Dragging my gaze away, I catch Davie’s friend staring at me from over the car’s roof.Right.This is my first time meeting my possible child, yet I’m busy ogling his curvy aunt.
“Let me hold him.” I reach out for the baby carrier once it’s free from its restraints, but Davie backs up.
“No, I’ve got him. You’ll have plenty of time to carry him around once we determine he’s actually yours.” A pink blush rises to Davie’s cheeks. “Sorry. That sounded meaner than I meant it.”
Her friend Linnea snickers as we gather on the sidewalk.
“No need to apologize, sweetheart.” She doesn’t trust me yet—not even to carry Jesse a few feet to the clinic—but that’s okay. We have time, and I’m determined to win her over.
“Hi! You must be Davie, and this little cutie must be Jesse.” Dr. Landish welcomes us into an empty waiting room then leads us to an exam room. “Cormac explained the situation, so I already have everything laid out. A couple of cheek swabs, then we’ll be done.”
“And we’ll have results in twenty-four hours?”
“Yep.”
Davie unbuckles Jesse from his carrier. “How accurate is the test?”
“Extremely accurate,” Dr. Landish says as she dons a pair of gloves. “Like 99.9%. Court cases require a certain chain of custody, and there are some other trade-offs for speedy results, but accuracy isn’t an issue.”
I open my mouth for the swab while watching Davie with Jesse. His chubby fingers tug at her hair, while she lightly bounces him in her arms. The pang in my chest is sharp and immediate.
Jesse could be my son.
I study his tiny features, searching for clues. Are those my eyes? My Dad’s ears? Is his dark hair from me or Davie’s side of the family?
Only time, and this rapid DNA test, will tell.
I invite Davie, Linnea, and Jesse back to the ranch for lunch after we finish at the doctor’s office. Fancy will have plenty of food to satisfy extra guests, and a casual meal together seems like a safe way to learn more about each other.
“Are you sure it’s alright for us to drop in unannounced? I don’t want to cause more work for someone,” Davie says, worrying her plush bottom lip as we step inside the main house.
“It’s fine. Fancy will be happy to have female company. Not to mention a baby. It’s been a while since the ranch has had a kid on the property.” Not since Deacon’s son, Dylan, was a child.
The clatter of dishes and conversation greets us as we enter the large dining room. A long trestle table dominates the center of the room, meant to house every ranch employee and Madsen family member.
Slowly, the noise fades into confused silence. It’s not often the Rocking M hosts women, let alone a baby.
“Who do we have here?” Fancy asks as she sets a platter of cornbread on the table.
Clearing my throat, suddenly feeling like a teenager bringing a girl home for the first time, I gesture toward our guests. “This is Davie, Linnea, and Jesse. They’re here to…”
My words trail off. I don’t want to announce my potential fatherhood to the entire ranch yet. I’m not ashamed, but it’s not official. Not until Dr. Landish calls with the test results.
“Check out the ranch,” Davie interjects, “and see if it’s a good fit for my company. So far, so good.” She forces a strained smile while her eyes beg me to support the lie.
“Right… Another corporate retreat might be coming.”
Connor’s brows twinge upward. “What company? I don’t remember any emails or calls about an inquiry visit.”
“We’ll get into the details later. No shop talk at mealtimes, right, Fancy?”
The older woman’s eyes narrow, but she nods in agreement before ushering Davie and Linnea to empty chairs. I snag the seat next to Davie and start filling her plate with food.
“I can make my own plate,” she whispers as the guys around the table begin chatting again.
“Of course, you can, but you don’t have to. You’ve got Jesse in your lap.” And it’s the least I can do to take care of her.
Feeding Davie is one small way to prove I’m worth taking a chance on. She might have caught me at my worst this morning when I decked Garrett in the face, but I’m more than my temper.
