Page 25 of The Surrogate Nanny
“I’m happy you took my offer, Simone,” he murmured, looking down at his cane. “I’m sure Nori will be much happier.”
“I’m glad you kept her name.”
Anthony looked up and grinned. “Of course, I did. It was the name her mother gave her, after all.”
Don’t fall for the soft smile, Simone. He doesn’t mean it. Don’t even bother.
“I should get going. How about that bath, little one?” I asked, walking away.
“Do you mind if I watch?” he asked, suddenly stopping me in my tracks.
“Excuse me?” I asked, looking over my shoulder. He was leaning against the doorway, still in that damn towel.
“It’s just that bath time is especially hard for me. She won’t sit still, and she cries her head off. It makes me nervous, and I’m afraid I’ll drop her one day.”
I unintentionally smiled. I remembered the days of being a brand-new parent. Everything was scary, but as sadistic as it sounded, Anthony’s discomfort brought me a semblance of joy.
“Sure. Get dressed and meet me in her bathroom.”
***
“The key to bath time is playtime. I brought her toys from home. Anything that lights up, makes noises, and leaves me drenched is her favorite,” I explained as I filled the bathtub with warm water, strawberry-scented bubble bath, and her favorite toys. “Once the bathwater is at a safe level, then the baby goes in the tub like so,” I demonstrated. Nori picked up a toy and put it directly in her mouth. I pulled it out, already getting wet from her eager splashing.
“You’re a pro.”
I glanced back at him.
What a predicament. My shirt is getting wet and transparent. I’m on my hands and knees while he watches me from above. The arrogant smirk on his face says a million words—that he belongs above me, and I belong on my knees in front of him. Or...maybe that’s my runaway imagination stemming from our earlier encounter and my previous crush on him? I think that’s what hurts the most.
I’d fallen for Anthony somewhere along my pregnancy journey. It may have happened between the daily phone calls that sometimes ran late into the evening, the random lunch and shopping outings, or how he’d rub my feet after he satisfied my pregnancy cravings. He made me forget that our time together had an expiration date and I had to hand over the baby and be out of their lives forever. Along the way, I failed to remember our relationship was purely transactional and that Anthony didn’t owe me anything beside what was agreed upon in our contract.
I’d been burying my feelings for Anthony since Nori’s first breath, yet I’m still digging and still heaping the dirt on top of them. They’re still there—those pesky feelings that are trying to claw their way to the surface, and I’d be a fool to acknowledge them.
“Something like that,” I replied with a shrug as I started to wash Nori while trying to keep my thoughts pure, still hung up on being on my knees in front of him.
“You’re too modest,” his deep voice rumbled behind me. I squeezed my eyes shut. “You don’t care how wet you are. I’d want to be out of those clothes yesterday.”
“You get used to it. Kids are always sticky and wet, and after a while, you expect it. It comes with the territory.”
“What great expectations,” he laughed. “I must say, even though you two don’t share a drop of blood, I sense your attitude in her. Sometimes, Nori will give me this look that I’m fairly certain means drop dead.”
“That’s my girl,” I whispered, kissing her damp curls.
“Ouch. Everyone gangs up on Daddy, huh?”
I think Nori is clean enough. I can’t be in this bathroom with this man for another minute.
Nori was oblivious to the tension and gleefully splashed me with gusto.
“My word, baby. It’s your bath, notourbath,” I laughed. She pushed her toy into my face eagerly. “I see it. Can I get under your chin? Thank you.”
“Can you do me a favor, Simone?”
“That depends on the favor.”
“I can’t get through a teeth-brushing session without her biting me.”
I side-eyed him over my shoulder, utterly unimpressed with the two distinct marks on his fingers.