Page 87 of Mister Cowboy

Michael followed, bringing the cheesecake with him. “Might want to wait until tomorrow. They could be consummating their vows.”

She smacked him with her free hand. “Eww.”

He yelped and jumped out of the way. “It was a joke.”

“A really bad one,” she said but still laughed despite her best attempt not to.

* * *

“You’re so handsome. Yes, you are Martin Alexander Wellington.” January cooed down at the baby staring up at her. He made tiny little noises that filled her heart with such happiness she thought it would burst. “Mommy is in the shower so Auntie January gets you all to herself.”

“Does he talk back?”

Her head snapped in the direction of the door as Brecken’s deep voice made her body tense. Dressed in his usual business attire, he held flowers in one hand and a tiny stuffed bear in the other.

“Hey,” he said a little less cheery when she hadn’t responded. Lingering in the doorway, he watched her intently.

Keeping the baby close to her body, she spoke softly. “Hi.”

“How’s the little guy doing?”

“Little guy is doing great,” she said, returning her gaze to the tiny face. “Do you want to hold him?”

“No.” His posture stiffened, and he entered the room. He placed the flowers and bear on the side table and sat in an armchair next to it. “I wanted to see how everyone was doing.”

She pushed. Maybe because she knew there was nothing to lose or maybe because she wanted to see him squirm a little for everything he’d put her through. “Come on. He won’t bite.” She stepped closer to Brecken, ignoring the smell of his body wash and the way her body buzzed with electricity whenever he was close.

“Yeah, I’m not worried about him hurting me. More like the other way around.”

“Just relax your arms.” She leaned forward, and Brecken scooted back in the chair, bumping the plastic against the concrete wall.

“Whoa, wait a minute. I don’t—” His protest was cut short as she placed baby Martin in his arms.

Brecken’s body went rigid and a sharp intake of breath came from his lips as she pulled her arms free. “Say hello to Martin Alexander Wellington. Lex for short.”

“That’s quite a name.”

“A big name for a very special baby,” she said, still leaned so close to Brecken her shoulder rubbed gently against his.

Clearing her throat, she stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re a natural.”

“Yeah, as long as he doesn’t move or cry.”

“You’ll get the hang of it.”

She’d said the words before she realized the implication. Hewouldget a chance to get the hang of it. In less than a year, he’d be changing diapers and worrying about sleep schedules. Where would she be?

Brecken stayed silent, alternating his gaze from Lex to her.

“I should go.” She slipped on her coat and flipped her hair out from under the collar.

Brecken lifted his arms slightly, holding them at an awkward angle. “You aren’t going to leave me here with him, are you?”

“Sylvie should be out of the shower soon. You got this.” She winked.

“Wait.” He stood, cradling Lex close and walking hesitantly toward her. “I never thanked you for the box and the journal. Thank you for knowing I’d need them. I hate to think they’d have been trashed.”

“Did you read the journal?” she asked, surprise apparent in her tone.