She’d gone out. Why should that surprise him?
He went back to the big house and killed time watching a basketball game and making sketches in the black book he kept under the couch. He went over again as the sun was going down. Still no answer.
It’s Saturday, stupid. It’s her day off. Why shouldn’t she be off someplace having fun? She probably has a boyfriend.
That thought unsettled him. He didn’t want to think about why.
He put the sheets and towels in the dryer and went into the kitchen to make himself a sandwich. Later, while making his bed, he thought about Masterson Ranch and the bachelor arts Susan had taught him. Oddly enough, he’d liked the routine, the order, set meals at set times, the rules for how to treat one another.
When and why had he turned into a slob?
The TV blared as one of the teams won—he didn’t know which and didn’t care. He picked up the remote and shut it off. He went up to his studio and noticed the cottage lights were on. Grace was home.
The solar lights had come on along the path between the big house and cottage. He knocked rather than ringing the bell. Was that a baby crying? The door opened, and Grace’s expression was anything but welcoming. She held a red-faced, crying baby in her arms. Roman grimaced. “He doesn’t look happy.” Neither did she.
“He’s had a big day. Sometimes when he’s overstimulated, he gets fussy.”
Roman guessed she’d babysat enough times to know.
When Grace left the door open as she walked away, he took it as an invitation to enter. “I came over to tell you the guest room looks great.” He closed the door behind him.
She smiled at him. “Thank you.” The baby seemed calmer, leaning his head on her chest and peering at him as Grace swayed her body, rocking him gently. He had thick, dark hair, café au lait skin, and dark-brown eyes.
Her place felt like an oasis. A Bible lay open on the kitchen table, along with a journal. Curious, Roman wanted to pick it up and read what she’d written. Not a good idea. “You have him again.” Shanice probably stuck Grace with her kid as often as possible so she could go off somewhere and party.
Grace rubbed the baby’s back. “I have him every chance I get.”
“I don’t think he wants a nap.”
“Unfortunately, he already had a long nap on the way home from the beach.”
Grace laid the baby in the middle of a plush, ribbon-edged blanket on the carpeted floor. “All right, little man.” She handed Samuel a rattle. He shook it several times and hurled it. Grace stretched to retrieve it, exposing smooth white skin at the waistband of her jeans. Samuel rolled over and pushed himself up.
Roman chuckled. “Looks like he’d rather do push-ups.”
Still on her knees, she looked up at Roman. “I’m glad you like the guest room.”
She wasn’t rushing him out the door. He smiled slightly. “The canisters of seashells and rocks were a bit much.”
“I have the receipts. I can return them.”
“I was kidding. I might let you redo my bedroom.”
“Oh, no. Nice try, but I’m not cleaning up your mess.”
He gave her a wry smile. “I stripped my bed and washed the sheets. I’ve been doing laundry since I got back.”
Baby Samuel let out a distinct noise, drawing their attention. When the baby’s face turned dark red, Roman laughed. “I think you’re going to be doing laundry, too.”
Grace sighed. “It’s the formula. Thankfully, he’s wearing disposable diapers.”
“I thought you were a recycling activist.”
“Within reason.” Grace got up and went into the bedroom. Roman watched Samuel push his knees under his chest. The baby rocked back and forth and toppled face-first. Pushing himself up again, he let out a ferocious scream. Grace appeared, hands full of diaper-changing supplies.
Roman raised his hands. “I didn’t do anything.”
“Then don’t look so guilty.” Kneeling, she turned Samuel over. “He can sit up. Now he wants to crawl.” In less than two minutes, she had the soiled diaper removed, the baby’s bottom clean and fitted with a new one. Leaning down, she blew on his belly. Samuel grabbed her hair and let out a baby giggle. Turning him over again, Grace patted Samuel’s freshly diapered bottom. He pushed himself up again and looked at Roman. Grace smiled. “He wonders who the strange man is.”
Roman sat in the swivel rocker and leaned forward. “I’m her boss, kid.”