Page 76 of Stables

“Tomatoes for your brother’s family.” I hold it up high enough to show him the round shapes poking through the sides.

“They’re gonna love you.” He opens the passenger side and holds out his palm to help me in.

I’m glad he has step sides. It’d be hard to get in without them. Sometimes it sucks being short.

“Daddy Dixon, this is a big truck,” Paisley exclaims from the backseat. “It’s not loud.”

“Oh, geez. I’m sorry.” I bury my face in my palm.

I can’t believe Libby taught her that.

“Don’t be, it’s growing on me.” He smiles, then tugs my hand down to entwine his fingers with mine.

It makes me giggle. “You like being called ‘daddy’?”

He looses a low rumble deep in his chest. “It sounds different when you say it.” His mustache tickles my thumb when he pulls it up to kiss it.

I like this side of him.

“Dixon? Do you think, um.” I don’t know how to ask this. “Do you think that me being so young is going to bother them?”

He turns, fixing me with a stare long enough that the truck drifts in the lane. “No. I don’t at all.”

I can’t believe he bought all of that food. He even had two empty coolers in the back to keep the frozen stuff cold while we go to his brother’s house.

Guiltily, I unroll one of the shiny wrappers on a chocolate truffle as the truck bounces down a long lane leading past massive fenced pastures.

“Do you want to try one?” I feel almost ashamed that I let him indulge me in the sweet treat.

He shakes his head. “What I want is for you to enjoy it so much, you let me taste it on your lips.” He winks as he shuts off the engine in front of a massive wooden building.

I pop the decadent dessert into my mouth, savoring how it melts on my tongue.

“Char—” He leans over the center console, tilting his head so his cowboy hat frames my face. “—those noises make me wish I was a morsel of your favorite food.” His mouth crashes against me, his tongue dancing with mine just long enough to make me pant.

He pulls away, licking his lips. “I can see why you like them.”

When he leans back, I’m mortified to see a blond woman on the front porch holding a baby.

Did she see him kissing me?

Dixon slings his door open, then moves around the truck to help me down.

“Lori, this is Char.” Dixon doesn’t let go of my hand until I’ve crested the steps and standing next to her.

“Hi, Char. This is Jack.” Lori tilts her arms to reveal a sleeping infant. “I was so excited to hear Dixon was bringing someone for dinner.” Her green eyes glitter over a beaming smile.

I swear she’s my age.

Now I understand why Dixon didn’t think mine would be an issue. He’s even mentioned that Mason is older.

“Mommy, is that a baby?” Paisley runs up the stairs and clings to my leg.

Lori squats low enough that my daughter can see his tiny face. “His name is Jack. What’s yours?”

“Princess Paisley.” She turns her face against my thigh, burying against me.

I stroke her dark curls. “Can you say ‘hi’ to the baby?”

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