Dreaming of His Snowed In Kiss - Jessie Gussman Page 0,44
that a score, because West’s lips totally turned up. He even grunted. A noise that sounded suspiciously like a chuckle.
“I guess I have to congratulate you on your strategy. That was brilliant.”
“I thought so. Offer a reward that someone else has to come through on.” She didn’t even feel the slightest twinge of guilt. “I hope you guys have fun playing hide-and-seek tonight.”
“Did you tell him that you’re playing too?”
“I most certainly did not. You are the reward. I’ll probably have to be feeding the baby or something.”
“I don’t agree to play hide-and-seek without Poppy. We can’t play unless she plays with us, can we, boys?” West looked around the table very seriously, and the boys all looked at him, eyes wide, and their heads shook in tandem with his. “Vote unanimous. You’re in, or we’re out.”
Poppy laughed and rolled her eyes. “We’ll see.”
Hide-and-seek was something her family had played back when she was growing up, and she really hadn’t thought that she would want to join in. Too many painful memories. But she found herself thinking that it might be okay. Especially when her eyes landed on Hazel, whose face was bright and shone with an eagerness that contrasted so deeply with the serious little girl she’d been when Poppy had first seen her.
Hazel should have the same memories Poppy did.
No, maybe not the same memories. But happy memories. Joyful memories of being in a family and having fun and feeling safe and secure and loved. The cares and worries of the world should not intrude on childhood.
Her eyes drifted to the little boys who had already lost a father and whose mother was fading away quickly.
And then they caught on West who had taken a scoop of applesauce and put it on his plate and was using a small spoon to feed it to Trevor. His little mouth opened up big and wide each time the spoon came toward him.
Poppy hadn’t planned on West feeding him, but since the high chair was over on the other side of West, it made sense, and he hadn’t said a word—had just gone ahead and done the obvious.
She supposed she’d been thinking she would have moved the high chair around.
She was glad she hadn’t. West had surprised her. He was a little clumsy with the spoon, which wasn’t exactly surprising. Obviously, he’d probably never fed a baby before Trevor and Gabriella had come into his life. Honestly, she would be clumsy with the spoon, too.
And now, shocking her, she was curious about his past. Wanted to know more about him.
It was probably because of that annoying attraction or the buzz of excitement. Whatever. She had to clamp her lips closed over questions that wanted to tumble out.
West ate fast. He was able to feed the baby and finish his food in the amount of time it took her to eat her own stuff and help the other kids.
They finished up supper, with the kids chatting about what they had done inside and Warren telling the boys what West and he had done out in the barn.
She was carrying the empty pan that had held the hamburger soup out to the kitchen when West stopped her, leaning down after looking around at the kids and saying low in her ear, “Normally after supper if Minnie doesn’t come out, we go in and all the kids talk to her. Since she’s not here, I suppose we should give them baths and get them cleaned up, and then we can play hide-and-seek. If you were serious about that.” He lifted a brow. “I’m not doing it if you don’t.”
“You can be brave.”
“I am brave. I’m going to play a game with you. And if I’m really brave, I might let you find me.”
She laughed, still surprised that someone that she thought had been so dark could make her laugh so much. “No. No special favors. There’s just no way you can actually find a place to hide where I won’t find you.”
“We’ll see about that.” He straightened and made like he was going to walk away before he stopped and leaned back down. “I really would like to talk to you after the kids go to bed. If you can make some time for me, I’d appreciate it.”
She stared at him for just a second. Their eyes met. Something crackled in the air between them. Some kind of tension, or little pricks of excitement. But his face was serious, with not a hint of