Page 34 of Wylder Ranch
“Everly Jeanne Wylder,” Haven replies softly, though her eyes are on Everly. They never leave. “Jeanne was my mom.”
She’s quiet for a moment, then says, “We could add Burlington on too if you’d like. It’s kind of a mouthful, but?—”
“You’d do that?”
She nods. “Of course. She’s your daughter, too, and we’re figuring this out. Right?”
I have to clear my throat before I can speak. “Right. Figuring this out,” I breathe. “Thank you, Haven. I mean it. Thank you.”
I stare at my daughter lying in her mother’s arms, and the surge of emotion is nothing short of overwhelming. She’s quite easily the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. If it’s possible to love something wholeheartedly this quickly, then I do.
I understand why Hendricks fought so hard for Max that it almost killed him in the process. I would burn the world down for Everly, and I’ve only known her for four days.
“Lady Everly?—”
“What?” Haven’s head snaps up. “Lady?Lady?”
I nod. “Yes. I’m a lord, and my father was a duke, so any of my offspring are automatically given a title.”
Haven’s mouth drops. She must loosen her grip on Everly enough because she cries out in objection.
“She’s a member of the Burlington family now. She doesn’t have to use the title—Hendricks, Miles, and I don’t much unless it’s formal. But it is ours if we want, inherited from our father and passed down through generations.”
“A lady,” she whispers. “Hear that, baby. . . Lady Everly Jeanne Wylder-Burlington.”
“You’re right, it’s kind of a mouthful.” I laugh. “What do you call her?”
“Evey. . . sometimes. I haven’t got that far. Baby, mostly.” Her head tips back against the rocking chair, but not for long because, like me, she can’t stop watching Everly.
I decide to leave them alone and give them privacy.
Because Hendricks’s voice pops into my head, and I’m reminded that I can’t fuck this up. Not when I want Everly to be part of my life, and I hers.
I have to keep things platonic.
But given it’s been ten months since I last had sex, and the woman I haven’t stopped thinking about since I first met her is standing right in front of me . . .
Hendricks is right, this is going to be hard.
I have a feeling I’m going to need reminding a lot.
CHAPTER 9
Haven
Amiracle has happened. I slept through the night.
Kind of.
I woke up once to feed Everly, and we both fell back to sleep almost immediately, so I’m counting it as a full, undisturbed night.
Turning my head, I find her still sleeping in her new crib—calm and peaceful.
Scooching up the bed, I prop the pillows under me and take in what I can of the barely lit room. Even the sun isn’t quite awake yet, there’s just a dull glow of morning coming through the thick drapes.
I’m tempted to get out and see what awaits me in the world today, but I’m so cozy that I can’t quite bring myself to look, even to check the time. But then the bongs on the church clock strike seven, which, I decide, is an acceptable hour to check my phone.
There are a dozen messages from Saylor throughout the night, the last one of which was
