Free Strollers & Stilettos: A Sexy Contemporary Romance (In Stilettos Book 4) by Nana Malone

looked just like her. But then again, didn’t all babies look alike in the end?
    Fat cheeks, gummy, gassy smiles. Big heads?
    He tried to focus on the monitor in front of him. All reports for the building came to him. He hadn’t gone over yesterday’s, but he needed to focus on them today. There was too much work to do, and he knew Jaya was right. He really had to delegate better. But to whom?
    Once he’d stepped into this role, he’d gone all-in, given up the Rolling Stone lifestyle. To be with Jaya, he needed to do the regular job thing. As long as he still got to spread his wings from time to time, he could deal. He hadn’t regretted it, ever. What he regretted was not getting to spend as much time as he wanted with his new wife. Instead of enjoying a prolonged honeymoon phase, he’d turned into the classic working-too-hard guy with barely any time for his family. And to be fair, Jaya was working just as hard. Maybe what they needed was a date night. Something he didn’t have his assistant book. But something that would be fun and take them outside. He could do that.
    Alexa cooed again.
    He eyed her. “Oh, so you think a date night is a good idea, do you?”
    She giggled and waved a tiny, dimpled fist in the air. Yeah, okay. All things being equal, she was pretty damn cute. “Since you have such an opinion, what do you think we should do?”
    Alexa kicked her feet in the air and clapped her hands together.
    Alec frowned. “Um, you’re gonna have to give me a better hint, kid. I don’t really speak baby.”
    A loud stream of gibberish filled the silence of his office, and Alexa kicked her feet again, more insistently.
    Damn. “Okay, okay. So maybe a moonlit stroll on the beach followed by dinner?”
    She only made a car motor sound with her lips, sending baby drool and spittle down her chin.
    “Um, I take it that that’s a no.” He thought another guess. “Maybe taking her race car driving?”
    Alexa squealed and said, “Bah.”
    Was he actually crazy enough to ask a baby for advice? It certainly looked that way. “You know, kid, I’m not entirely sure you’re that helpful. I mean, you don’t know her. She might enjoy opening up a Bugatti on the open road.”
    More spittle.
    He rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine, how about a romantic picnic followed by a sunset hot air balloon ride?”
    Alexa clapped her hands, and the happy kicking started again.
    “I’ll take that as an approval.” He shook his head. “You’re a tough one. And resilient too. You might not know it now, but we’re going to take care of you and find your mommy, okay? You don’t need to worry about anything.” Not like him. He’d been both old enough and aware enough to know that his father hadn’t wanted him. His mother was gone, and he’d been all alone. What the hell kind of life would he have lived if Adele hadn’t insisted they take him in, like Jaya had with Alexa? He’d done the same thing his father had done.
    Shame washed through him. Regardless of how Alexa had ended up in his care, he needed to show her some love and kindness. He studied her. “I’ve been a bit of an as—” He slammed his mouth shut. He couldn’t be sure, but he was pretty certain that saying ‘asshole’ in front of a baby would be considered bad parenting. And if he was getting the practice in now, he better get it right.
    Something warm spread though his chest. He and Jaya had talked about children in the vague sense. They’d always said that a couple of years after they got married they’d start trying. He’d never given much thought to having kids, one way or another. But managing to make Alexa smile put him pretty much in the definitely-maybe category of things.
    Unfortunately, that sweet smile quickly morphed into an enraged howl when she chucked her little crinkly birdie out of her stroller.
    He sprang up. “No. No, no, no. Don’t cry. It’s okay. See, Uncle Alec got your birdie for you. No harm, no foul. Everything’s