by K. C. Crowne
I walked slowly toward her, trying to not to make any sudden movements.
“Here, what if I let you brush your own hair? Would you like that instead?”
Abigail stared at me with fear in her eyes, and it broke my heart. But she reached for the brush that I held out to her. I handed her the brush, which she took. Relief washed over me as I thought maybe we’d made headway with the brushing, but that lasted only a second. Abigail threw the brush across the room, thankfully not in the direction of her sister.
“No!” she screamed. “No, no, no!”
I muttered, “I think I liked it better when I thought you couldn’t talk.” But then I felt bad for even thinking it.
My head felt like it was going to burst from the noise.
As bad as I felt for giving her that god awful haircut - I’d tried to not go that short, but it had been impossible - I was grateful there was less hair than before. I couldn’t imagine dealing with her longer hair if we couldn’t brush it.
I decided to give up on brushing it for the night and said, “Fine, no brushing!” I held up my hands to show her I had no brush. “But we need to get you into bed.”
The girl screamed. “No bed.”
“Yes, bed,” I said.
“No bed.”
“Listen, I’m not going to argue with a two-year-old.”
She took off across the room toward the kitchen.
Dammit.
And I still needed to even her hair out. I’d had to stop halfway through because she wouldn’t hold still. How could I get close to her with scissors without worrying about accidentally stabbing her with them?
I followed her into the kitchen, and she was playing with the magnets on the fridge that I had moved lower for her to play with. “Come on, Abby. I can read you a cute little story like the nice lady did at the library. Would you like that?”
She looked at me, and I thought, again, maybe I had her this time. She did like the story earlier. I also knew she was sleepy and fighting it; she could hardly keep her eyes open as she ate dinner only half an hour earlier. But now she was running around and screaming and whining, and it didn’t make any damned sense.
I walked closer to her, thinking she’d let me pick her up and carry her to bed, but as I got close, she turned and ran practically between my legs. I jumped out of the way to not be tripped by her.
Jesus Christ. How do parents do this?
She went back into the living room, where Emma’s cries got even louder. I rushed in to find Abigail sitting on the floor near her sister. She was playing with the spinning little animals that were meant to entertain Emma, and once again, her little eyes were growing heavy.
Maybe if I just left her there, I could just carry her to bed when she fell asleep. It sounded like as good a plan as any, but her sister was still crying.
“What’s wrong, Emma?” I asked, getting down on the floor with the girls. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
I hated that she couldn’t tell me. I had no idea what could possibly be wrong with the baby, and she had no way to tell me. Thinking it was being buckled into the seat, I removed her from the bouncy chair, and when my hand touched her tiny little arm, I realized she felt warm.
Too warm.
I placed a hand on her forehead, and she definitely felt warmer than usual. I didn’t know much about fevers and babies, and suddenly all the worst-case scenarios rushed into my head.
It was too late for a doctor to be open. Should we go to the hospital? Was it an emergency?
I had no idea. I messaged the one person who I trusted to know, though.
Alex, the baby has a fever and won’t stop screaming. What should I do? Should I call an ambulance?
Chapter 6
Alex
The boys had just gone down, and I was relaxing in my bed watching TV when I got the notification from Liam that the baby had a fever. Oh God, have I been there before, I thought. It could mean a few things, and not all of them emergencies, but I knew that feeling of dread the first time your little one is sick.
Do you have a thermometer handy?
His response was quick. Yes, I bought one linked on the list you sent me earlier. I freaked out and forgot all about it.
I responded, It’s okay. I understand you’re nervous. Take her temperature and get back to me.
A few minutes passed before he sent me a message.
It’s 99.4. I took it a few times. She feels warmer though. And she won’t stop crying.
I relaxed a bit. Thankfully the temperature wasn’t over 100; it could mean a few things and likely wasn’t serious.
Do you know if she’s teething? I asked and added, The signs of teething include drooling, trying to chew on everything, rubbing their face, and you may be able to see signs of teeth poking through the gums if you look.
It took a few minutes for Liam to get back to me, but when he did, he confirmed it.
It looks like a tooth is coming in, yes.
That made it somewhat easier. I told him what I’d learned the hard way - She’s most likely just teething then, which explains the crying and fussiness. She’s uncomfortable. She might feel warmer from the fussing and moving around/working herself up too. I’d say give her some Tylenol and keep an eye on her temperature and make sure it goes down/doesn’t go up.
I don’t have any Tylenol. I forgot to pick some up the other day, and the oldest finally passed out on the couch. Is there anything else I can use?
I sighed. I knew that feeling as well. Before Rachel moved in to help me, I’d been on my own. And when one child was sick and the other was sleeping, it left me in a predicament I would never wish upon others.
I flipped around on the bed until my feet touched the floor. I knew what I had to do.
I’ll grab some from the pharmacy and drop it off. Send me your address, I typed. I was already pulling on my yoga pants and a sweatshirt.
Thanks, man. I really appreciate it. I’ll give you some cash when you get here.
And then his address.
I popped my head into Rachel’s room. “Hey, do you mind watching the boys? I have to run an errand.”
