Pulse (Collide, #2)(93)
Gavin chuckled, his eyes wide. “Oh really?”
“Yes really,” she answered, sliding her arm around his back. “Don’t try to act cool in front of them, Blake. You know it’s true.”
Melanie hooted a laugh. “I love it! I knew there was a reason I liked you, Emily. That’s right. Never let these Blake boys think they’ve got you.” She nudged her hip against Gavin’s. “You’re going to be domesticated so quick, you’re not going to know which way is up or down.”
Gavin looked at Colton, his voice deadpan. “Remind me to keep my girl away from your wife.”
With a restless Timothy squirming in his arms, Colton shrugged. “You’re already doomed, bro. They’re having lunch with mom next weekend. Make it easy on yourself and already have the apron on when she gets home. If not, she’ll start withholding really important… physical play time from you.”
On that note, Gavin tossed his arm around Emily’s neck, smiled warmly, and started rubbing her belly. “Darling, sweetheart, love of my life, I believe we have some clothes shopping to get done. Shall we?”
“I think we shall,” Emily concurred with her own smile.
“Cool.” Gavin nodded and looked around. “Which way is the clothing?”
Colton jerked his head to the side. “Just past the nursery décor. To the right of the stuffed animals and a few feet away from the activities center.”
Gavin stood mute, staring at his brother.
“Bro, I’ve got two kids and a wife.” Colton shrugged, his green eyes shimmering. “I’m as domesticated as they come.”
Gavin grinned and grabbed Emily’s hand, leading her toward whatever direction Colton just thoroughly explained. Gavin took in bursts of every pastel and primary color imaginable as they navigated the large boutique. He also took in every type of infant bath tub, bouncy seat, and diaper bag available. He glanced at Emily, who appeared overwhelmed by her surroundings. With smiling lips, he stopped moving.
“What?” Emily asked.
He brought his hand to her nape, his touch gentle. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head, tears springing in her eyes. “No, I’m not.” And she wasn’t. Between Gavin completing the nursery, her growing belly, and her increasing fear of becoming a mother, she was turning into a mental ball of nerves. A certified basket case. She swiped her hand across her cheeks and plucked a tiny newborn outfit from a rack. “Do you see how small this is, Gavin?”
Oh shit. Now Gavin was overwhelmed by her response. He nodded, careful not to upset her. “I do.”
She sniffled. “That means the little person wearing it is going to be as small as it is. I’ve never held a baby. I have no idea how to feed him. He could starve. I’ll have no idea why he’s crying. What if he hates me?” Gavin went to speak, but she continued. Her words zipped from her mouth faster than a flash of lightning. “I won’t know how to burp him. What if I drop him while giving him a bath? The state will take him away from me. What happens if I don’t hear him in the middle of the night?” Pausing, she sucked in a breath and really broke down. “And those ointments. What if I don’t put enough on him and he gets a rash? What if I put on too much and he gets an infection? What am I talking about? I don’t even know how to change a diaper. Is he going to be laying on the changing table naked with too much or not enough ointment because his mother doesn’t know how to get the diaper on him?”
Holy. Mother. Of. God.
Gavin blinked, swallowed hard, and slowly dragged his hand from her nape. He’d always known how to handle Emily. Shit, he was placed on the earth to do just that. But the woman before him was losing it. Thinking fast, he tossed his hand through his hair and took a shot at the only thing he thought might calm her. “Sit down on the floor with me.”
Teary eyes wide, Emily furrowed her brows. “What? You want me to sit on the floor with you in a store?”
Gavin sat cross-legged on the maple floor and motioned her down. “Emily, we almost had sex on the hood of my car on the side of a road in Mexico. Sit.”
Shocked, Emily nervously glanced at shoppers looking at Gavin as though he’d lost it. But she’d always known he was a tad bit crazy. After a few seconds, she sank to the floor, sitting cross-legged in front of him.
He twined his fingers through hers. With caring eyes and a warm smile, he softly kissed her lips. “Hey,” he whispered.
A weak smile lifted her mouth. “Hey.”
“My name’s Gavin Blake, and I’m going to school you on babies, okay?”
Emily nodded, looking down at their hands. “You’re trying to get me to stop bugging out.” She brought her gaze back to his, her heart melting. “Aren’t you?”
“I am, and I will. Give me five minutes. Good?”
She bit her lip, focusing on his eyes. “Okay.”
Pulling her hands into his lap, Gavin sighed in relief. She was already coming down a notch. “First: Babies are easy to hold. They… trust right away. They know you’re there to take care of them. The moment you see him, Emily, you won’t be able to help it. Your arms will automatically know what to do. I guarantee you’ll never want to put him down. You’re so caring and nurturing. It’ll come naturally to you.” He leaned over and placed another slow kiss on her lips. “Okay?”