A Cold Winter's Day 25 Read Online Free PDF Page B

kitchen washcloth. He dunked it into the water and then ran it over Cole’s back, cleaning the stench from the cub. This was just gross, but the cub was cute. That made up for him washing crap from someone’s back.
    “Have any of you ever changed a diaper?” Curtis asked as he smiled at Cole.
    “Nope.”
    “Never.”
    “Not on a baby.”
    Everyone turned to Bryce, but the guy just shrugged.
    “Give him here,” Curtis said as he grabbed Cole and a dry hand towel, wrapping it around Cole’s bottom.
    “His bottom lip is shaking,” Chance pointed out. “He’s cold.”
    “Then let’s get him dressed.” Curtis walked back into the living room and laid Cole out on the sofa, digging through his diaper bag and grabbing another cloth diaper. “He only has two diapers left. Someone is going to have to go buy some.”
    “I can do that,” Bryce volunteered.
    “Make sure they’re the cloth kind, the ones with the built-in plastic liner on the outside. That seems to be all that are in here.” Curtis shrugged. “His pa must be into that all-natural thing.”
    Chance frowned at the odd piece of cloth Curtis was putting on the baby. “They have different types of diapers?”
    “Oh yeah.” Curtis chuckled.
    Who knew?
    The three brothers watched as Curtis gave Diaper Changing 101 lessons. Once Cole was powdered and had a clean diaper on, Curtis dug through the colorful bag again. “He doesn’t have a change of clothes.”
    “Here,” Chauncey said as he pulled his shirt off. “Give him this.”
    Curtis stared at the size three X shirt and then shook his head, wrapping Cole in the tent. “All done.” He passed Cole to Chance. “I’m going to head over to my dads’ and see if Heaven or Gabby has any extra clothes for him. I’ll grab some toys and other stuff. Can you guys handle watching him while I’m gone?”
    Chance rolled his eyes. “How hard can it be to watch a cub?” They ate, they pooped, and they slept. What was so complicated about that?
    “I’ll hurry,” Curtis said as he grabbed his coat. Chauncey followed behind Curtis, giving his brother a devilish grin before he bolted from the house.
    “What’s that smell?”

    * * * *

    “Are you sure he’s safe?” Luke got up once more, heading for the door.
    “He has seven brothers that would kill Satan to keep him safe. Relax,” Malcolm said as he sat on the side of the bed. “I’m more concerned with you at the moment. Cole is safe.”
    “Have they ever taken care of a baby before?” Luke asked as he paced the bedroom, his eyes continuously flickering toward the door.
    Not a day in their lives, but Malcolm was pretty confident his boys wouldn’t screw this up. Malcolm prayed he was right or he was going to be missing a few sons.
    He sat there and watched Luke pace, unsure of what to say. He’d never been one to flirt or engage in conversation with someone who was destined to be his.
    Hell, Clarisse had flirted with him, pursued him. Malcolm didn’t know the first thing about winning a mate over. He sat there tongue-tied and feeling inept. He hadn’t felt this way since courting his wife.
    Malcolm knew how to run a ranch with confidence. He knew how to keep seven large sons in check. He even knew how to be gentle around cubs. What he didn’t know was how to woo a man. The one and only time he’d been with a man was before Clarisse, and the guy had approached Malcolm.
    Malcolm knew he was in trouble from the way he had bitten Riley’s head clear off for speaking to Luke disrespectfully—something he needed to apologize to his son about. He knew Riley was only looking out for his family, and Malcolm could have handled that better.
    Now he sat here grasping for words.
    Luke stopped pacing and dropped down on the bed next to Malcolm, concern and utter hopelessness etched on his face. He was biting his thumbnail as he sat there staring at the far wall.
    The silence felt awkward.
    “Are you sure he’s—”
    “Cole’s fine,” Malcolm