Read Online Caitlyn and the Alien Protector (Intergalactic Brides 7) by Jessica Coulter Smith - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jessica Coulter Smith
Tags: BIN 07693-02481
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it came to his daughter, Caitlyn saw a gentler side to him.
He’d worn a black F.F.D. tee and jeans today, and she had to admit he looked damn good. The shirt hugged his broad chest and biceps, the dark color making his skin a brighter hue of lavender. She’d seen pictures of Terrans on the news and in the paper and they always had long hair, but Cosmir had his cropped short on the sides and spiked on top. Had he worn it long before becoming a fireman? She knew the haircut was regulation for working at the station as long hair would be a fire hazard.
She fingered her own long, black hair and wondered if he found her the least bit attractive. Caitlyn had taken care with her appearance earlier, but had he even noticed? He’d been attentive enough, but was it from sexual attraction? She was on the short side, but she’d always been told she had nice legs, yet she hadn’t seen him take a peek at them once. Living in close quarters with him she knew her attraction for him would only grow. Even if the man left wet towels on the bathroom floor, she’d still want him in her bed.
He laughed at something Katy babbled to him and tugged on one of her ringlets. His smile lit up his face, and if possible, made him even more handsome. How was it possible some woman hadn’t nabbed him already? He was a great father, he’d been an excellent listener all afternoon and evening, and he was very easy going. Any woman would be lucky to call him hers, but Caitlyn wasn’t sure if she wanted to go down that path again. She wanted him, she wouldn’t deny that, but for how long? Could she handle another long-term relationship with a fireman? What if he went into a burning building one day and didn’t come out? And even worse, what would happen with Katy? It chilled her to think of the little girl growing up without her father and possibly going into the foster system. Did they even have something like that on his world?
Cosmir stood and walked toward her. “What’s that pensive look for?”
“Just thinking.”
“Must have been some deep thoughts.”
She shrugged. “Is Katy ready for her bath or should we give her more time to play?”
He smiled softly. “We. I like that. It’s been just Katy and me the last few weeks. It’s nice to know there’s someone else here to make sure I don’t screw it all up.”
Katy needs a mother . She didn’t dare voice that out loud. What if he thought she was offering to do the job? Then again … Caitlyn gave herself a mental slap. The last thing she needed to do was even think of becoming that little girl’s mother. She couldn’t even take care of herself right now, much less become a mother.
But wasn’t that, in a sense, what she was doing? She was offering to take care of Katy twenty-four hours a day when Cosmir was working, taking complete responsibility for her. Would it really be so horrible to share that responsibility with him on the days he was home too? Have more days like today where they went out as a family?
“I had fun today,” she said. “It was nice spending time with Katy and you.”
Cosmir reached out and smoothed her hair back behind her ear. “We had a nice time too. Katy seems rather taken with you.”
And her father? Is he taken with me too ?
“I’ll go get Katy’s pajamas if you don’t mind starting her bath. She likes it just a little warm, otherwise it’s too hot for her sensitive skin. The females of my race have very tender skin, especially when they are young.”
Caitlyn nodded. “I can do that, but should we leave her alone in here?”
“She’ll watch TV for a few minutes, but I’ll be quick gathering her things.”
Caitlyn went into the hall bathroom and put the stopper in the tub before turning on the water. She made sure it wasn’t too hot and dug through the cabinet looking for some bubble bath or baby wash. She found a bottle of lavender scented baby soap that doubled as shampoo and added a capful to the water. There were a few
He’d worn a black F.F.D. tee and jeans today, and she had to admit he looked damn good. The shirt hugged his broad chest and biceps, the dark color making his skin a brighter hue of lavender. She’d seen pictures of Terrans on the news and in the paper and they always had long hair, but Cosmir had his cropped short on the sides and spiked on top. Had he worn it long before becoming a fireman? She knew the haircut was regulation for working at the station as long hair would be a fire hazard.
She fingered her own long, black hair and wondered if he found her the least bit attractive. Caitlyn had taken care with her appearance earlier, but had he even noticed? He’d been attentive enough, but was it from sexual attraction? She was on the short side, but she’d always been told she had nice legs, yet she hadn’t seen him take a peek at them once. Living in close quarters with him she knew her attraction for him would only grow. Even if the man left wet towels on the bathroom floor, she’d still want him in her bed.
He laughed at something Katy babbled to him and tugged on one of her ringlets. His smile lit up his face, and if possible, made him even more handsome. How was it possible some woman hadn’t nabbed him already? He was a great father, he’d been an excellent listener all afternoon and evening, and he was very easy going. Any woman would be lucky to call him hers, but Caitlyn wasn’t sure if she wanted to go down that path again. She wanted him, she wouldn’t deny that, but for how long? Could she handle another long-term relationship with a fireman? What if he went into a burning building one day and didn’t come out? And even worse, what would happen with Katy? It chilled her to think of the little girl growing up without her father and possibly going into the foster system. Did they even have something like that on his world?
Cosmir stood and walked toward her. “What’s that pensive look for?”
“Just thinking.”
“Must have been some deep thoughts.”
She shrugged. “Is Katy ready for her bath or should we give her more time to play?”
He smiled softly. “We. I like that. It’s been just Katy and me the last few weeks. It’s nice to know there’s someone else here to make sure I don’t screw it all up.”
Katy needs a mother . She didn’t dare voice that out loud. What if he thought she was offering to do the job? Then again … Caitlyn gave herself a mental slap. The last thing she needed to do was even think of becoming that little girl’s mother. She couldn’t even take care of herself right now, much less become a mother.
But wasn’t that, in a sense, what she was doing? She was offering to take care of Katy twenty-four hours a day when Cosmir was working, taking complete responsibility for her. Would it really be so horrible to share that responsibility with him on the days he was home too? Have more days like today where they went out as a family?
“I had fun today,” she said. “It was nice spending time with Katy and you.”
Cosmir reached out and smoothed her hair back behind her ear. “We had a nice time too. Katy seems rather taken with you.”
And her father? Is he taken with me too ?
“I’ll go get Katy’s pajamas if you don’t mind starting her bath. She likes it just a little warm, otherwise it’s too hot for her sensitive skin. The females of my race have very tender skin, especially when they are young.”
Caitlyn nodded. “I can do that, but should we leave her alone in here?”
“She’ll watch TV for a few minutes, but I’ll be quick gathering her things.”
Caitlyn went into the hall bathroom and put the stopper in the tub before turning on the water. She made sure it wasn’t too hot and dug through the cabinet looking for some bubble bath or baby wash. She found a bottle of lavender scented baby soap that doubled as shampoo and added a capful to the water. There were a few
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