Page 11 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

Underneath a light blanket, Leo grunts as he breastfeeds, and I smile at my little guy. “Take your time, tiger. My boob’s not going anywhere.”

A few feet away, Maverick snoozes curled up along one leg of the couch. I feel bad because he doesn’t look comfortable. He talks in his sleep, almost like he’s having nightmares.

I watch his face as the sun rises higher in the sky, peeking through the windows.

His hair is longer. The scruff on his face is too.

I don’t remember the last time I looked at him for this long.

Since we reached high school and my infatuation with him hit an all-time high, I always felt like people could read my mind when I looked at him, so I tried not to.

My phone goes off next to me, and I scramble to turn off the alarm. It’s a good reminder that I don’t have time to moon over Maverick anymore. He’s a big-time pro athlete who’s only home to convalesce for a while before he jet sets back to New York to live his high-profile life.

When Leo’s done with breakfast, I burp him, change him, and then place him in his basket and carry him to the bathroom. “Okay, bud. I really need a shower. Try not to freak out this time, okay?” He coos back at me, and I smile. “Who’s my favorite boy on the planet?”

Because my son is worth all the heartache of getting dumped by Sean.

I toss my hair into a messy bun, jump into the shower, and scrub and rinse as quickly as possible before I leap out and wrap myself in a towel. Leaning over Leo, I grin. “Look at you. No screams this time. Yay!” The side of his mouth lifts up. “Is that a little smile?”

I can’t seem to coax him to give me a full grin.

Realizing I can’t just stare at my kid all morning, I grab his basket and cart him back to the living room so I can grab my clothes.

I set Leo down next to the couch and lug my bag onto the coffee table.

I don’t know why I didn’t get my clothes earlier, but logic isn’t a strength of mine this early.

“Morning,” a deep, scratchy voice calls out, and I jump.

“Stop scaring me!” My heart races, especially when I turn and find Maverick taking a lazy glance down my body.

And then I remember I just squeezed out a child and do not look my best. “Please don’t look at me right now.

I feel like a beached whale. Not as bad as when I was pregnant, but too big to fit in my favorite jeans. ”

“Don’t talk crazy. You look perfect.” His eyes grow serious. “You’re beautiful, Baylee. I should tell you that more often.”

I squint at him. “Did you hit your head?”

He laughs. “Yeah. Actually, I did. But that doesn’t change what I just said. You’ve always been gorgeous, Bay. I mean it.”

“Tha-thank you.” The old me would be squealing like a lovesick teenager, wondering what this means.

But the new me knows better. Maverick hasn’t seen me in a while, so he’s being extra nice right now.

Which is all fine and good, but I have bigger fish to fry, namely how I’m going to afford my life—without the help of my pro football player roommate .

Because my mom taught me better than to mooch off friends. Living here is bad enough. But taking money? Staying indefinitely? Treating Maverick like a piggy bank? Hell, no.

I run back to the bathroom to change into some clothes, and when I return, Mav’s playing with Leo. “Look at that grip. What a strong little man.”

I smile. “Don’t let him grab your hair. He won’t let go.”

Mav glances at me and does a double-take. “What’s wrong with that pair?”

“Which pair of what?” I ask.

“Those jeans. You said you don’t fit in your favorite pair, but those look great on you.”

I chuckle. “Careful, Maverick, or I’m going to think you’re checking me out.”

“Who says I’m not?”

Mav’s being weird. “Yeah, okay.” I grab my purse and phone before I head to the kitchen to pack my lunch. “What are your plans for the day?”

He shrugs with a yawn. “Drink some coffee. Stretch. Do my prescribed exercises. Order some delivery. Shower. Watch TV. Scratch my balls.”

I chuckle, loving that he’s being so honest. “You’re not going to stop by the ranch?”

“No. Not yet.” That’s it. That’s all he says.

So much for honesty. I rest my hand on my hip. “Why don’t you want your brothers to know you’re here?”

His expression closes off as he stares out the window. “Didn’t say that.”

“Didn’t have to.”

“Just… I have a lot of shit to figure out right now.”

I pack my sandwich. “When you’re ready to share that with someone, I’m ready to listen. In the meanwhile, would you like me to make you a PB&J? ”

With a groan, he stands from the couch. He closes his eyes, tilts his head one way, then the other. While his eyes are closed, he asks, “What did you eat for dinner last night?”

“A peanut butter and jelly sandwich.”

His eyes open. “And for lunch?”

I clench my jaw. “The same. So?”

He pulls out his wallet and tosses a hundred-dollar bill on the counter. “Eat some real food. You’re nursing a baby, for God’s sake.”

My face flames. “I don’t want your money.”

“No one said it was for you. It’s for Leo, so you can feed him something other than processed peanuts and sugary jam.”

“Oh.” For some reason, that makes my eyes sting. Next thing I know, my throat tightens, and I cover my mouth.

“Baylee, I’m sorry. Don’t be upset.”

I can’t stop the torrent of tears that follows. “It’s… It’s fine.”

“Damn it, no. Don’t cry.” He stalks over to me and wraps his brawny arms around me.

I press my forehead to his chest. “Don’t be nice to me. I can’t handle it. I do much better when I’m on my own.”

That asshole presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You’ll never be alone, Baylee. You’ll always have me.”

We both know that’s not true, but I have an appointment in twenty minutes. I wiggle out of his arms and swipe my hand across my face. “If I take this money, will you let me pay you back?”

I can see the disappointment in his eyes. “If that’s what you want, but you don’t have to pay me back. I like taking care of you.”

A sweet sentiment, just a few years too late. “Look, I appreciate the concern, but I have to learn to take care of Leo on my own. You won’t always be around to help me dig myself out of my problems. ”

He looks like he wants to say something, but changes his mind. With a curt nod, he takes a step back. “Whatever you need to do.”

Hating that I have to borrow the money, I slip it into my pocket. “Thank you. I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful. I am. I just… I need to be self-reliant.”

“Gotcha.”

For some reason, he looks so alone, so desolate, I crack. “How about I bring you lunch? It’ll be my way to repay you. I can do it every day until you think I’ve paid it off.”

Our eyes meet. “If that means you’ll join me to eat every afternoon, then sure.”

That’s not what I meant, but there’s a light in his eyes now that wasn’t there a minute ago, and I don’t want to be the one to douse that. So I nod. “Sure. Lunch. Just don’t be half-naked and sweaty from working out when I come home. No girl wants to eat lunch while you’re sweating like a yeti.”

He chuckles, and his eyes twinkle. “Deal.”

It’s bad enough that we’re living together for the next few weeks and sharing the couch, but now I have to have lunch every day with Maverick.