Page 39 of Coming Home to Maverick

Gracie ran up with her hands in the air, and when she got to Maverick, she jumped as high as she could up into his arms.

Luckily, Maverick knew what she was after and swung her up into the air before sitting her at his hip. “You ready to meet your baby pig’s mama?”

“Ooooh. Yes.”

Bailey watched as Maverick explained all about the mama pig and how the babies were waiting to come into the world until they were big and ready. He went on and on, and Bailey drank in every word, watching the fascination grow in Gracie’s face. Bailey imagined many a fall just like this one. She let her mind wander to when there would be a few more children around, to gatherings with the brothers and their wives and her parents, and it all felt too wonderful to be true.

She knew she had to hang on before it all slipped through her fingers.

Chapter 12

Maverick should be congratulating himself on a super fine make-out session with a hot woman, but it wasn’t just any woman; it was Bailey. And now that he’d kissed her again, his whole body remembered she was his woman. Not a friend—no way. She was the woman he wanted to stand by his side in everything.

When she’d asked him if he wanted to go watch the moon, he could have said no. He knew what was coming. And then the magic of the night air, her eyes shining up at him, and her words, “I won’t leave ever again.” It was too much to resist.

But now he had to deal with the consequences. Could he trust her with his heart? His brain said there was no way he should ever do that again, but she already owned every beat of his heart, so now what? As he watched her with little Gracie, he had to ask himself, what did he love? The relationship they used to have? Or the new Bailey?

Big Mama Lulu, their sow, grunted and fell to her side. Her breathing started to get real heavy, and Bailey gasped beside him. “Is she?”

He chuckled. “I think so.” He leaned in real close and rested the top of his hat on Bailey’s head. “Do we tell her, or do we sneak out and pretend like nothing’s going on?”

“I can hear you.” Gracie’s little voice surprised him.

“Not much gets past my girl.”

He turned to see Gracie with both hands on her hips, watching him.

Then he looked from Bailey to Gracie. “I think Grandma has some yummy dessert going on back at the house. You ready for boysenberry pie?”

Bailey laughed. “I have a feeling Maverick’s ready for some of that pie.”

“You know I am. I already ate the turtles.”

“What? All of them?”

“Well, no, but the others I hid in my room.” He winked. “And I think we have some ice cream, specially made.”

Gracie started to skip out the door, but then she stopped. “But what’s going on with Lulu?”

“See? Catches everything.” Bailey grinned. “Nothing, honey. Well, nothing we’re sure of. Sometimes when mamas are pregnant, they get real tired and rest like that.”

“But sometimes they do this when they’re about to have the little piggies come out.”

“Come out?” Gracie’s eyes went wide.

“Now you’ve done it.”

He felt his cheeks warm. “Well, I didn’t want to be leaving out parts.”

“That’s what talking to kids is all about. You leave out parts.”

He laughed. “Well, not whenItalk to kids.” He held out his hand. “Come here, pumpkin. I’m gonna teach you something really cool about pigs.”

Bailey shook her head. “This I gotta see.”

Gracie ran up and climbed on his lap, and Bailey sat beside him. “See Lulu over there?” The big sow moaned. “She’s gonna start having some babies tonight.”

Gracie wrinkled up her nose like she didn’t understand.

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