She settled on the rocker. “I’m fine.”
“Tory, we’ve got the baby monitor on. And our bedrooms are two feet away. You get a shower first. I’ll take one second—”
She shook her head. “I want to stay here.”
He closed his eyes, then headed out.
He didn’t have to have the conversation with her about her loyalty. If she wouldn’t leave a sleeping baby who’d gotten a clean bill of health, she’d never even consider leaving Jason.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
VALENTINE’S DAY ARRIVED with Artic temperatures and a burst of snow. Chance reluctantly rolled out from under his warm covers to the sound of icy precipitation pelleting his bedroom window.
One of the twins squawked and he paused, listening more closely. But he didn’t hear anything except Sam’s squeals and Cindy’s soft crying.
Tory must not be up yet.
He rubbed his hands together with glee. That was perfect. He might not be able to love Tory the way he wanted, but he did love her and there was no way in hell he would let her go through a Valentine’s Day without letting her know she was special.
He sneaked into the nursery in stocking feet and put a finger over his lips, silently telling the twins to settle down.
“We don’t want to wake Tory.”
Cindy cocked her head. Sam frowned.
“Come on. I can change you both without either one of you crying, if nobody gets impatient.”
Knowing Cindy was the quieter crier, he changed Sam first, then Cindy, and carried both to the kitchen and put them into the highchairs.
He quickly threw together a pot of coffee and started searching for a frying pan. After retrieving one from the lower cupboard, he set it on the stove, dropped in a lump of butter and headed to the refrigerator for eggs.
Sam squealed.
He pivoted to face him. “Hey, we’re making Tory a surprise breakfast in bed. You’ll get fed when she gets fed.”
Sam’s squeal became a squawk.
He laughed. “You will not die if you have to wait five minutes for your food.”
As bread toasted, he made enough scrambled eggs for Tory, himself and two babies.
Sam began pounding on his highchair tray.
“Shh! I need five more minutes at most. Surely, you can give me five minutes.”
Sam growled. Chance laughed as he went in search of a bed table and the rose he’d bought the night before and hidden in his room.
With two plates of eggs and toast on the bed table along with a red stuffed bear and a slim vase with the one red rose, he turned to get the babies. His eyes narrowed.
How was he going to carry two kids and a bed table?
Inspiration struck and he got the stroller. He tucked the babies inside. Carrying the tray in one hand, he pushed the stroller with the other.
At her door, he knocked lightly. “Tory?”
He waited a few seconds but heard nothing. So he knocked again. This time he heard, “Oh, my God! I’m sorry. I slept in!”
“Don’t worry about it. Are you decent?”
Silence. Then, sounding confused, she said, “I’m in pajamas.”
“Great.” With a quick push, he opened the door and strolled in the babies.
“We brought you breakfast in bed—” He stopped. She lay on her pillows with her covers tucked under her neck. “I thought you were decent?”
“I am. But I’m confused. Why would you bring me breakfast in bed?”
“Because it’s Valentine’s Day.”
Panic flitted across her face. She tightened her grip on the covers at her chin.
He quickly said, “None of this is from me. It’s from the babies.”
Sam squeaked. Cindy giggled.
“And they are really hungry and my arm is breaking.”
Her face softened. She pushed her covers aside and walked to the stroller. Stooping in front of the kids she said, “You did that for me?”
“Yes. They did this. All by themselves. For you. But if you get out of bed, then it’s all wasted.”
She turned and scrambled under the covers again. He set the bed table across her lap, then he got the kids.
As he placed Cindy on the bed beside Tory, she picked up the bear. “There’s a bear.”
He turned away to get Sam. “The kids picked that out too. You said everybody should have a bear family. They decided it was time to start yours.”
He plopped Sam on the bed. He headed straight for the tray.