Music of the Heart (Runaway Train #1)(52)
Author: Katie Ashley

Crossing my arms over my chest, I asked, “Okay, but why does all that have to involve me?”

Her blue eyes narrowed, and I knew I was in trouble. “I thought you might like to not be a self-centered jackass for once and want to help out both me and the guy who is like a brother to you.

I held up my hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. I’d love to spend the rest of the day babysitting Bray’s kids with you.”

The corners of Abby’s lips quirked up, and I could tell she was fighting not to smile. “Try not to sound too excited about it.”

I plastered a fake smile on my lips. “Oh, I’m f**king stoked. Can’t you tell?”

She grinned at me. “You’re such a tool.” Patting my thigh, she said, “Now come on and let’s tell Brayden and Lily the good news!”

***

Chapter Sixteen

Brayden and Lily were so touched by mine and Jake’s offer. It took about an hour for them to get everything we would need together for a day and night with the kids. Then taking Lily’s SUV, Jake and I headed first to the Atlanta Zoo and then we went to the Aquarium. With his dark sunglasses and baseball cap, Jake did his best to blend in and not call attention to himself. While I pushed Melody in her stroller, he carried Jude on his shoulders. Since we appeared to be the model picture of a young family, no one even stopped to look or question whether a famous rocker was in their midst.

After ogling all the wildlife, we then headed back to the hotel for Melody’s nap time. “Big boys don’t nap!” Jude complained when I suggested he lie down as well.

“Come on, Little Man. You and I will go for a swim while the girls relax,” Jake suggested.

Jude squealed with delight and raced into the bedroom. While I got him into his swim trunks and floaties, Jake borrowed a pair of Brayden’s swim trunks. When he came out of the bathroom, I drew in a sharp breath at the sight of his bare chest and all his hard, chiseled muscles on display.

Lowering his sunglasses, Jake grinned wickedly at me. “Impressed, Angel?”

I rolled my eyes. “Why do you always have to be so cocky?”

He pulled me into his arms. “And why do you always have to fight your feelings when it comes to me?”

“I’m not fighting anything right now when I say your arrogance manages to ruin more moments.”

Jake’s hands dipped lower to cup my butt. “Oh come on, baby, you drive me wild with desire every minute, so can’t you just at least admit that every once in a while, the sight of me gives you a lady boner?”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “A lady boner?”

He grinned. “Yep.”

“No, seeing you did not give me a lady boner, but it did get me hot, okay?”

Jake twirled me around. “Finally, you admit it.” His lips met mine in a hurried, frantic kiss since we both knew at any moment Jude would be coming out of the bathroom. After he licked a moist trail up to my ear, he whispered, “And as for that lady boner, guess I’ll just have to step up my game.”

I giggled. “Yeah, you do that.”

Jude emerged, and Jake and I reluctantly pried away from each other. After a bottle, Melody went down for a two-hour nap. While she slept, I texted with my brothers and my parents. Jake and Jude arrived back at the hotel suite just as Melody was waking up. Since they were both starved, dinner was our next order of business.

As we gorged ourselves on chili dogs and hamburgers from Jake’s favorite Atlanta restaurant, The Varsity, Jude asked, “Are Mommy and Daddy playing somewhere else today?”

When Jake snickered, I shot him a look while wiping the ketchup stains off Jude’s face. “Yes, they needed some time alone to do some big people stuff.”

That caused another amused snort from Jake. “You’re impossible!” I hissed.

A little pout formed on Jude’s face. “I’m not a baby. I could do big people’s stuff.”

“Sorry Little Man, but you’re not quite ready for what Mommy and Daddy are up to,” Jake said.

Jude crossed his arms over his chest in a huff while I gave Jake a smile. “Now don’t worry. Uncle Jake isn’t a big enough boy to get to do what your parents are doing right now either.”

Stuffing a handful of fries in his mouth, Jake mumbled, “Oh please, I’ve done it plenty of times. It’s Aunt Abby who needs to loosen up.” When he winked at me, I tossed the dirty napkin at him, which caused him to almost choke on his fries.

After we arrived back at the hotel, it was after eight. Jake yawned as he collapsed on the couch. “Can you give Melody her bottle while I give Jude a bath?”

He nodded and took the almost sleeping baby from my arms. I then herded Jude into the bathroom. After a quick splash to get clean, I slipped him into his pajamas and read him a bedtime story.

When I finished the book, Jude’s eyes were heavy, but he still wasn’t asleep. “Sing to me, Aunt Abby.”

“Um, okay.” I searched my mind for a song and finally remembered the one my mother used to sing to me.

Finally, he nodded off, and I carefully eased myself off the bed. After I closed the bedroom door behind me, I was surprised to find the living room bathed in darkness. Only the flickering TV screen lit the way for me as I walked toward the couch. When I was almost there, I skidded to a stop at the sight before me. Shirtless, Jake lay on his back while Melody slept soundly on his chest. My hand fisted my shirt over my heart as the scene of Jake with a baby wrecked me emotionally.

I drew in a deep breath and continued over to the couch. Gently, I picked up Melody. Sensing the loss, Jake popped open his eyes. “I’ll put her down,” I whispered.

“Okay,” he replied, rising up into a sitting position on the couch.

After I laid Melody down in her Pack-N-Play, I covered her up. Grabbing a t-shirt and a pair of yoga pants out of my suitcase, I went into the bathroom to change. When I finished, I peeked at the kids again before leaving the bedroom. Jake reclined on the couch with the remote in his hand. When he saw me eyeing his na**d chest, he grinned sheepishly. “Melody kinda spit up all over me.”

“Oh, I see,” I replied, as I eased down beside him.

“Jude asleep?”

“Yep.” I couldn’t fight the dreamy smile that curved on my lips. “I ended up singing him to sleep.”

Jake chuckled. “There’s not a chance in the world that kid isn’t gonna be a rocker just like his old man.”

“You’re right. He adores music.”