Free His Lover's Little Secret by Andrea Laurence Page A

eyes down to his strong forearms and rock-hard chest. It was easier to focus on that than the strangely cocky expression on his face.
    “We know each other very well,” he said with a wicked grin curling his lips.
    Sabine approached him, stopping just short of touching him. “Your ability to give me an orgasm has no bearing on whether or not you can care for a toddler.”
    At the mention of the word orgasm his gaze narrowed at her. He swallowed hard but didn’t reach for her. “I disagree. Both require an attention to detail. Anticipating what another person wants or needs. I don’t think it matters if what they need is a drink, a toy or a mind-blowing physical release.”
    Mind-blowing. Sabine couldn’t stop her tongue from gliding out over her lips. They’d gotten painfully dry. His gaze dropped to her mouth, then back to her eyes. There was a touch of amusement in his gaze. He knew he was getting to her.
    “What if what they need is their poopy diaper changed? Or you gave them too much cotton candy and they spew blue muck all over the backseat of your Mercedes? Not quite as sexy.”
    The light of attraction in his eyes faded. It was hard to keep up the arousal with that kind of imagery. That’s why she hadn’t bothered dating in all this time. Maybe she should reconsider. She might not feel as vulnerable to Gavin’s charms if she had an outlet that didn’t involve him.
    His expression hardened for a moment. He seemed irritated with her. “Stop trying to scare me away. I know taking care of a child isn’t easy. It can be messy. But it’s just a few hours to start. I can handle it. Will you let me do this for you? Please?”
    “Do this for me? Shouldn’t you be doing this for your son?”
    “I am. Of course, I am. I want a relationship with Jared more than anything. But to do that, you have got to trust me. I will return him to you tonight, well fed, well cared for and, for the most part, clean. But you have to do your part. You have to let me try. Let me mess up. Enjoy your free afternoon. Paint something beautiful because you can. Go get a pedicure.”
    Sabine had to admit that sounded wonderful. She hadn’t had an afternoon to herself since she went into labor. She didn’t have any family here to watch Jared. She tried to only use Tina’s services when she had to for classes. She hadn’t had a day just to relax. And to paint...
    She pushed past him into the kitchen to finish making pancakes. Gavin stayed in the doorway, allowing her the space to think, while also keeping an eye on Jared. She appreciated having someone to do that. She hadn’t had another set of eyes to help before. Since Jared became mobile, she hadn’t been able to shower, cook or do anything without constantly peeking out to check on him. Life was a little easier when he sat in his swing or bouncy chair while she did what needed to be done.
    A whole afternoon?
    She wanted to say yes, but she couldn’t shake the worry. It was probably going to be fine. There was only so much trouble that could befall them in an afternoon at the circus. If Jared came home covered in blue vomit, the world wouldn’t end. And it was a family-oriented event. She had no doubt that if another mother saw Gavin and Jared in a meltdown moment, she would step in to help.
    Sabine finished the pancakes and turned off the burner. She slid a stack onto her plate and the other onto a plate for Gavin. Turning around, she offered one to him. When he reached for it, she pulled it back slightly.
    “Okay,” she said. “You can go. But I want you to text and check in with me. And if anything remotely worrisome happens—”
    Gavin took the plate from her. “I will call you immediately. Okay?”
    Sharing Jared with someone else was going to be hard, she could tell already. But it could be good, too. Two parents were double the hands, double the eyes, double the love. Right? “Okay, all right. You win. Just don’t feed him too much sugar. You’ll regret it.”
    *