She was at her desk, typing away on her laptop, but she turned toward me with a devious grin on her face. “An errand, huh? This doesn’t have anything to do with that sexy redheaded hunk from the library earlier, does it?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, of course not. Someone in my Facebook group needs some Tylenol for the baby and can’t leave, so I’m going to grab some and drop it off.”
“Ah, I see,” she said, sounding disappointed. “Take your time. You don’t get out much.”
I stuck my tongue out at her. “The boys are sleeping and shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
“Seriously, go. And I mean it, take your time, enjoy your freedom,” she insisted. “I’ll be up late working on this paper anyway.”
“Thanks, Rach,” I said. “I’ll be back soon.”
I checked the time and knew the pharmacy was closing soon, so I hurried out. I grabbed the Tylenol and was walking back to my car when it really hit me how stupid this was.
The address he’d given me was almost out in the middle of nowhere. As were most houses in Liberty. His profile had so little on it, at least publicly, and I was just taking his word that his story was true.
I got in my car and thought about it for a few moments. I was really going to pick up some Tylenol and drop it off at a strange man’s house in the middle of the night. Probably not the best decision I’d ever made, but I couldn’t sit back and not help him. I felt like I understood his personality, and he didn’t seem like a serial killer. Not that I knew what serial killers were like, but still…
Nah, he felt genuine. He also seemed to think I was a man, or maybe it was just the way he talked, so there was that. I started the car and hit the button to start navigation on my GPS.
As I suspected, the way to his house led to some dark, twisty roads that went deep into the mountains. Sometimes my kindn
ess got the best of me. Hopefully this time it wouldn’t be a mistake.
Liam lived about fifteen minutes outside of the city limits, and I turned down a narrow dirt road to get to his place. His house was at the end of the road, surrounded by wilderness and trees. Darkness surrounded the place; the only sources of light were the porch light and light coming from the front window of the house.
Nice place, I thought as I gazed at the large cabin. Very nice, actually.
I took a deep breath and got out of the car. As I walked toward the porch, I could hear crying coming from inside the house, confirmation of a baby at least. And she did sound very unhappy.
The real reason I was nervous had little to do with my distrust of Liam. It had to do with my feelings for him. Yes, already, I was enamored with this man and I hardly knew him. All because he was kind enough to take in two kids on a whim, and he cared so deeply for them. Men loving children and being kind to them was my one weakness, and I may or may not have had a thing for dads.
But I had to get a grip. I was there to drop off some medicine, nothing more.
I was really upset at myself for not wearing something cuter. I threw on some yoga pants and a sweatshirt off my floor? To meet a man I’d been talking to and fantasizing about? What was I thinking?
Oh yeah, I was thinking that I wasn’t ready for a relationship and that liking Liam - even though I knew so little about him - was odd. I didn’t even know what the guy looked like.
I took a deep breath and knocked gently on the door. I wasn’t sure if he’d heard me at first, so I knocked a little louder. My heart raced as I waited, and it felt like an eternity before I heard footsteps and a voice.
“I’m on my way, sorry.”
The doorknob turned and the door swung open.
I laid eyes on Liam.
And the first words out of my mouth made sense only to me at the time.
“Well, shit.”
Chapter 7
Liam
“What are you doing here?” I asked, bouncing little Emma to try and soothe her cries. I looked past the beautiful librarian in my doorway as if maybe she’d come with Alex or something. I was stunned to see her on my doorstep. And from the look on her face, she was as surprised as I was.
She reached out her hand and muttered, “Tylenol. I told you I’d pick some up for the baby, and here it is.”
I took the bag and checked it to be sure. Yep. Baby Tylenol.
“Wait, so you know Alex?” I asked, thoroughly confused.
“I am Alex,” she answered.
I took a step back and looked her over. Her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail. The tightness of her yoga pants highlighted curves that would drive any man wild. She was most definitely not a guy.
“Alex is a guy, though. At least the one I’ve been talking to.”
Emma let out a blood curdling scream that about ripped my ear drums to shreds. The librarian reached out for her, but I was hesitant to let a stranger hold her. I remembered her reading to the children. She was so good with them, and even though I had no idea what was going on, she was far from being a stranger.
“Here, let me take her for a minute.”
I let the woman into my house but kept an eye on her.
Alex. This wasn’t Alex. Not the Alex I was talking to. He was a man, and in my head, he looked a lot like Clark or Ezra. Not… beautiful with an amazing body and the face of an angel.
I watched completely dumbfounded for a few beats. “So, you’re Alex?”
“Yes, I’m Alex,” she snapped as she cradled Emma, resting a hand against her forehead to check for her temperature. “As in Alexandra,” she said dryly. “Here, give me the medicine. I’ll help you give it to her, then I need to leave.”
I did what she said, and she laid the baby down on the couch, whispering things to her like, “It’s okay, sweetie. You’ll feel better soon.”
“Why don’t you go by Alexandra?” I asked stupidly.
“Because no one calls me that,” she said. “I’ve always been Alex.”
I watched as Alex gave the medicine to Emma, stroking her forehead. I was still in a stupor and couldn’t believe what was happening. The woman from the bar? The librarian? They had both been Alex the entire time? How many personas does one woman have?
