Tied Up, Tied Down (Rough Riders #4)(61)

She frowned. When was the last time she’d been to the store to stock up? At least a month ago. Before Kade moved in.


Had Kade ever picked up diapers and formula? She wandered into the living room and saw Eliza on a blanket on the floor and Kade lying on his side next to her.

He said, “I think she’s gonna roll over soon.”


“She’s too young.”


“Not accordin’ to Brazelton. Lookit how fast she’s kickin’ them legs. Any time now she’s gonna be rockin’ and rollin’, ain’t you, baby girl?”


Eliza grinned and made a goo noise.

That girl was shameless when it came to charming her daddy.

“You know, I think she’s teethin’, that’s why she’s been so cranky.”


“Could be.”


“Isn’t she supposed to be gettin’ another round of shots at four months?”


“Yeah. I haven’t made the appointment yet.”


“Huh. Well, we don’t want her fallin’ behind schedule. Be best if it was taken care of right away.”


Skylar crossed her arms over her chest. “Why don’t you take care of it? Eliza sees Dr. Monroe. She’s in Moorcroft. Set it up in one of the convenient Monday through Friday, nine-to-five timeslots, wait with other sick kids for two hours for an appointment that lasts ten minutes. This time you can hold her when she screams as they poke needles in her legs, since I know how much you love needles. And you can walk the floor with her for two days afterward because the shots always make her sick and cranky.”


“Hey, now. Don’t get defensive. I was just sayin’—”


“I know exactly what you were saying, Kade. You want to be involved with every little thing? Here’s your chance. And while you’re at it, why don’t you pick up diapers and formula because we’re almost out. And we’re running low on food and laundry soap and cleaning supplies and everything else it takes to run this household.” She spun on her heel and stomped to the laundry room.

Thwack. She threw the sopping wet clothes in the dryer. Stupid spin cycle wasn’t working. Might as well wring the damn clothes out by hand or it’d take forever for the load to dry. She couldn’t hang them outside since it was still raining.

By the time she’d squeezed out the excess water in the laundry tub, hung up the drip-dry items, started another load and swept up the last of the powdered detergent she’d spilled all over the floor in her fit of anger, Skylar had calmed down some. And realized she’d been a total jerk to Kade. The man always did everything she’d asked, a lot of times he did things before she even thought of them. He was nothing but sweet and cheerful, helpful and kind to her and to Eliza, and she’d snapped at him like a fishwife.

Wife.

Dammit, that wasn’t a word she should use to describe herself or her relationship with Kade. She was not Kade McKay’s wife.

And doesn’t it bother you just a little? He hasn’t asked you to marry him after he’d made love to you? Not since the night he tied you up.

No. That was not it. Unhappy if he asked her; unhappy if he didn’t ask her. She was not that psycho and controlling.

Was she?

Yes, it appeared she was.

Argh.

Sky sucked it up and went to apologize to him. She found the living room empty.

She dashed upstairs. No Kade. No Eliza.

Oh hell no. He hadn’t gotten pissed off and taken off with their baby, had he?

Can you blame him if he did? Haven’t you been afraid all along he’d take her or sue for joint custody?

She flung open the front door. Sure enough, his truck was gone. Sky unearthed her phone and dialed his cell number, a number she’d programmed in, but never called.

Didn’t that just speak volumes about how much she wanted to prove she didn’t need him?

Argh.

“Hello?”


“Kade? Where are you?”


“I’m in my truck.”


“Is Eliza with you?”


“Yes, she’s with me. Why?”


“What are you doing?”


“Goin’ to the store.” Pause. “Isn’t that what you were anglin’ for when you threw that hissy fit, not more than a half hour ago?”


Shit. Shame heated her cheeks. “It wasn’t a hissy fit.”


He laughed softly. “Yeah, sweetheart, it was.”


She managed a smile. “Fine, it was. But I didn’t expect you to drop everything and go right then.”


“Well, I wasn’t doin’ nothin’ else and it needed to be done, or else you wouldn’t have made such a big deal about it, right?”


The man was so damn even-keeled. Why wasn’t he barking at her for being such a bitch to him? Demanding an apology?

“Skylar?”


“Yes, it needed to be done. I’m sorry I snapped at you. Thank you for taking care of it.”


“See? That wasn’t so hard. And you’re welcome.”


“I’m just not used to help of any kind, especially not immediate help.”


“That’s another thing that’s gonna change. Look, I wanna help out, but I need direction. I’m a longtime bachelor, darlin’. I’d live on chili and ramen noodles and wash clothes only when I was completely out of ’em if I was in charge.”