Chapter 2

    “He’s here.” Anna beamed proudly, motioning towards the side of the bed at the plastic crib.

    Okay, first it’s time to tease the new dad! I gripped Bryson’s shoulder tightly and pulled the cigar from my pocket, holding it out to him.

    He laughed nervously, subconsciously scrunching his nose up in distaste. “A cigar?”

    “Tradition.” I nodded, trying to look serious; I couldn’t wait to get him to smoke it. He’d probably puke his guts up.

    “Dude, I hate cigars and so do you.” He looked a little horrified, and I knew just by his face that it was worth the seven bucks I spent on it.

    “Taylor, it’s in the movies; the dad and his best friend have to smoke a cigar to welcome the baby into the world. I also have to take you out to get you drunk to wet the baby’s head.” I grinned and turned to walk around the bed to see the baby.

    “I guess if it’s in the movies then it must be true,” Bryson mumbled sarcastically.

    Anna smiled. “I’ve seen that movie too. Jace’s right, it is tradition, Pretty Boy.”

    When I got to the little crib, I looked down at the tiny sleeping baby.

    “Damn, he’s so small,” I mused. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He was just so perfect. I’d never really looked at a baby before and thought it was cute; usually all I thought about was the responsibility and the expense that went with one.

    “He’s so beautiful. I’m so glad he looks like you, Anna, and not his dad,” I joked, sneering at Bryson with mock disgust.

    Anna chuckled and shook her head. “Want to hold him?”

    “Hell yeah. Can you pass him to me though?” I asked, wincing and wondering how I would go about picking him up. I knew you needed to support a baby’s head, but that was about as far as my knowledge went. Instantly, she slipped her hands under Cameron’s little body, lifting him effortlessly and holding him out to me.

    He didn’t even stir in his sleep as he was placed in my arms. I smiled down at him affectioJacely as my heart swelled in my chest. I would make sure that this little kid never wanted for anything.

    Bryson sat back on the edge of the bed. “So, Anna and I have been talking, and we wondered if you wanted to be Cameron’s godfather?” he asked, clocking his head to the side and grinning at me.

    My mouth fell open in shock. “Seriously? Me?” I asked, looking to see if they were joking. I wasn’t exactly the best role model for a child.

    Anna nodded. “Yeah you, Uncle Jace.”

    I couldn’t help but laugh when she called me that. Uncle Jace had a certain ring to it. “I’d freaking love that! Thank you, guys, that really means a lot to me.” I looked back down to the little baby in my arms. “Hey, Cameron, I’m your Uncle Jace, and when you’re old enough, I’ll show you all my best moves to help you get girls,” I said quietly, hoping that Anna wouldn’t hear me.

    When I looked up at her I saw her and Bryson smiling at each other so tenderly it almost felt as if I was intruding. I’d never really wanted to settle down, but seeing them look at each other like that, while I held a tiny little baby in my arms, I couldn’t help but want that too. I wanted someone to look at me that intently and share their secrets with me without even saying a word.

    The door opened behind me, so I turned expectantly, just as an extremely hot girl walked in. She had reddish-brown hair pulled back into a messy twist with tendrils escaping around her pretty face, and big brown eyes. Her body was incredible. Her jeans clung to her pert little behind in a way that made my stomach muscles tighten and my chest puff out unconsciously. As she walked up to the bed, I could do nothing other than stare at her while she kissed and hugged both Anna and Bryson in congratulations.

    My mind was whirling, trying to work out who this would be. She had to be someone important to them because she had made the approved visitors list, but I certainly hadn’t seen her before – I would have remembered if I had!

    When she turned back to me, she had a beautiful smile stretched across her lips. She held her arms out for Cameron expectantly. “Hi. Stop hogging the baby,” she joked. Her voice was just the right amount of husky, which piqued my interest even further.

    “Who the hell are you, and why don’t I have your number?” I smirked at her, waiting for her to giggle and blush. She didn’t. Instead, she rolled her eyes and sighed.

    “Uh-oh, slut alert,” she replied sarcastically.

    I recoiled, shocked at her brush off. That never happened to me before; girls never turned me down – especially not while I was wearing my uniform! I raised one eyebrow, going for the sexy, cocky approach. Girls really fell for that.

    “Excuse me, extremely hot woman that I don’t know, I’m offended by that. You don’t even know me. How can you just come in and make judgment on me based on one thing I say?” I asked, faking hurt.

    Her smile turned teasing. “I’m pretty good at reading people, and my gut’s telling me you’re a player. If I’m wrong then I apologise. Getting back to the matter in hand, can I please hold my best friend’s baby?” She stepped closer to me and held out her arms again for Cameron.

    Holy shit, she did it again! Another brush off. Had I lost my Jace Roger magic? Or was I actually dreaming? She wasn’t even looking at me; her eyes were firmly locked on the baby in my arms. I frowned, disgruntled. It was a little scary how uninterested this girl actually was in me. She stepped closer, and her sweet perfume enveloped me.

    “One date and he’s all yours.” I grinned, hoping to convince her and win her over.

    She took her eyes off Cameron long enough to look up at me then. “Sure, how about February 30th? I’m free that day.”

    I stared at her, digesting her words. Now that the shock of her knock-back had faded slightly, I realised that I actually quite liked her turning me down. It was a definite first for me.

    Without waiting for me to agree, she slipped her hands under Cameron's body and plucked him effortlessly from my arms. I laughed; still a little bemused by how unaffected she was by me.

    “You’re funny and hot, I like it,” I admitted.

    She didn’t respond, just looked down at the cute little bundle in her arms.

    Her face softened, her eyebrows knitted together and tears swam in her eyes. Her lips pursed as she let out a breathy sigh.

    “Hi, baby,” she whispered, stroking Cameron’s face with the side of one finger. “Oh, he’s so beautiful.” She shook her head in awe as she sat down on the edge of the bed and stared at him adoringly. “I want one!” She laughed breathlessly.

    I decided to turn on my A game. This approach never failed, girls loved commitment comments. “I could help you out with that if you want,” I offered.

    She grinned up at me. “Sure. You gonna steal me one from the nursery?”

    “Yeah. You want a boy or a girl?” I subtly let my eyes slide over her. “So how come we’ve not met? Who are you, by the way?”

    Anna answered before the hot girl could even open her mouth. “This is Ashley, my best friend from college. Ashley, this is Jace Roger,” she waved her hand between us in introduction.

    I nodded in understanding. I’d heard of Ashley before; she and Anna had met at school and had been friends ever since but didn’t get to see each other very often because Ashley lived a couple of hours away. Had I known she was this hot I would have paid more attention to Anna when she talked about her.

    Talk then turned to the baby and his name and how they came up with it.

    When Anna and Ashley started talking about the birth, I tuned out, not wanting to know details. While they talked, I kept stealing little glances at Anna’s friend, watching as she spoke and laughed. After a little while, Anna yawned but put herhand over her mouth, trying to cover it up. I instantly felt bad; she’d been through a lot today and probably just wanted to rest, not to have to talk to us.

    “I’m gonna let you guys have some peace.” I stood up and looked at Ashley. “Want to get some late dinner or something?”

    She smiled up at me and stood too. “Sure, I’m pretty hungry actually.”

    She leant over, hugging both Anna and Bryson before bending over and kissing my little godson.

    When she was out of the way, I shook Bryson’s hand, beaming at him proudly before kissing Anna’s cheek. I turned back to Ashley and she smiled, heading out of the door. I followed eagerly, watching her pert behind sway as she walked.

    Damn, that is one fine ass, and I am definitely going to tap that!