“Such a sweet age.It’s Daisy, right?”
I frown.Red River Canyon is a small town where everyone knows everyone, but I’d remember if I met this woman.For one thing, she’s a damn glamazon, and two, I know everyone in town.“Have we met?”
“Oh my gosh, where are my manners?I’m sorry.”She juggles her iced latte to offer a hand.“I’m Lainey Baker, Lemon’s friend.”
“Oh, Daisy-Mae Buchannan.”I shake her hand, noticing how soft her skin is.“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
She winces and pastes on a smile.“All good, I hope?”
“Of course,” I say a little too brightly, fidgeting with the hem of my woolen sweater.Thisis the woman that West went on a date with?
And he ended up with me?
What was wrong with him?Lainey is a damn supermodel with her long legs, shiny chocolate curls, and dewy skin—sans suitcases under her eyes.She looks as if she gets a full night’s sleep.Her clothes are far too expensive for Red River Canyon, and she isn’t covered in some kind of baby spit up
Oh, West.
Even I can’t help but wonder what is wrong with him to let this absolute bombshell walk away.Which, of course, makes me feel even smaller and more insignificant.I realize I’m staring, and Lainey is looking at me expectantly.
Right.Conversation.That was a thing I used to be good at.“Ah, sorry.I haven’t been out much since this little guy came tearing out of me by the side of the road.”
“Wow.”Lainey’s eyes turn as round as dinner plates.“That sounds ...like a lot.Perfectly understandable.”
“It was.It really was.”I smile.“So, are you in town permanently?Lemon seems really excited to have a new friend.”
“Me too.I like her a lot.And ...yes.I just moved from London.I’m staying with family.”Lainey sips her coffee, which makes me keenly aware that I haven’t had nearly enough caffeine since Waylon was born.“Listen, I don’t have a card on me, but I’m an Au pair.If this little one ever needs sitting, I’m in town.Just ask Lemon for my number.”
“Oh, thank you.I ...um ...I don’t think I could leave him yet.”
“Of course.That’s very normal at this age.But you never know when you’ll need a sitter, and I have ...references, so ...”
I nod.“I’ll keep you in mind.”
She smiles tightly.“Well, I better go or I might miss my appointment.It was really nice to meet you, Daisy-Mae.”
“You too.”
Lainey walks inside, and for a beat, I contemplate following her, but I’m sure West will be here soon.Besides, I don’t want her to think I’m a weirdo.As much as my own insecurities wreaked havoc during our introduction, it would be nice to make more female friends, and if Lainey is good enough for Lemon, that’s enough for me.
The door to the clinic opens behind me, but I’m glancing at Waylon—who’s begun fussing for his lunchtime feed—so I’m not paying as much attention to my surroundings as I should be when the youngest Thornton son scares the bejeebus out of me.“Hey, Daisy.Is this your little one?”
I know Buck Thornton.He and his brothers are the first people at my porch pickup as soon as the offerings are out, and they’ve always been polite and respectful to me, despite what people say on the Red River Canyon Report.The Thorntons, the Winchesters, and I all went to school together, though they were a guarded bunch and mostly kept to themselves.
“You scared me.”I press my hand against my heart.“Hi, Buck.”
“My bad,” he says with a slow grin, and as if he doesn’t really mean the apology.“He’s really cute, can I hold him?”
I don’t know why those words strike fear in my heart, but they do.
“No.He’s kind of fussy at the moment.”Guilt slams into me, but my fierce mamma bear instincts override it.God, West.What is taking so long?
“I had a fussy baby brother for a while.He died.”I glance at the glazed-over expression as he watches my son.
Instinctively, I pick up Waylon and rock him.“Shh, shh, shh.It’s okay.”
“Can I hold him, Daisy?”He moves closer with his arms outstretched.“Babies love it when I hold ’em.”
“No, Buck.He’s not happy right now.”I turn away from him, give him my back.I want to wheel the stroller inside to wait for West, but I’m not sure that will get rid of him anyway.Buck has always been a little ...odd.To look at, he possesses the same handsome features as the rest of his family, but it’s a well-known fact around town that Buck Thornton is a few cards short of a deck, and he’s likely needed a lot of professional help for a long time.
