Anything for His Baby

by Michelle Major

  She opened it with a yawn, squinting against the sharp morning light that flooded the entry.

  Jase Crenshaw stood on the other side, wearing a crisp tailored shirt, dress slacks and a striped tie.

  “Looking good, Mr. Mayor,” she said, combing her fingers through her wild curls. “Although I can’t imagine to what honor I owe the house call.”

  “I’m not here on town business,” Jase said with an apologetic smile. “Sorry if I woke you. I thought you were an early riser.”

  “Normally,” she agreed with a nod. “But I was up late packing. On a roll and all that.” She stepped back and waved at the boxes stacked along the far wall. “Your sister is coming over later to help.”

  “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Jase said.

  “Sienna?”

  “The inn,” he clarified. “May I come in?”

  “Of course.” Paige motioned him inside then yawned again. “Do you mind if we talk in the kitchen? I need caffeine like Cookie Monster needs a cookie fix.”

  Jase smiled. “I don’t know anyone else who could get away with a Muppet comparison and make it sound okay. Coffee would be great.”

  “How’s the baby?” Paige asked as she turned for the back of the house. Emily had gone into labor and delivered a beautiful baby girl while Paige was in Denver.

  “Amazing,” Jase said, his tone filled with so much love. “They’re settled back at home, Emily feels good and Davey is enamored of his little sister.”

  “Congratulations,” Paige told him with smile. “I love getting the photos. She looks like a Jessie.” She scooped whole beans into the coffee maker and set them to grind as she filled it with water and rinsed out the coffeepot.

  Jase grinned. “I hope so.”

  “Is Emily up for visitors? I’d love to stop over this afternoon.”

  “She’d be happy to see you.”

  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen, the scent making Paige feel more awake than she had minutes earlier.

  “I’ve been gone for a couple of days,” Paige explained apologetically. “I don’t have a lot of food in the house right now or I’d offer you some.”

  “It’s okay,” Jase said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “Sienna said you visited your mom in Denver.”

  “It had been a while.” Paige wasn’t sure how much Jase knew about the fate of the inn, although as mayor he’d learn the details soon enough. That didn’t mean she was ready to talk about them first thing in the morning. She opened the pantry door and scoured the shelves for something to offer Jase. It was in her nature to feed people, and she knew Crimson’s mayor had quite the appetite despite his lean frame.

  “I really don’t need food,” he promised. “I was at a meeting at the bakery earlier.”

  “And you didn’t bring me anything?” Paige mock complained. “I may just slurp my coffee and not offer you any as payback.”

  Jase chuckled, which had been her intent. It amazed her that she was able to crack a joke and make normal conversation when her heart still felt like it was lying in splinters all around her.

  She poured them each a cup then put the mugs on a tray along with a container of creamer and walked to the table.

  “I’ll admit,” she said, sliding into the chair across from him, “I feel a little strange having a meeting with the mayor in my pajamas.”

  “It’s fine,” Jase told her, taking a drink of coffee. “Like I said, I’m not here as mayor today.”

  Paige poured a generous amount of creamer in her cup and stirred the liquid. “So then...”

  “It’s a legal matter,” Jase said, placing his mug back on the table. “Involving Shep Bennett.”

  The spoon she’d been holding clattered to the table. Paige grabbed a napkin, wiped up the coffee that had splashed on the table and then folded the napkin in a neat square. She took a long drink from her mug, and only when she felt like her emotions were under control did she meet Jase’s kind gaze. “Oh?” she asked, the word coming out in a whisper.

  Jase picked up the narrow briefcase Paige hadn’t even realized he was carrying and set it on the table. “It involves The Bumblebee.”

  “Right.” Paige swallowed, the coffee turning to acid in her stomach. “You don’t need to do this, Jase. I’m packing up the inn and planning—”

  “You own it.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “The inn,” he explained. “Shep has filed a quitclaim deed.” He slid a stack of papers across the table toward her. “He’s transferred the title of the house to you.”

