Page 29 of Wylder Ranch
Carefully, Alex hands her over. “You can go in the snug. Down the hall on the left where the television is.”
I hurry off, not wanting to stick around and wait for Alex to be done. Or listen to them discussing what happens next, talking about me behind my back.
Finding the room, I settle down onto the couch and maneuver myself into position for her to latch on. My sweater is big enough that I can pull it over the top of her to cover us both and still see her if I look down.
“You were so brave,” I whisper even though she barely noticed what happened. “I’m so sorry we had to do that.”
Everly glances up at me, her big blue eyes wide as if to say, “No worries, Mama.” She flutters her lashes a couple of times until they close for good, and I find my own growing too heavy to keep open.
When she finishes on one side and I switch her over, Alex is leaning against the doorframe, all long legs and Ralph Lauren ad vibes. It’s the exact thought I had the first time I saw him standing at the jukebox in the Old Saloon. Along withthat guy is so hot.
And now we have a baby together.
He startles as our eyes lock together, like he’s been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
“You didn’t.”
He steps forward slowly and perches on the end of the couch. As he stares at her feet sticking out from my sweater, I can tell he’s got something to say, so I wait.
“Don’t go back to Aspen tomorrow. Stay here a little longer. Stay here with me, and we can work out a plan.”
Well, it sure as shit wasn’t that.
Moving in with Alex was not on my bingo card for coming to England. And for reasons I should probably figure out, the first thing that pops into my head is Alex seeing me naked.
I am not ready for that.
He notices me hesitate, and I pray to God hecan’t read my mind.
“You and Everly will have your own room. This house is big enough for all of us.” He waves his arm around. “But she’s my daughter too, and I want a chance to get to know her. And I want to support you.”
My daughter.
I glance down at her, gulping away. “You don’t want to wait for the paternity test to come through first?”
He shakes his head, resigned. “No, I don’t need to hear the results to know what it’ll say. C’mon, give me two weeks, Haven, and I’ll take you back to Aspen myself. Please. Let me help. We can’t figure everything out in twenty-four hours.”
Help. It’s that one word again that pricks my ears. And I suppose he does need to get to know his daughter.Andhe’s correct—wecan’tdo everything we need to do in twenty-four hours.
Which is why I find myself saying yes, along with thinking that paternity test or not, for the first time since I discovered I was pregnant, I wonder if there might be a slim chance everything will turn out okay.
CHAPTER 8
Alexander
It’s official.
The results came back this morning.
I’m a father.
And now that Haven is moving in with me for a couple of weeks, I have a housemate. Two if you count Everly.
The sun is shining, the sky is cloudless and blue, and the air is crisp. It all adds up to a perfect November day.
Lando claps a hand on my shoulder. “Big day for you. Baptism of fire, one might say.”
