Page 63 of Be My Baby

He looked at her then. “But I couldn’t stop loving you, and I realised something important—that it didn’t make what I had with her any less. It was just… different.”

Millie’s stomach clenched hard. Lucy had done that to him, too?

You have to promise me, Millie, that you won’t chase after Max. I mean, not that he would want you anyway. You’re not exactly his type.

Millie drew in a deep breath, remembering those hurtful words, and Lucy’s strained laughter while lying in her hospital bed. Millie had been with Ryan at the time, and she’d been happy, although, looking back, the cracks had started to show. Her best friend telling her not to chase her soon-to-be widowed husband had thrown her, big time. Lucy had glossed over it as the drugs talking, and they’d moved on.

She looked at the man she loved so dearly, the father of her child. He’d suffered enough. He didn’t need to know what Lucy had said to her; at least, not yet. And while those harsh words of Lucy’s had hurt badly, she supposed pain and the fear of the inevitable could make anyone say and do terrible things.

“Not stupid. But you know what? Maybe it was the universe’s way of wiping the slate clean. A new start.”

The soft yellow lamplight reflected in his eyes. “You never know.”

Millie glanced around the room and sucked her bottom lip into her mouth. “You know, I have this big ole house that just has me rattling around in it. You could always come live there. With me. If you want…”

Max’s smile widened to encompass his whole face. “Are you looking to corrupt me, Ms Stevens? Whatever will Aunt Mildred say?”

She laughed and shrugged awkwardly. “You could do with a bit of corrupting. You’re too much of a goody two shoes. It’s time we roughed up your image a little.”

Max’s laugh rang around the room. “That’s the first time anyone’s ever saidthatabout me. But it’s a deal.” He stroked the hair off her face that had fallen forward as it dried. “I’d love to be corrupted by you.”

Chapter Nineteen

Max threw thebiscuits of hay toward Gabe’s herd and chuckled as they noisily pushed each other to get to it.

“You lot are more pampered than any other cows I’ve ever seen. Next you’ll all be living in the house with him and Emma.” Satisfied bovine eyes stared back at him, mouths chewing away happily.

Behind him, Gabe laughed as more hay was tossed past Max’s shoulder. “I take offence to that.”

“I’d say that Max isn’t so far off base there, Gabey. Particularly seeing as how Emma seems to be getting a little, let’s say, ah…clucky… these days?” Simon added as he walked past carrying another bale of hay.

Gabe set his hands on his hips and pretended to scowl at his brothers. “Is it gang up on Gabe day today? I didn’t get the memo.”

Max leaned forward and scruffed Ralph around the head, the young bull happily munching the mouthful he’d just picked up. “Nah. That would be tomorrow.”

Simon glanced at them and grinned. “We’re just warming up. Flexin’ the old sarcasm muscles.”

Gabe shook his head and picked up the cut lengths of baling twine. “Fine. Have it your way.”

Max winked and patted Gabe’s shoulder. “Don’t take it so hard, little brother. Next week will be Simon’s turn.”

Gabe leaned against the railing and tilted his head, a soft light entering his eyes. “Must be impending fatherhood that’s got you all sentimental. You’re going soft on me.”

Max couldn’t help the grin that surfaced. It spread across his face and warmth lit his heart.

He and Millie had told them all at the family BBQ the day before. She’d reached eight weeks and they hadn’t been able to keep it quiet any longer. His ears still rang from the high-pitched squeal Darby had let go right near him.

He didn’t think he’d stopped smiling since. Millie had been nervous, still worried the rest of the family would, for some reason, either reject her or be lukewarm in their reception. Their effusive reactions and tears of happiness soon dispelled any concerns she’d had.

“Maybe. You’ll have to join the ranks and find out for yourself.”

An excited gleam entered Gabe’s eyes and he opened his mouth to say something, then glanced over his shoulder. A moment later Max also heard the crunch of tyres on gravel.

“Speak of the devil. Looks like you have a visitor, Maximus.”

It shouldn’t have been possible, but Max’s grin widened even further. Millie’s little VW Beetle putted along Gabe’s long driveway toward them, stopping next to the gate leading to the paddock they were currently in. He rubbed his hands on the seat of his pants as he walked toward her.

Millie rounded her car and waited while Max opened the gate for her, a cardboard travel tray of hot drinks in her hands.

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