She started singing, softly at first, but her voice was smooth and angelic. I forgot what I was even thinking about and could only focus on her words as she sang a lullaby to Emma, cradling the girl against her ample chest. The entire time, she didn’t even look at me.
Emma’s cries softened and then silenced completely. Alex stopped singing and held a sleeping baby in her arms.
I scratched my head. “How did you do that?”
“She likely could feel your stress and was responding to it,” Alex said. “Poor girl probably doesn’t feel that great. If the fever doesn’t go down by tomorrow, I’d suggest a visit to the doctor.”
She passed the baby to me, and for the first time, met my gaze. My heart literally jumped into my throat from just staring into those deep, soulful brown eyes. I couldn’t even remember how to speak or breathe for a second, but I managed to pull myself together.
“I’m going to put her to bed. Do you mind waiting around so we can talk about this misunderstanding?”
Alex bit her lip and seemed to ponder my question. Her eyes darted toward the door, then back to me and she nodded. “Sure, but I can’t stay long, and I don’t think there’s anything to talk about.”
“I disagree, but I promise, I won’t take much of your time. Just give me one minute.”
I hurried up the stairs to the nursery and laid Emma in the bed. She looked so peaceful, and it was hard to believe that not that long ago, she was screaming her head off. Alex being able to soothe her that easily was proof that I simply wasn’t cut out for this. I couldn’t even calm her down and didn’t know what to do, but she did.
I checked on Abigail, who I’d moved into bed before Alex arrived to keep her from waking up to her sister’s cries. She held the little mouse tightly in her arms with a thumb in her mouth.
Everything was fine. The girls were fine. I survived another day as temporary dad.
I left the door open just a crack and went back downstairs. I half expected Alex to be gone, but she was standing in the middle of the room with her arms crossed in front of her chest. She seemed to be lost, as if she wasn’t sure where she was or why she was there, and I had to admit, I felt the same level of confusion.
“I’m so sorry I thought you were a guy,” I said as I stepped into the room. “But, I mean, it’s not like you made it obvious you were a woman. Why didn’t you just tell me?”
“I didn’t think I had to tell you. What did it matter if I was a man or a woman?” she asked.
“Well, I mean, I mighta talked differently to you if I knew you were a woman.”
“How so?” she asked, her eyes filled with heat, and not the good kind.
“I wouldn’t have kept calling you man for one thing.”
“Would it have bothered you to know from the start that I was a woman?”
“I guess not, not really. But it was confusing, you know? You mentioned your ex, Charlie, and—”
“Charlie is a guy’s name.”
“I thought it was short for Charlotte.”
She let her arms fall to her side and gave me an incredulous look. “So, you thought Charlie could be short for Charlotte, but never stopped to think that maybe Alex was short for Alexandra?”
Her words had a bite to them. She was sassy, and even though I knew it was wrong, I found this side of her to be exhilarating. Maybe the mousy librarian had more spunk to her than met the eye.
“Well, there was also Rachel. I’m assuming your partner?”
“My partner?” She snorted a laugh. “No, she’s my best friend. Not that I should have to explain myself to you.”
“Oh.”
That was all I could really say. She was right. I had made so m
any wrong assumptions and built this idea of who she was that was completely wrong. I felt like a major ass.
She shook her head and sighed, heading for the door.
“Wait,” I said.
“What?”
There was a feeling of newfound emptiness inside me that I couldn’t explain. Staring at Alex, I was both relieved that she had come over to help me with Emma and sad that my friend wasn’t who I thought he was.
Even worse, she was a very attractive woman whom I hadn’t been able to get my mind off of since I saw her at the library. Being friends with someone like that wouldn’t be possible. I’d fuck it up somehow.
Still, I didn’t want to lose Alex as a friend.
“Would you like to hang out for a bit? I can grab you a beer and we can chat—”
“I don’t drink,” she said, pursing her lips and looking away.
“But you were at the bar the other day?” I couldn’t keep my big mouth shut apparently.
“And I didn’t have a drink. I was there to meet someone, but it was a terrible idea and made me realize why I don’t drink and why I don’t hang out at bars.”
Dammit. There’s another reason we won’t work out.
“Oh.” I seemed to be saying that a lot. I ran a hand over my beard, smoothing it and trying to think of something else I could say.
She turned her gaze toward me, thick eyelashes framing the sweetest, most sincere eyes I’d ever seen. “Listen, Liam. I am really sorry for this misunderstanding, and I’m sorry I got snippy with you. It’s just, you know, I wasn’t expecting it to be you when the door opened.”
“I know, just like I wasn’t expecting you. I mean, I figured a big, burly man was bringing me some Tylenol over, not a beautiful—”
Shit. I called her beautiful out loud. Not only was that admitting that I was attracted to her, but the other day at the bar she seemed to be offended by the word. I quickly tried to backtrack. “I mean, well, I didn’t expect a woman.”
She laughed, and the sound was like music to my ears. She even smiled, which made my heart race. Her lips looked so soft, so kissable… I had to back up, putting more distance between us to avoid the temptation of kissing her.