Her Dad’s Best Friend

"That's a pretty sight," Jeff says, reaching one long arm out so that he can cup my breast in one hand.

I can't fight mercenaries and bring Danny back, but I can erase his cares for a few minutes. I step back into the tub and straddle his body.

There's a hole inside of my body that aches because a little boy I'm starting to think of as my own isn't snoozing just down the hallway. When I capture Jeff's mouth with mine, I'm trying to distract both of us.

We've never loved like this, slow and somewhat desperate, as if the solace in each other's arms is the only one that exists in the whole world. Yes, I'm rocking back and forth on him, but the pace is slow. The water washes against us, trying to wash away the cares of the day. And if there's moisture on his face, we can both pretend it's from the bathtub.

When both of us come, it's a quiet affair. There are no fireworks tonight because we're rained out. I climb out of the bathtub and offer Jeff a towel. We climb into bed like that, wearing towels. We have to wait fo other people to get back to us.

Chapter 26

Danny's Back

Elia

I wake up in an empty bed. Jeff must have gotten up. There's some loud knocking on the door. I can hear it open.

But it's what I hear afterwards which sends me scrambling for clothing, hunting for my clothes and putting them on as fast as humanly possible. I can hear Danny screaming and sobbing, hiccuping.

My baby boy is home. I don't even bother with a bra or whatever, because nothing can stop from running downstairs. Danny is sobbing quietly into Jeff's shoulder.

The PI is smiling at the reunion. He looks a little startled by my appearance, but I don't care. I kiss Danny's precious little head.

"His grandparents didn't even want him. They hired two nannies to take care of the baby, but he wouldn't stop screaming."

"He has colic," I tell the Pl.

"I can see that." He smiles a little. "I started talking to some of their creditors, just applying a little pressure, and they cracked like nuts. I think the sleep deprivation got to them."

"I don't care why, I just care that the baby is here," Jeff says. He's crying a little, reunited with his infant son. They weren't apart for that long, but I know that every moment was agony for him. "I don't know what I owe you, but send me the bill. I'll pay it today. Bonus for the rush service."

"It was my pleasure," the PI says before nodding and leaving.

"Who was he?"

"Someone who is very good at his job," Jeff says.

Danny isn't crying any longer.

"Are you hungry, baby boy?" I ask. "Let's see."

Jeff walks into the kitchen and I start heating up a bottle for our son. When he begins to drink, his eyes slide halfway down. The poor little man has exhausted himself by crying so much. His grandparents may have had a sleepless night, but Danny was so unhappy that I doubt he got as much rest as babies need.

"Let's put him in his room."

"How about putting him in our room?"

"Let's." I haven't forgotten about the way that Danny calmed down when he could smell Jeff.

Jeff walks upstairs with a sleepy Danny cradled in his strong arms. I'm grateful that I never

had to endure a kidnapping, no matter how much money my dad had. Danny's grandparents were insane to think that their kidnapping would turn out well. The police might not have been particularly interested, but I wouldn't be surprised if Jeff pursued them in court. "You should go to bed, too," I tell Jeff. "I'll leave you and Danny alone."

"Stay with me," he whispers, hushed because his son is snoring a little bit. "I want to go to bed where I know both of you are safe."

How could I possibly resist him? I lean over and kiss his cheek. "Give me a few minutes to get ready for bed." I slide out of his room and run downstairs to brush my teeth and wash my face. Once I have my nightgown on, I go up the stairs as quietly as I can. He's waiting for me, clad in a pair of boxers. When I get into his bed, he rests his hand on my hip, spooning me from behind.

"I love you," he says.

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