Callan set a hand on Sage’s lower back, placing a kiss on her cheek. “She’s just excited, baby.”
Sage gave him a wide-eyed look that screamed she was well aware.
Avery popped up from where she’d crouched and waved over at me and Beckham, still standing in the entryway. “Hi, Parker. Hi, Beckham.” Then she promptly faced her mom, the sassiest look on her face, before plopping back down to the floor in front of the neatly wrapped presents.
The two of us laughed as Beckham helped me out of my coat and hung it on the rack by the door, then did the same with his. The woodsy scent from the Christmas tree and the fire in the fireplace, mixed with whatever casserole dish Charlotte had in the oven, had my stomach growling.
Beckham’s brows rose as he eyed my belly. “Sounds like someone’s hungry.”
“Well, I am eating for two, and it’s past my typical breakfast time.”
With that knowledge, Beckham set a palm on my belly before leaning in to kiss me. “I’m going to find my mom and see how much longer that food has.”
“I’m sure she’ll be out here soon,” I told him.
He frowned, though his expression was still playful. “My baby mama is starving, and I can’t have that.”
His words had warmth pooling low in my belly, but before I could say anything, his hand slid off my stomach as he disappeared down the hallway to find Charlotte.
Not a second later, Lettie looped an arm through mine and led me toward the living room.
“Did you talk to Beckham about the comments?” Lettie asked, voice low and close to my ear.
“I did.” I glanced down the hallway as we passed it, not wanting Beckham to hear for fear bringing it up would only make him worry and ruin his mood. “He wasn’t exactly happy, if you couldn’t have guessed.”
“Oh, I definitely figured that.” She shuffled me onto the couch, my hips sandwiched between her and Brandy. Lettie scooted as far as she could into the arm of the couch to give me and my stomach space.
Travis was in his recliner, glaring at the fire like he’d battled it all morning. Oakley and Lennon sat on the ground, the latter’s back to the coffee table and Oakley resting back in his arms. Callan now stood at the edge of the living room having a hushed conversation with Sage, the two of them oblivious to Avery, who was currently digging her fingers into thick wrapping paper, making progress at tearing into a present.
Reed was beside Brandy, hand firm on her thigh, and Bailey was nowhere to be found, presumably outside tending to the animals before breakfast was served.
“I don’t know what else to do,” I muttered, leaning into Lettie’s side. “I blocked the accounts. Put my profile on private. I’m not posting, especially not sharing any personal details. I have no idea who could want information that desperately.”
“Any old flings from the ranches youvisited?” she asked.
I shook my head. “I didn’t really have time for much of that, and if I did, it was never serious. Besides, ya know…” I gestured to my stomach.
“Have there been any more since the night of the bar?”
“Thankfully, no. But that almost unsettles me more. They clearly know I have ties to Bell Buckle, and now to your family. Ask anyone in this town, and they’ll know where the Bronsons live. That’s not exactly comforting.”
“No one would tell a stranger where our ranch is,” Lettie explained. “You know that.”
I gnawed on my bottom lip, tearing at skin that was dry from the cold. “I know. But all it takes is one slip-up, like the one on my account.”
She set a comforting hand on my own. “Nothing will happen to you, or to us. We’re safe.”
“Internet stalkers… They can get obsessive.”
She squeezed me. “Did Beckham say he was going to do anything?”
“If he has a plan, he didn’t tell me. But there’s not much we can do when we don’t know who the person is.”
“True.” She forced a reassuring smile, but all it did was prove she was just as lost on what to do about this as I was. “Just keep an eye out. Don’t go anywhere alone. And don’t overthink.”
I snorted. “Overthinking is what I do best with my baby months away from being born.”
This time, her grin was a bit more confident. “So focus on that. Don’t let this weirdo ruin one of the best times of your life.”
