Accepting that, Audra dressed Joshua in a soft, one-piece romper with a train appliqué on the front, as Dominic browsed through the box of books they’d retrieved from Marsha’s mom. When the last snap was snapped, she gave Joshua a teething ring before she handed him to Dominic.
Baby on his arm, he sat on the rocker. “All right, Joshua, we’re going to read about a little train engine that goes up a mountain,” he said, glancing through the pages.
Audra stifled a sigh of relief. Everything was going to be okay.
She hoped.
Turning away, she frowned. She wasn’t one to put much stock in a wishy-washy emotion like hope. She was more of a planner. And the logical, organized accountant in her decided that since she couldn’t force him to learn what to do with the baby, her only choice was to make sure Dominic spent enough time in Johsua’s company that when her month of nannying was up, Dominic would at least be accustomed to the baby he now had to raise.
When Audra brought Joshua to the dinner table on Saturday night, Dominic frowned. “Isn’t he a little young for filet mignon?”
She laughed, trying not to gawk around the gorgeous formal dining room, which was about the size of Audra’s entire apartment. The high ceiling with three chandeliers placed equidistant above the gleaming mahogany table quietly spoke of the Manelli wealth. A long black, yellow and beige Oriental rug protected the marble floor. Pale-yellow walls accented the wainscoting. The yellow in the China pattern laid out on the table matched the walls.
Dominic stood at the head of the long table, where two dinner places had been set, and Audra noticed something she’d never seen before. Dominic was incredibly alone. Dressed in a dark suit with a white shirt and tie, he looked like a lonely prince, aching for love that he couldn’t find.
Luckily she had enough sense to remind herself that he wasn’t alone. Not only did he have myriad friends, but he also had a baby to raise.
“I didn’t bring him for the filet mignon. I brought him for family time.”
“You and I aren’t family.”
“No, but you and Joshua are.” She glanced around. Not seeing the high chair she’d bought on Friday afternoon, she walked over to Dominic. “Take him a second while I go scout out the high chair.”
Without thinking, she casually handed the wriggling baby to Dominic, and Dominic almost dropped him.
Realizing he hadn’t been ready to take him, Audra said, “Sorry.”
He said, “That’s okay,” but his mouth tightened in annoyance.
He was either seriously angry that she’d brought the baby to dinner or that she’d handed Joshua to him when he was unprepared to take him. Audra couldn’t tell. Deciding that his irritation would pass—though she didn’t want to leave him alone any longer than was necessary—she scrambled to the kitchen.
She found the high chair, carried it to the dining room, put it by his chair and said, “Set him in it,” as she walked to the place set for her, to the right of Dominic.
He stood motionless for a few seconds. Then he smiled. He stepped in close and whispered in her ear, “Why don’t you do it?”
She had no idea why he’d felt he had to whisper that, and with his warm breath tickling her ear, she couldn’t muster the brain power to try to figure it out. Chills covered her body. Instinctively, she almost took Joshua, glad for a reason to step away from Dominic.
But sanity returned. Remembering he was the kind of guy who flirted with everyone, that there was nothing special happening between them and she had to stop acting like a ninny, she said, “Come on. Just set him in.”
Dominic hesitated a second, but eventually turned to the high chair and slid Joshua behind the tray, trying to set him on the seat. Because she’d forgotten to open the tray, there was barely enough space to squeeze the baby through. Before she could rush over to open it, Joshua squirmed, angling one foot against the tray, and then used it as leverage to lunge forward, almost out of Dominic’s arms.
“Damn it.”
Audra leaped to the high chair and took Joshua. “I’m sorry. I sometimes forget that you don’t know how to handle a baby and you’re not accustomed to the baby equipment.”
“And I think you enjoy making me squirm.”
His words were laced with such venom that Audra gasped. “I don’t!”
He ran his hand along the back of his neck. His expression clearly conveyed that he couldn’t believe he’d actually said that. “I know. I’m sorry.” He took a breath. “Look, maybe I just need a break tonight.” He headed for the door. “A few friends are meeting at a club. I’ll see you in the morning.”