Branded as Trouble (Rough Riders #6)(31)

“Okay, Eliza, here you go. Your colors and your favorite ‘My Little Pony’ coloring book. Make me something purty as you.”


India turned and Colt was right there. In her face. Close enough to kiss.


He cringed when he saw Shannie’s death grip. “Holy crap—”


“Holy crap,” Eliza repeated.


“She’s got hold of your earrings good, doesn’t she?”


“Usually I don’t wear jewelry around the girls, but I forgot today until it was too late. Eliza’s the reason I let my lip piercing grow shut.”


“I’d wondered about that. Damn shame. It was sexy as hell. I spent lots of hours wondering what it’d be like to kiss you with that.” He held out his hands. “Hey, baby girl. Come see your uncle.”


Shannie flashed a gummy grin, let go of India’s earrings, and practically dove at him.


“Do all females fall into your arms so easily?”


“Not all.” Colt granted her a molten look. “Some take a little more coaxing. And that’s when the fall is so much sweeter.”


Now India didn’t know which was worse; dealing with three screaming kids, or one scheming man.


But damn, what a man. If she pressed her lips together, she could still feel the surety of his mouth on hers as he’d leveled her with a steamy kiss last night.


“Need a bib?”


Crap. Was she…drooling? Her back snapped straight. “Why in the hell would I need a bib?”


“The hell,” Eliza mimicked.


“Not a bib for you, for Peyton.”


“Oh.”


Colt smiled and popped Shannie in her high chair. He chatted at both baby girls, as well as Eliza. His ease with the kids didn’t surprise India; that was why she’d called him.


Bibs on, food warmed, India grabbed the rubber-coated baby spoons from the dishrack. “Which one do you want?”


Without looking away, Colt said, “Eliza, does Shannie still spit her food everywhere?”


“Uh-huh.”


“Then I’ll feed Peyton.”


“Chicken,” India taunted.


“A chicken says, bawk bawk,” Eliza offered.


India and Colt both laughed.


Shannie managed to eat half her jar of beans, the rest she sprayed all over India. But Peyton wasn’t a picnic; she cried and rubbed carrots in her eyes, which made her scream.


“I’ll give Peyton a quick bath if you watch Shannie and Eliza.”


“Deal.”


By the time India undressed the fussy baby, ran the bath water, scrubbed her, rinsed her, dried her, diapered her, clothed her and returned to the kitchen, half an hour had passed and Shannie was crying in her high chair.


India said, “Trade ya,” handing Peyton to Colt and lifting Shannie out. She shot a look at an entirely too quiet Eliza…who blinked at her impishly as she bit into a cookie. In fact, Eliza had a whole stack of cookies in front of her.


“Colt! Where did Eliza get—”


“We were counting them, and since she’s bein’ so good and such a helpful big sister, entertaining Shannie Banannie, I let her have a couple extras, right, cookie monster?”


Eliza giggled.


“You are a s-u-c-k-e-r, Colt McKay.”


“Mmm. Totally when it comes to these darlin’ girls.” He rubbed his cheek over Peyton’s head. “Babies smell so great after a bath, don’t they?”