Chapter 12

An hour later Seth sat at a small table in the corner of catering with Alea in his arms. Half asleep despite the noise in the room, she sucked lazily on the bottle he held as he stared down at her. Before Lexi got pregnant he had very little interest in children outside of signings for work and even less interest in babies.

After witnessing Alea's birth his mindset had completely changed. It still amazed him, even as he stared down into her expressive blue eyes, that Roman and Lexi had produced this beautiful little person. While she looked a lot like Roman and a little like Lexi, she wasn't just a clone of them. She had her own personality that was developing more with each passing day. Happy most of the time, she had her stubborn moments and then moments like now when she just wanted to be cuddled.

She looked up at him and gave him a toothless, milky grin from around the bottle's nipple and he melted. Somehow she'd wormed her way into his heart and whether she knew it or not, he was totally wrapped around her tiny finger.

"Well if that isn't a sight to behold."

Seth looked up to find Kaitlyn standing across from him. "Hey."

"Hey." She grinned. "You do know there's at least a half dozen divas that now have pictures of you feeding Alea immortalized in their photostreams."

Seth chuckled and watched Alea turn toward Kaitlyn's voice. "Whatever."

Kaitlyn slid into the empty seat across from him. "You don't care about your image as a bad ass being ruined?"

"Nope," he grinned at her. "Let them think what they will. I'm secure enough in my manhood to not care." He set Alea's nearly empty bottle on the table, sat her up and began patting her back.

Kaitlyn leaned forward, set her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her folded hands. "You're like a natural at that."

Seth shrugged as Alea let out a tiny burp. "I guess. I've gotten a lot better under Lexi's tutelage. Though I'm still not as good as Roman."

"Maybe not," Kaitlyn observed, "But you'll be a pro by the time you have your own kiddos."

"You mean if," Seth corrected.

Kaitlyn frowned. "If? Uh oh...I take it you and Amber are still not talking?"

Seth shook his head as he thought about how she'd been just a little cold with him when he'd run into her earlier. He could see the trouble in her eyes, the pain dancing behind her green irises and it hurt to know he couldn't do anything to help. Whatever it was she was going through she needed to work it out on her own. "It's killing me to see her like this. She's lost and hurting and she's pushed me away, so I can't do anything to make it better."

"Well," Kaitlyn reached out and took his free hand in hers. "If you ever need a friend to talk to, I'm here for you, okay?"

He smiled at her now. "I appreciate that."

"Well isn't this just a sight," Roman's voice carried over the table and Seth noted how Alea's attention immediately drifted toward her father.

"So Dean wasn't kidding when he said you snatched Alea from Amber," Lexi laughed.

Seth let go of Kaitlyn's hand and grinned. "Alea had a not so happy encounter with Hunter and I just felt the need to rescue little Squirt."

Roman frowned. "Not so happy?"

Seth nodded. "Stranger anxiety I think. He sauntered into the conversation Amber and Stephanie were having right after I walked up. Alea took one look at Hunter and puckered up." He grinned. "It was actually kinda funny."

"Amber was talking with Stephanie?" Lexi asked as Roman reached for Alea and settled her into his arms.

Seth nodded. "I didn't hear what it was about, but whatever Stephanie said to her made Amber upset. I could see it in her eyes and the way she was carrying herself. Then with Hunter scaring Alea and making her all fussy, I decided to maybe I should take the baby."

Roman frowned. "Why? You don't think Amber would have hurt Alea?"

Seth's could feel his body jerk in shock. "Oh God, no. I just figured she needed some time alone to work out whatever was bothering her. If Alea was being cranky it would have only added to Amber's stress and amplified whatever was bothering her. Besides-" he grinned. "I like spending time with squirt."

Kaitlyn shot him a wry smile as she pulled her phone from her pocket. "He's not kidding either. Look-"

Lexi leaned over and stared at Kaitlyn's phone. "Oh...that's so sweet. Can you send me that picture? I want to have it printed and put it in Alea's baby book."

Seth shook his head. "Would you two just stop?"

Lexi glanced at Kaitlyn and the girls giggled before Kaitlyn stood. "Remember what I said," she directed at Seth. "If you just need to talk, or anything…"

Seth nodded. "I'll let you know."

Kaitlyn walked away and Lexi slid into the empty chair. She arched a brow at Seth. "What was that all about?"

"Nothing," Seth replied as he leaned back in his chair. "She was simply being a friend."

"A friend huh?" Roman replied as he used his free hand to snag a chair and pull it up to the table. "Does holding hands fall under the label of friendship?"

Seth eyed his best friend. "Don't make this out to be more than it is."

"All I'm saying is I understand."

"Understand what?" Seth challenged.

Roman looked to Lexi then back. "Understand that after what Amber did, maybe you're ready to try and move on."

Seething, Seth leaned forward. "It's only been two weeks, Ro."

Roman arched a brow. "So you do still love her?"

Seth looked at him in shock. "Of course I do."

"Good," Lexi added. "Because I have an idea that, while it's a bit sneaky and underhanded, might help Amber see the error of her ways."

Seth wasn't sure he liked where this was going. "What is it?" He was almost afraid to ask.