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I continue, "He adores her. I mean, absolutely adores her. He changes diapers without being asked. He wants to get up in the middle of the night with her. And he carries her around the ranch like he's been doing it forever. His entire family is obsessed with her."

"And you?"

"What about me?"

"How's he been with you?"

My stomach flutters. I admit, "Incredible."

Her eyebrows rise.

"Until tonight," I add.

"Oh boy. What happened?"

I take another drink. I tell her about our first real date. About how Jagger told me he wished he'd gotten my number and taken me out properly that first night instead of everything happening backward. I confess how easy it's been to fall back into him. How good it feels to watch him hold Charlie. How his family has welcomed us. How even Mama is slowly warming up to him.

Carla's lips twitch.

"What's so funny?"

"You slept with him again, didn't you?"

I choke on my drink.

"You did!" she shouts.

"Keep your voice down."

She leans across the table. "How was it?"

"We haven't totally slept together."

She tilts her head. "Meaning?"

I tell her what happened in the barn.

She slaps a hand over her mouth, laughing. "That's one way to get back on the wagon after popping out a baby!"

I put my hands over my face, smiling, and groaning. "Carla!"

"What? It's true!" She wiggles her eyebrows. Then she lowers her voice. "Why haven't you had sex? It is Jagger Cartwright we're talking about. I'm sure a week without anything is the longest he's ever gone."

"Ew. Come on. I don't want to think about that."

"Sorry. But he has to be making moves on you. He's obviously interested," she declares.

I sigh. "He does want to be with me. And everything has been wonderful. Until tonight."

"What happened?" she asks.

I shake my head. "It was a nice gesture he made, and it turned into an argument about my independence, trust, Charlie, and every insecurity we've both apparently been carrying around all week."

"Ouch. Sounds intense."

"It was in front of his entire family and Mama."

Carla winces. "Double ouch."