and hurrying over to the mom. “I can hold the baby if you want, since your arms are full.”
“Thank you,” the mom said appreciatively. Sophie lifted the baby out of the car seat.
Zane got up and went to the other car seat. “I can get this one.” He studied the carrier for a moment. “I think.”
“That’d be great,” the dad said with relief. He reached to grab his son’s sandals while trying to keep the squirming toddler in his lap.
The wait staff got busy cleaning up and the manager came over to check on everyone and give further apology.
“Oh no,” Sophie said, turning white as a ghost and bringing one hand to her mouth with a still crying baby in her arm. Honor jumped to her feet to help, but Bryce beat her to it.
“Here,” he said, taking the baby. The careful transfer did funny things to Honor’s stomach. “I got it.”
“Thank you.” And then she took off toward the restroom Honor guessed.
Watching Bryce and Zane bounce and sway from side to side to try and quiet down unhappy babies was quite a sight. “Is there a secret to getting her to stop?” Bryce asked.
“Walk around the table,” the mom suggested, trying to pry her daughter’s body off of her. “It’s okay, sweetie. Let’s get you back in your seat so I can hold your sister.”
Bryce started to walk, bumped into Zane, and Honor had to stifle a laugh at the terror on their faces, like the slight jolt might hurt the babies.
The baby stopped crying the moment Bryce finished a lap around the table. The other baby had quieted, too, but Honor couldn’t take her eyes off the tiny little bundle cradled in Bryce’s strong arms. His sleeves were pushed up as usual, and Honor stood there mesmerized by this new human being secure and protected in his hold.
Yellow footed jammies fit over the baby’s body. Dark hair covered her perfectly rounded head. Something so small held by something so… good.
A shiver slid down her back.
She looked up to find Bryce’s eyes on her. The way those incredible chocolate mocha pools sparkled confirmed what she suspected. He was made to settle down and have a family. Have the white picket fence just like Payton had wanted.
That childhood kissing song, “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage,” started playing on repeat in her head and she couldn’t turn it off. Her heart pounded in her ears for extra effect.
But as things calmed down and the babies went back to their parents and Sophie returned from the restroom, Honor tried to keep herself in the present. She tried not to think ahead and not to think back.
And failed.
“Hey,” Bryce whispered. “You okay? You’re awfully quiet.”
“Just tired,” she lied. She wasn’t okay at all.
…
Bryce worked the ballroom at the Loews Hotel, shaking hands and talking with the guests gathered for the Bishop Foundation’s annual dinner to recognize the charity’s contributions and the people who had helped make a difference. Tonight he was one of those people, but he really could do without the acknowledgment.
His grandmother had started the foundation when his grandfather passed away. And no one let Ruth Bishop down, least of all her grandchildren. She spotted him at the same time he did her, and walked toward him with her arms already outstretched. She palmed his cheeks and looked straight into his eyes. No one had a warmer heart than her, but damn her hands were cold.
“You are so handsome,” she said. “But you look a little thin. Are you eating enough?”
Bryce took her hands and warmed them with his. “Hello, grandma. You look lovely as ever.”
“Thank you.” She looked around briefly. “Now where’s this girl you won’t admit you’re smitten with?”
“She should be here any minute.”
“When she arrives, you bring her right over to me for an introduction, you hear?”
