Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,83

my arms. Good gravy, he smells so good. I always thought it was weird when others would remark about baby smells because I assumed they all smelled like poop or spit up most of the time, but now I get it.

Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes and smile, brushing a kiss on his cheek.

“So, tell me how you’ve been doing,” Anna says, dragging a laundry basket over to the couch and pulling out a tiny little onesie. “I feel like I’ve missed out on so much lately. Are you still doing your anger management classes?”

I nod, glancing up at her. “Yeah, I’m still going, but I’m almost done with my required sessions.”

“Do you think it’s helped?” she asks, adding another clean, folded onesie to the pile at her side. “You seem calmer… more at peace.”

“I am,” I say, taking a deep breath and loving the way Matthew feels in my arms, so snug against my chest. “Gosh, how do you not sleep the day away with him… he’s like the best sedative.”

“Tell me about it,” Anna says with a laugh. “A sleeping baby is better than all the chamomile tea and melatonin in the world combined.”

I sigh. “Maybe I’ll just come steal him the next time I can’t sleep.”

“Give us a few more months and he can have a sleepover at Aunt Em’s.”

“Aunt Em,” I coo, looking down at Matthew. “I like the sound of that.”

There’s a long minute of silence and I know there’s something Anna wants to ask or say, so when I can’t stand it any longer, I look up at her. “Spill it.”

“What?” she asks in mock confusion, her brows that are typically well-defined fading into her light complexion as they scrunch up. Even without a stitch of makeup on, Anna is still one of the prettiest people I know.

“Whatever you’re wanting to say or ask,” I tell her.

Her shoulders relax and she places the cotton fabric she’s holding in her lap. “Cole said he’s seen you around town with that… with Cage.” Her eyes lock with mine, an eyebrow raising, and I prepare myself for the typical, holier-than-thou Anna, yet she surprises me once again. She smirks, “Are the two of you… you know?”

The blush on my cheeks is immediate and flashes of my time in Cage’s bed come to mind in vivid bursts of imagery. Swallowing, I clear my throat. To tell the truth or not to tell the truth: that is the question. But I’ve never been one to lie, so I go with, “We’re friends.”

“And,” she encourages.

“Oh, Anna.” I huff, trying to keep my voice low so I don’t wake the sleeping baby. “You don’t want to hear this.”

That damn eyebrow raises even higher. “I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t.”

In my mind, I’m thinking about Cage… on top of me, behind me… between my legs, and the fire in my belly is back. This is so inappropriate with a baby in my arms.

“Tempest,” Anna prods.

“Fine,” I say, giving in. I could use someone to talk to and she’s always been there for me. Sure, some of her advice is a little too pious for my taste, but it always comes from a good place. “We’re… a little more than friends. We, uh… well, I kissed him last week and today we… you know,” I tell her, using my eyes to tell her what I don’t want to say in front of the baby.

“Today?” she asks, and I don’t miss the way she leans forward, engaged in the conversation.

“Yeah,” I tell her, nodding my head, my eyes wide in affirmation. “It was…,” I pause, swallowing. “Well, let’s just say, I had more… you know...” Giving her more nonverbal cues, I know she’s picking up on what I’m throwing down from the way her expression changes. “More of those in one afternoon than I’ve had in the last year.”

“Oh,” she says.

“Yeah.”

She exhales, folding the blanket she’s been holding and letting what I just told her sink in. Then she places it beside her on the couch, starting a new pile, and picks up another pale blue one from the basket. “So, do you think this is…”

“I don’t know what it is,” I tell her, feeling the freak out from earlier trying to surface. And I’m thankful for the baby in my arms, because he’s keeping me calm… and centered. “It’s all so new and different,” I whisper, keeping my eyes on Matthew as I pour out my soul. “I was with Asher for