  Paige felt her mouth drop open as she read the paperwork with her name under “grantee” and Shep as the “grantor.”

  “You’ll have taxes to pay next year,” Jase continued and she worked to process his words through the fog invading her brain. “Are you okay, Paige? I kind of figured this would be good news, but you look more shell-shocked than elated.”

  “Why?” She searched Jase’s dark eyes, looking for answers. “Why did he do this? It doesn’t make sense.”

  “I don’t know Shep well, but I never got the impression sense played a big role in his life.”

  “It has since Rosie,” Paige countered. “He bought this place as an investment. Because of Rosie.”

  Jase shrugged. “He didn’t share his reasoning with me. I happen to be a notary, so he asked me to witness his signing and deliver the paperwork to you since we have a personal relationship.”

  “Is he still in Crimson?”

  “As far as I know.” Jase tapped a finger on the paper. “This is your copy. I’m going to file the original with the county recorder’s office. Shep has paid off the balance of the mortgage, so you won’t need to qualify for a loan.”

  “I need to talk to Shep before you file that paperwork,” she answered.

  “I thought that might be the case.” He closed his briefcase and stood. “Give me a call when you’re ready. For the record,” he added, “I’m glad the inn is staying open. Let some of the other mountain towns build their fancy hotels. We want a different kind of tourist around here. The kind that will appreciate the history of this place and want to return again and again.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You’re good for Crimson, Paige.”

  “Thanks, Jase,” she whispered as he headed for the door.

  She stared at the title transfer for several minutes, unsure what to think about Shep’s gesture.

  Then she burst into tears.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Paige arrived at the ski resort, surprised to find the parking lot empty of cars other than Bob McConnell’s big pickup truck.

  The older man was loading tools into the back as she parked next to him.

  “Hey, Bob,” she said as he held up a hand.

  “Morning, Paige. Sorry about that business over at the inn last week. Vincent pushed me to give him some guys to go with him and had me call for the dumpster. I don’t know why he wanted to mess with you. He was a real piece of work, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do,” she agreed. “Is he still here? Where is everyone else?”

  “He’s gone back to California, I assume. Said something about greener pastures. Left when Trinity pulled out of the resort.”

  Paige felt her mouth go dry. “Pulled out? They aren’t continuing with the plans to reopen the ski mountain?”

  “Nope. I don’t know the particulars, but there was a falling-out when Shep met with the board. He quit or got fired or whatever and—”

  “Wait.” Paige held up a hand. “Shep left Trinity? That’s impossible. He built that company.”

  “No loyalty with people these days.” Bob shook his head. “I remember when I first started in construction. My dad had a roofing operation and his crews were with him for decades. I can’t keep a decent laborer for more than a seas
on anymore.”

  Paige nodded, only half listening to what the man was saying. “Where’s Shep now?”

  “Looking for work, I assume,” Bob said with a laugh.

  “In Crimson?”

  “Not sure about that. He mentioned sticking around, but I don’t know if there’s enough here to make him stay.”

  Paige knew the older man didn’t mean the words like a punch to the gut, but she staggered back a step anyway. Could Shep and Rosie really be gone? He’d told her he wanted to fix things, and she’d turned him away.

  Had she missed her chance? Had fear and pride forced her to let love slip through her fingers?

  She wouldn’t accept it. Not now. She’d spent too long coasting through life, afraid to really commit to anything because her identity as a cancer survivor left her feeling like any kind of happiness could only be counted on temporarily.

  She knew now that wasn’t the case. She was a fighter. And she was going to fight for Shep.

  As soon as she found him.

  Shep looked up from the sandbox where he was playing with Rosie when he heard tires squeal into the playground parking lot.

  “Someone had an extra shot in her latte this morning,” Lauren, the mom hovering behind him, murmured.

  Shep’s breath caught in his throat as he watched Paige storm from her car and cross the playground toward him. Parents and kids moved out of her path, a tiny whirling dervish of temper, all of which was aimed at him.

