Page 27 of Forever Player

“Well, we’ll see about that,” I counter. We finish eating our sandwiches quietly. When I look over to Maylee, she is fast asleep.

I yawn.

“Thanks for the sandwiches,” Jacob says and he’s still laughing like I amuse him.

With Maylee asleep in the bouncer, I walk over to the couch thinking I’ll just close my eyes for a short while.

* * *

I hear the sound of a crying baby and I fly up to my feet. Only when I do, Willow is standing in front of me holding Maylee with raised brows.

“Good morning to you. Rough day?” she asks, giggling while holding Maylee on her hip.

My hands scrub at the stubble on my cheeks. “I feel terrible that you’ve done this alone until now.”

Willow frowns. “I don’t want you feeling bad. Not when you didn’t know what was happening. Yes, I’ve been through a hard time, but I’ve changed since. . .that night.”

“Yeah,” I exhale and smile as I watch her spreading small kisses on Maylee’s cheek.

“Did you just get back?” I ask, looking around the room.

“About half an hour ago. Thanks for such an amazing day.” She smiles, and she doesn’t look so tired. She also seems more relaxed.

“Please don’t thank me. It was the least I could do,” I say.

“How was your day?” she asks. “By the looks of the inside of the fridge and the counters, you must have gone to the supermarket.” All the groceries didn’t fit in the fridge and freezer so whatever could be left on the counter was left out.

“It’s really hard to go shopping with a baby, which you probably already know, so I bought us enough food to hold us all over,” I explain.

She giggles. “Does that mean you’re spending your entire two weeks off here on the farm?” she asks, and she walks over to the fridge and takes out a bottle of what looks like lemonade.

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay,” I answer, feeling nervous. My focus zeroes in on her nails painted red. They are also longer and look like almonds, and I just imagine her scraping my back while I drill into her.

“If you want to stay, I’m okay with it, but what happens when you leave? I don’t want Maylee to get close to you only to watch you walk away,” she says and then she sips at the lemonade while Maylee pulls at her hair, which is done in soft curls.

Her words pierce my heart in a way she can’t possibly understand, but nonetheless I feel that knife twist. I blink, pushing my negative feelings from childhood away.

“Even if I have to go back to work, I’m always going to be in both of your lives,” I reply.

Willow’s medium brown brows slightly crease, dipping in.

“How about I make us all dinner?” I offer because I get Willow’s hesitation. I remember the night we hooked up. Her words are as clear as day in my mind.“Don’t go falling for me, Brett, because I will never settle down.” My reply had been, “You’re easily the most beautiful woman I’ve been with and I like being with you, but you’ve got no worries with me because I’m a forever player.”

Yeah, a lot has changed since that night. Willow may love our daughter, but she doesn’t trust me. That’s something I am going to need to build with time.

“You want to cook?” Willow finally says, looking confused.

“I’m going to make dinner for your whole family,” I offer because I need the whole Heaton clan liking me.

Willow laughs and watches me like I’m a fascinating creature. “That’s sweet, Brett, but it’s Thursday night. Jacob and Lev go in to the bar in town and spend the evening there. Mom is playing cards with her friends, and Finn is at practice and then will probably meet up with Chelsea. We don’t do big family dinners around here. We all kind of just fend for ourselves.”

“Gotcha. Well then, you’re in for a treat because I’m going to make you dinner,” I inform her.

“You know how to cook?” She raises her brows as Maylee grows antsy in her arms. “What’s wrong, baby girl? Are you hungry?” She walks over to the couch and lifts her shirt.

I don’t mean to look but I can’t help myself either. Yes, her breasts are sexy as hell, but watching her with my little girl does something to my insides that I didn’t know was possible. “You didn’t answer.”

I blink. “Huh?”

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