Cody huffed, side-eying the baby. She giggled as she finally latched onto her toes, bringing them to her mouth. Ella was right. Addie seemed fine.
His chest burned. “That’s not the point. What if she fell wrong? What if she’d cracked her head so badly it bled?”
Ella’s gaze softened. “You can’t live in what ifs.” She rested a hand on his arm. “And you can’t protect everyone all the time. Hurt will happen.”
His teeth clenched. “Not on my watch.” The words sounded harsh to his own ears.
Ella blinked, then stepped back. She folded her arms over her chest and lowered her eyes. The submissive posture loosened his irritation. He reached for her, but Ella took another step back. “Maybe you should start planting. You said it would be a long day.”
The waver in her voice hit him hard. “Ella…”
She shook her head. “Just go. Please.”
Tears glistened in her eyes before she turned away. For a moment, he stood frozen in place. What was the right response? Obey her request, or ignore it to talk further? Something inside insisted he apologize for his behavior. Fear had turned him into the grizzly, and this time, it had been directed against the person he least wanted to hurt.
Cody put a tentative hand on her shoulder. It went rigid under his touch. Suppressing a sigh, he bowed his head. “I’m sorry, Ella.”
She didn’t respond. Sniffled.
Feeling like the worst of brutes, he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She stiffened. Cody didn’t relent. They’d just endured their first fight, and he was in the wrong. It was up to him to fix the damage.
“I overreacted. Please forgive me, darlin’.”
He felt her sigh. She turned. When he saw the tears on her cheeks, his heart slammed into his ribs. He reached up, wiping them away with the pad of his thumb. “I’m sorry.”
A small smile appeared on her lips. “So you’ve said. Twice.”
“I’ll say it again if…”
Ella placed a hand over his mouth. “You don’t need to say it again.” She tilted her head, her green eyes looking intently into his. “Howard never apologized. He thought it beneath him, a sign of weakness.” Her hands rested against his chest. “You might be rough around the edges, but you have humility. I admire that.”
“Even if I growl?”
“Even if you growl.”
She leaned forward, resting her head on his shoulder.
Cody held his breath. “Does that mean you forgive me?”
“Yes.”
They held each other for another minute. When he pulled back, he stroked her cheek. “I don’t deserve you.”
Her brow raised high. “You’re the best man I know, Cody. Don’t put yourself down like that.”
Pressure hit his leg. He looked down. Addie perched in a crawling position, one chubby fist gripping his pant leg. His mouth fell open. “Did she crawl all the way over here?”
Ella chuckled. “See? She just needed a chance to succeed.”
Cody leaned down to pick up the baby. “Remind me to trust your judgment, darlin’. I didn’t realize I could get so overprotective.”
“I’ll bet Cassie could tell me some stories,” Ella said, a smile pulling at her lips.
He cleared his throat, moving toward the door. “I’m not confirming that. Now, enjoy your breakfast. I’ll take the kids to the garden.”
“I’ll be out shortly.”
“Take your time.”
