Precious Embrace (Embrace Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and pulled out a box full of small white Chinese food containers.
    “Good choice,” he crooned. “Smells delicious.”
    Ali entered the house, but stopped inside the front door. “My goodness, have you unpacked anything yet?”
    Boxes lined the living room wall at least halfway up. Most of them still taped closed, a few open but still full.
    “I’ve been working on the kitchen. I haven’t touched this room yet. Follow me.” He turned down the music and carried the food into the kitchen.
    Ali glanced at the folded blankets on the end of the large sectional sofa. “I guess this is your bed for now?”
    “Yeah, and it’s not bad.”
    Ali set the car seat on the high counter, placing Micah at their height. “Ah…much better,” she said looking around the clean kitchen.
    When Johnny put the box of Chinese food down, Ali started searching for plates as he unhooked Micah from the car seat.
    “Hey, little guy.” Johnny propped him in his arms. “Would you like something to drink, Ali?” he said, leaning over the fridge, still holding Micah. “I have beer, coke, diet coke, orange juice?”
    Ali chuckled. “Do you drink diet Coke?”
    “No.” He pursed his lips together and shook his head.
    She took the soda when he handed it over. “Then why did you buy it?”
    “You drink it and I was hoping you might be over to visit soon.” The little boy grin on his face was telling and irresistible. “How about you, Micah…a little whiskey with your formula? I bet you’re pissed at your Mama for not breastfeeding. I would be—“
    “Ah—Johnny!” How did he… “How do you know I don’t breastfeed?”
    Johnny grinned wider and looked at her breasts before meeting her eyes. “I would have”—he cleared his throat—“figured it out two months ago.”
    Ali winced and ducked her head. “We don’t need to share that information with Micah.”
    Johnny went straight faced, fighting against his smile. “Right, sorry.”
    She had gotten a little bit of everything from her favorite Chinese restaurant, not sure what he liked. When his plate was piled high with everything from fried rice to Mongolian beef, she set it down on the table and filled her own plate.
    She reached her arms out for Micah. “Here, let me take him while you eat.”
    “What? You don’t trust me?” he asked turning away from her outstretched hands.
    “You don’t have to hold him, go ahead and eat.”
    “No, we’re hangin’ out. I can eat with one hand.”
    She backed off and shrugged. “Okay, fine.”
    Johnny sat Micah on his left knee, bouncing lightly while Micah looked around with wide eyes. While he ate, he kept his attention equally between her and Micah as if Micah were another adult in the room. Most men avoided her baby, avoided him like the plague.
    Micah stared at Johnny with such awe. He had an open-mouth grin with a small little stream of drool falling from the corner. Ali shook her head and leaned over to wipe the drool from Johnny’s hand then from Micah’s chin.
    “What?” Johnny said.
    “He’s drooling all over you.”
    He waved her off. “Ah, it’s just a little drool.” He shifted and stared down at Micah. “You know, he is a good little guy, perfectly happy, no complaints, no whining.”
    Ali laughed a little too loud, letting the sarcasm come though. “No, you’ve just seen him when he’s happy. I think he likes you. I’ve never seen him watch anyone like he watches you. It must be because you talk to him.”
    Johnny looked down again. “What do you think, Micah? You like listening to me talk?”
    Micah smiled at the attention.
    “He must like the sound of your voice, maybe it’s the accent.”
    “Well, I’m glad someone likes it. I’ve gotten some seriously strange looks since I got here.”
    “Really, I would have thought the girls like it.”
    “Oh, they do. It’s their boyfriends who give me the dirty looks.”
    “Ha, ha, ha, very funny.”
    “Don’t worry, there’s only one California