us in,” she said as Darcy set a bowl on the table for himself and sat to eat. “It’s a lot of extra work and you’re not used to looking after— What are you doing?”
“Eating my soup?” Darcy carried a spoonful of hot soup from his bowl, directly over Billy’s head to his mouth. “What’s the matter?”
“You almost scalded the baby!” And then there were the bad times. So much for biting her tongue.
“I didn’t spill a drop.” He scooped up another spoonful.
Emma put her hand over her eyes. “I can’t look.” She was barely out of the sickbed and he was already driving her crazy. “Do you do this on purpose?”
“Do what?” There was the faintest edge to his voice.
“And while we’re on the subject, he’s too little to be carried that way. His neck can’t support his head.”
“He’s fine. Look.” Darcy moved his torso slowly from right to left. Billy’s head swayed a little but didn’t flop. He was holding it up all by himself.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Emma put her spoon down. “When did that happen?”
“Two days ago. I was downstairs, tending bar. I had him facing me but he kept swiveling his head at noises, wanting to look around. I was worried he would hurt himself so I turned him around in the carrier. Once he could see what was going on he was much happier.”
“You had him in the pub with you?” She pictured Darcy stooping below the bar for stuff, reaching high for mugs, carrying trays laden with glasses. A million possibilities for a baby to bang his head, have something fall in his eyes... She shuddered.
Holly’s death had made her paranoid, but she didn’t apologize for that. Her job in life was to keep this child safe. The more trouble she had connecting with him, the more determined she became.
“He loves the pub,” Darcy said, totally not hearing the concern in her voice. “He must have been very close with his neck strength. I think being forced to hold it up himself has actually helped.”
So now he was an expert, after caring for a baby for only a couple of days. “Still, it’s not an appropriate atmosphere for a baby.”
“He loves music, too. Watch what he can do.” Darcy got up and moved away from the table.
Humming the tune of the Macarena and moving his hips and feet, he held Billy’s hands and gently guided him in the movements of the dance. Emma clapped a hand over her mouth, sure that this would be too much for her tiny baby. But Billy went from looking bemused to smiling and kicking his dangling feet. He was clearly having fun, and Darcy was careful not to move his head too much. Darcy’s smooth voice, perfect rhythm and sexy hips made him a pleasure to watch. Emma laughed, entranced and delighted. Darcy was a natural with Billy.
Darcy wound up the dance with a light bounce on his toes. “Hey, Macarena!”
Billy erupted in a tiny giggle and squirmed as if wanting more.
“Oh, my God, that was too much.” Laughing, Emma pressed a hand to her chest. “You should be on Funniest Home Videos.”
Darcy sat again, one of Billy’s feet resting in each palm. “We could do that, upload a clip to YouTube. It’d be a hit.”
“You are not putting our baby on YouTube.” She put down her spoon and pushed her bowl away. “That was lovely, thank you. I hate to spoil the party, but Billy and I should get going if you wouldn’t mind driving us home.”
“No can do. Sienna said you needed to rest for at least a week. This is your first day out of bed. You might feel better but you’re still weak. You don’t want to have a relapse.”
“I’m a nurse,” she said in her most capable voice. “I know when I’m well enough to move.”
“As a nurse, you should have known better than to let yourself get so sick. You should have sought help,” he countered in the same reasonable tone.
“I...” He might have a small point there.
“And all your books and papers were spread out on your dining table. It looked as though you were working on something big.”
“I do still have a term paper to write.”
Darcy reached across the table and laid his hand over hers. The warmth in his fingers matched the warmth in his gaze. “All the more reason for you to stay here. You’re not well enough yet to cope on your own.”