Page 66 of Manny Included

“Oh, I love you.Do you want to me to rock you?”

She nodded.“Pease.”

“Of course I will.”

He sat on her bed with her and wrapped his arms around her, rocking gently, singing her a lullaby.

She was sound asleep in seconds, heavy and relaxed in his arms.Such a sweet girl.He tucked her in for her nap, then walked past the bathroom to see how Eric and Bay were doing.

Eric was covered in bubbles, as was the tub, and even Bay was fairly bubbly.Bay had obviously poured in more than usual, and Eric was splashing and laughing.

“Youngest two are sleeping, eldest is in your tub with a glitter bomb.”

“You’ve turned my bathroom into a glitter bomb?”Bay asked, making a face.

“Yep.Fun, huh?”He grinned wide, tickled to death.“It smells like strawberries.”

“Oh brother.”Bay rolled his eyes, but he didn’t seem upset, not really.“At least it doesn’t smell like bubble gum, like this one, eh?”Bay tickled Eric, making him laugh again.

“Bubble gum!”

“Bath goodies are magical, aren’t they?”

They’d never taken a bath together.Not once.They’d never showered together, either.Or gotten dressed in the morning in the same place…

“I wouldn’t know,” Bay told him.“I haven’t had a bath since… I don’t know when.”

“No?I used to love to have a bath.I would take them late at night when I wouldn’t bother anyone.”They’d been decadent and lazy.

“Used to?”Bay asked, coming to stand against the doorjamb to talk to him while keeping an eye on Eric.“Not anymore?”

“I haven’t had time, I guess.”

“Then you should make time, if it’s something you enjoyed.”Bay leaned in and murmured, “I can imagine you in the tub among the bubbles.”

“I’d like to… I’ve never… with someone.”

“Are you asking me to bathe with you?”Bay asked.

He nodded, his cheeks on fire.

“Sure.After supper, once all the kids are in bed?My tub is bigger.”

“I’d love that.”He was going to die of pure bliss.

“I can see that.”Bay gave him a grin and reached up to stroke his cheek.“I have to get Eric out of the tub before he turns into a prune.”

“He’ll go sit on the sofa and ‘not nap’,” he teased.

“Yep.I expect him to be out before the opening credits are done playing.”

“Yeah.Belle may just go to her room and read.If she ever gets out of the tub.”

“Too bad we can’t do the bath now then…”

“I know, but I want time.”He wanted to relax into it.

“Yeah, I know.”Bay looked at his watch.“I should put in another hour or two of work anyway.”