Page 35 of Forever Player

“Now who’s getting pissy?” Lev laughs like a five-year-old.

I roll my eyes. “I need coffee.” I walk away and he shouts to me that he wants one too.

The rest of the day goes by uneventfully. We make it back to the farm just after four.

“What’s this?” I lift an Amazon package with my name on it that was left at our front door. “I didn’t order anything.”

Lev shrugs.

I walk in to see Brett playing kids songs and dancing for Maylee, who is in his arms laughing and looking entertained. My heart skitters.

“Hey there,” I greet them.

“Brett, did you order this package? It has my name on it,” I say, holding the small brown box up.

“I ordered it for you,” he replies.

I turn away to the kitchen sink to wash my hands. Then I take Maylee from him and spread small kisses on her soft cheeks. “Did you miss your mama?”

“She missed you a lot,” Brett confirms, as if he knows that is what I need to hear. “You’re actually just in time. I was about to warm up a bottle.”

“I can just nurse her,” I offer. I take a seat on the couch and lift my sweater. I’m wearing a nursing bra so there is easy access.

“I’ll clean the kitchen,” Brett mumbles.

“You didn’t need to order me anything,” I say.

“Oh, I did,” he replies in a weird way. “You need to take care of yourself.”

“That’s kind of you, Brett. I appreciate all your help.”

He turns and looks at me and then he comes over to the couch. He looks serious but I don’t know him all that well so I don’t know what that look means.

“Willow, I don’t want you thanking me for taking care of my own daughter. She is mine and she is my responsibility, just like she is yours. I hate that you went through everything on your own until now, but I am planning to be here for both of you from here on out.”

I shift but not much because Maylee is eating from me. My lower lip quivers. “Brett, you are going back to work soon. Your home base is New York. This daily help won’t be sustainable.”

“I have to work but we can figure something out,” he says.

“I won’t have Maylee bouncing back and forth between New York and Sugar Meadow,” I snap.

His hand lands on my thigh almost like he wants to calm me, but that isn’t the effect it has because his touch feels like fire. Brett is a big guy with large hands and capable fingers.

My thighs clench.

“I would never do that to our daughter,” he says, his searing blue eyes boring into mine.

For some reason I believe him. I could be wrong but he doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to take me to court over custody. At least I hope he isn’t.

“Go out with me tonight. Let’s relax and talk and get to know each other a little better,” he urges.

“Okay,” I exhale, breathing out a sigh of relief, even though I’m not sure why.

With Maylee breastfed Brett tells me to go have a nap so that I am energized for tonight. He also says he is going to get started on dinner. I’ve never met a man who is so domesticated before, but I’m liking it.

“I’ll go take a bath,” I say to him.

“You should take that box with you.” He points with his chin.

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