“Um ...I thought I’d just grab something here before heading over to the B&B.”
“Like hell you will.You’re on maternity leave.”
“I can work, West.I ...don’t you think it’s a little weird that I’m just here and not doing my part to help out?I mean, I’m living in your house rent free and ...”she swallows hard, as if this is just occurring to her.“You’re my employer.”
“Whoa.I’m not your employer, the ranch is.”
“You run the ranch.It’s your family’s ranch.”
“You’re my best friend.”
“Right.A best friend whose baby you delivered in the front seat of your truck.A best friend who works for you.A best friend whom you’ve kissed.”She winces.“More than once.I guess I’m just ...confused about what I’m doing here.”
“Dais, I want you,” I say, and when her brows shoot into her hairline—like a pussy—I chicken out and add, “Here.I want you and Waylon safe.Right now, the safest place for the two of you is on the ranch.”
“It’s not that I’m not grateful, I am.”Her brow furrows and she blinks back tears.“For everything, but I’m just ...lost.”
“Listen, whatever you want from me, Dais, it’s yours.”
“What if I don’t know yet?”
“Then you don’t know yet.There’s no pressure from me.You wanna kiss a little on the porch at night, relieve a little tension, I’m okay with that.”
She frowns and I don’t know what the hell that means, so I hurry to add, “If you want nothing more than friendship from me, that’s what you’ll have.”
“And what do you want?”And isn’t that just the million-dollar question on everyone’s lips?I want her.I want all of her for the rest of our lives, but I won’t put that on her right now.
“I want breakfast.I want you and Waylon at my family table, because that’s what you are—family.”
“I don’t wanna int—”
“Daisy, how long you known my mama?”
She frowns and shoots me a side eye.“I ...my whole life.”
“Exactly.So you’ll know there are two things that woman was put on this earth to do—raise a whole bunch of wild Winchester babies, and fix a plate.”
“Maybe she’s tired of fixing plates and taking in strays.”
“You’re family, Daisy-Mae.Family eats at the main house.”
“Okay.”She nods and rinses her mug in the sink.“You want me to take him?”
“Nah, we got this.I’ll get him strapped into the truck while you put on your boots.”I hold up a hand to stop her objections.“Before you ask, I already fitted the car seat and double checked the anchor points.You can take my truck wherever you want after you eat.But, you need to stay on the ranch and close by me, the boys, or my sister and mama.I’m not taking any chances with your safety.Besides, you know Lemon is gonna hunt this little guy all over the ranch for a cuddle, right?”
“Well, I guess you’ve thought of everything.”
“I have.”
Everything but tell you that you’re already mine.
I grab her diaper bag and head outside.On the porch, I rock the baby in my arms and smile down at him.“You smell that, buddy?That’s home.”
He coos up at me and wriggles in my arms, turning his tiny head, probably looking for another meal.
“Yeah, I ain’t told her yet, but I’m not letting you and your mama leave.”
I hear the front door close behind me and cringe.Shit.I pray like hell she didn’t hear that as I stalk down the steps and settle Waylon into his baby seat.
