Page 77 of Trying Not to Need You

“You think so?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “Most of the time, if I’m close, that’s what happens.”

Sure enough, not even a minute later, Baylor lifts her head and searches for me. She nods for me to come to her, and I’m on the move. I don’t have to look to know that Copeland is right behind me.

Stepping up behind her, I wrap my arms around her, my hands resting over her belly, over our babies. She relaxes into my hold. “Love you,” I whisper in her ear. Her hands rest over mine with a soft squeeze.

“Welcome to the family, Macklin.” Ellison smiles. “I can’t believe you married my little sister.”

“Right? Who would have thought I’d ever be this lucky?” I reply.

“Aw.” Leighton smiles.

“Are there really two babies in there?” Courtlynn asks. “Twins?”

“You said we needed more babies, one for each of us,” Baylor tells her.

“You missed the mark by one,” Leighton teases.

“I can’t let the two of you off the hook so easily,” Baylor says. “You two have some work to do.”

“Yeah, well, with the lack of decent eligible men in this town, don’t hold your breath on that front,” Courtlynn says dramatically.

“What she said,” Leighton agrees.

“Just wait,” Baylor tells them. “One of these days, it’s going to happen out of nowhere, and you won’t even know what’s hit you.”

“You promise?” Leighton asks. There’s so much hope in her voice, I almost want to start searching for every eligible bachelor in town and screen them for her. Leighton is the quietest of the four. I can see my wife and her sisters getting involved in doing some matchmaking.

“There are a couple of single cowboys here,” I remind my sisters-in-law.

Leighton wrinkles her nose. “They’re always on the road, though, right?”

“Yeah, but it only takes the love of a good woman to convince them to settle down.” I kiss Baylor’s cheek. I don’t know how much of our story she’s told her sisters, but this woman, my wife, I would have given it all up for her years ago, but it just wasn’t our time.

“They’re not all like you, Mac,” Leighton says. “You’re one of the good ones.”

My chest warms at her words. I would do anything for my wife, and I’ll love her with every breath I take for as long as I live, hell, beyond life on this earth. This woman owns me.

“We don’t have to marry them, Lei, but we’re single. They’re single, and we can get our groove on. It’s a day to celebrate, after all. We have a new brother and two new babies in the family.”

“I do like to dance.” Leighton chuckles.

“That’s the spirit. Come on, let’s go grab us a cowboy.” Courtlynn takes Leighton’s hand and pulls her away from our group. We all turn our heads and watch them as they approach Hank and Brad, pulling them to the side, where a small dance floor has been set up.

Lainey squeals, pulling our attention, as she leans in toward her dad. Copeland takes her from Ellison’s arms and starts zooming her around the room like an airplane, and she squeals with delight.

That’s going to be me, but I’ll have two babies to spoil and love, and while that sounds overwhelming, my heart expands, telling me everything is going to be just fine.

Dixon and Bowen join us. “You ready?” Bowen asks me.

I glance at Copeland and Dixon, and they both nod. “Yep.”

“Ready for what?” Baylor asks, glancing at me over her shoulder.

“Something,” I say. “Let’s get you ladies seated, and I’ll show you.”

“What are you up to, husband?”