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Rubbing the raw ache away, he would figure something out. Come hell or high water, he would. John was given one chance at life, and he was going to make the best of it.

Standing on her tiptoes, Alyssa gently placed Brooke back into her crib. She rolled onto her side and sucked her thumb. Yawning, Alyssa left the nursery door cracked open then went back to her room. She was supposed to work a double later and prayed that Brooke wouldn’t wake up again. She was exhausted and tired and couldn’t afford to miss another day of work.

As she opened the door to her room, the hallway light gave her a chance to see John splayed out on her bed in nothing but his boxers. One leg was bent up while his other one was cocked to the side. His arms were propped behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. Her eyes roamed his body, she couldn’t help it. He was solid muscle, his chest a pure work of art that was honed and defined to perfection down to his lean stomach. Stifling a groan, Alyssa felt her body coming to life as she stared at John remembering what happened only a couple hours earlier between them.

Swallowing away her need, Alyssa had to stay focused.

“What are you thinking about?” John asked softly, his voice carrying in the dark room.

Alyssa shook her head as if trying to clear it of her thoughts. “Nothing.” John lifted the covers up for her as she climbed into bed.

“Liar. What’s on your mind?”

All thoughts were pushed aside at the sight before her. My God, she thought. John had turned on his side. His boxers were much lower than she thought but that wasn’t what caught her attention … It was the deep v that shaped his hips and dipped into his boxers. His body was in perfect shape. As if on command, her mouth watered just looking at him. Despite the fact that she had just told herself that she wasn’t going to let anything else happen between them again, she felt her body coming to life. She wanted John so bad that she ached down below.

John grinned. “Want to try that again?”

“Huh?”

“Up here, babe,” John ordered with a snap of his fingers. “Damn, now I kind of know what it feels like when men do that to women, staring at their tits. You just eye-fucked the shit out of me.”

Her jaw dropped and heat flamed her cheeks. Thank goodness the room was still partially dark and he couldn’t see her blushing. Her face felt like it was on fire.

“I did not just do that.”

“Babe, you stopped midway on the bed and zoomed in on me. You most definitely did,” he said, chuckling.

A small smile tipped her mouth. John caught her gawking at him and she was embarrassed. How adorable. “Come on, sugar. Get into bed,” he said. “Let me hold you.”

John scooted behind Alyssa and wrapped an arm around her soft belly. He pulled her tight to him as he spooned her. Her plush little ass was cushioned against his cock and he groaned inwardly. Her body pressed into his … fuck yeah …

Whispering close to her ear he asked, “What were you thinking about?”

“I wasn’t really thinking of anything important … Just that I’m supposed to work a double today, that is, if my sitter comes through. I’ll be on my feet for eleven hours straight and will need some sleep so I can get through the day. I mean, there have been days when I was running on fumes while working so I’m used to it, I just rather not be if I can help it.” The partial lie rolled right off her lips.

“What happens if your sitter doesn’t come through again?”

Alyssa sighed. “I pray that doesn’t happen, but if it does, then I would have to call out of work again.”

Brushing the hair away, he watched goose bumps coat her flesh from his touch. John leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her neck. He had a crazy idea, but was going to give it a shot. She needed somebody, and he was there.

“How about you call off your sitter for the day and let me stay with Brooke?” Alyssa stiffened in his arms.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

“Just like that? Alyssa, you didn’t even give it a second thought.”

“Johnny, but you don’t know anything about babies.”

“And neither did you when you became a mother but you learned quickly, didn’t you? I’m not stupid, I can figure it out,” he said, shoving a leg between hers. “If anything, my mother lives only a few hours away. Do you have any idea how happy she would be if I called her to help me? She raised four boys you know.”

“Brooke doesn’t know you that well to be with her all day.”

And didn’t that just sting? “Since when? Because last time I checked she reaches for me when she sees me.”

He had a point. “It’s not that, Johnny …”

“Then what is it? And don’t tell me that some seventeen year old girl knows more about babies than me. I watched my mother raise my younger twin brothers. I know a thing or two.”