Page 38 of Wylder Ranch
“Excellent. I want to show you both around. Everly can stay with me while you get dressed,” he says, holding his arms out for her.
I put my coffee down and hand over the baby much less reluctantly than I’ve ever done because the pull of getting to shower and dress without worrying about Everly is too strong. I’ve already reached the top of the stairs when Alex calls after me.
“Take your time.”
CHAPTER 10
Alexander
One thing I’ve learned is that when you have a baby, everything takes ten times longer.
Leaving the house, for example.
Usually, I walk out the door, and that’s that. But with a baby, things are infinitely more complicated.
Does her nappy need changing? Is it too cold? Should she have a bigger hat that covers her ears? Do we have to feed her again? Do we have spare outfits? Do we haveenoughnappies? Should we double-check her nappy doesn’t need changing?
And all the questions came from me. Haven answered each one patiently before she gave up and walked out, followed by Dolly, who promptly disappeared, likely to find someone she’ll no doubt con to give her lunch.
The other thing? I was carrying Everly strappedto me. Hands-free. Just this piece of material and I are solely responsible for my daughter’s safety.
Haven had asked if I wanted to hold her, and of course I said yes. But I thought I’d be carrying her like I’d done previously, notin a harness. I’d never given any thought to the flimsiness of a harness, but honestly, riding a roller coaster would give me less anxiety.
I’m still not entirely convinced she won’t slide rightout of it.
“Alex, you don’t need to keep checking the fastening. She’s secure, I promise. I flew over here with her in it, and she didn’t fall out once.”
I know Haven’s mocking me. I can tell from the way her lips curl and her cheeks hollow like she’s biting her tongue, but I zip my gilet underneath Everly anyway for a little added protection,just in case, and try not to think about the pair of them flying here alone.
“That doesn’t make me feel better,” I grumble.
“Well”—Haven peers inside the harness—“what if I tell you she looks super cozy and cute?Andsafe.”
I can’t actually see Everly. It’s the one disadvantage of this contraption. She’s pressed against my chest, and I don’t know how she feels about it.
But if Haven says she’s good, then I believe her, and I go back to focusing on the advantages, one of which is that Haven walks so close to me I’m in a permanent cloud of her scent.
It’s different from last year.
Last year, she smelled of pine trees and sugar, and now it’s floral. There’s an autumnal richness that makes me want to sit by the fire with Haven next to me all day with a bottle ofPenfolds Grange 95while Everly sleeps. It’s a picture of domestic bliss that I’ve never envisioned for myself.
Quite frankly, it’s shocking.
It doesn’t help that every person in Valentine Nook stops us, because it seems the entire village has come out today. Naturally, my walking down Valentine High Street with a baby strapped to my chest is not a usual sight. While I’m not one to broadcast my private business, I can’t lie and say I don’t enjoy telling people thatEverly is my daughter.
It’s no surprise she’s catnip to the Valentine Nook gossips—namely a gaggle of older ladies who spend their days making jam, organizing the next Valentine Nook fair, and deciding where they should have their afternoon tea. But mostly getting on Lando’s nerves with their myriad of requests.
Anxiety aside, this might be the most enjoyable morning I’ve had in a long time.
“Well. . . if she looks cute, then who am I to argue?”
“Exactly.” Haven chuckles. “And this is a cute village, it reminds me of home. Everyone knows your business, right?”
“They certainly do,” I reply, guiding us across to the opposite side of the street after I clock Agatha Chase coming out of her store and turning toward us.
The gaggle I can handle, but I’m not in the mood for Agatha today.
“How long have you lived here?”