  But why?

  He’d given her what she wanted. It was the only thing he could think of to make up for how he’d lied to her. He wouldn’t become like his father. He wanted to be a man of honor. Even if he made mistakes, and there was no doubt he’d make plenty more, he would do the right thing in the end. Of that much he was certain.

  Apparently, it wasn’t enough based on the way Paige’s laser-beam glare zeroed in on him.

  “You’re in trouble now,” the mom sitting on the other side of the sandbox said, grinning unabashedly. “When I look at my husband like that, he heads straight for the florist.”

  “Great,” Shep muttered. “Any of you want to watch my kid while I make a quick exit?”

  “I don’t get out much,” another young mother offered. “I have a feeling this is going to be better than reality TV.”

  As Paige got closer, Rosie noticed her, first giving a delighted cry then pushing herself to standing. “Tage,” she shouted happily.

  Shep breathed a sigh of relief when Paige slowed, her features softening as she looked at Rosie. She could be as angry as she wanted with him. He was just glad to see she still cared about his daughter.

  Paige greeted Rosie by picking her up and giving her a smacking kiss on the lips that made the girl giggle. Rosie took a deep breath and snuggled closer to Paige.

  “We need to talk,” Paige told Shep, glaring at him over Rosie’s head.

  “Okay,” he agreed automatically. She could rage at him all she wanted as long as she was here. “Um...did you talk to Jase?” Surely that would make her feel friendlier toward him.

  “Yes,” she said through clenched teeth. “That’s why we need to talk.”

  So maybe not more friendly then. Time to implement Plan B, as soon as he managed to come up with it.

  Paige lowered Rosie to the ground and the girl toddled back toward the sandbox, looking over her shoulder as she climbed down the ledge.

  “I’ll be here with your daddy,” Paige said with a sweet smile. And as soon as Rosie was occupied with the sand again, Paige crossed her arms over her chest, jutted out her hip and shot daggers at Shep.

  “It’s freaking me out,” he told her, hands up, palms facing out, “how you can turn on and off the evil face so easily.”

  “Evil?” Paige practically screeched the word. “Are you calling me evil?”

  A chorus of snickers erupted from the far side of the sandbox. He shook his head. “I didn’t. I never would. I swear.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw, glanced at the row of mothers gleefully watching as his family jewels shrank to the size of jelly beans. “Could we step over that way?” He inclined his head toward the edge of the playground’s rubber surface. “We’d have more privacy but still be able to watch Rosie.”

  “Why did you transfer the house to me?” she demanded, feet planted firmly.

  “So you could open the inn,” he answered without hesitation. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”

  “I did,” she said, running a hand through her hair like she didn’t understand her own anger any more than he did. “But the property was your financial security blanket for Rosie. You needed The Bumblebee.”

  His first instinct was to deny that he needed anything. He’d always felt like by standing on his own, he could step out of the long shadow of his father’s disapproval. Since Shep had left home at eighteen, his sole mission in life had been to prove that he wasn’t the screwup his dad believed him to be.

  But something had changed in the past month. He’d done what he’d set out to do, but he wanted more. A different path. A life that involved afternoons at the playground, evening bubble baths and bedtime stories. More than anything, he wanted the woman in front of him to be a part of all of it.

  So for the first time in what felt like forever, and with the Greek chorus of maternal henchwomen watching from the sidelines, Shep let himself be vulnerable. “I didn’t need the inn as much as I need you.”

  Paige’s hands dropped to her sides and he heard a couple of overdramatic sighs from the mom chorus. Good sign, right?

  “You have Janet now,” Paige countered after a long moment. “You don’t need me.”

  “Not for Rosie,” he said, stepping closer. He wanted to reach out and touch her, to take her in his arms but knew he had to wait. He had to let her make that choice. It was the only way to make it right for either of them. “Although she misses you like crazy.”

  “I miss her, too,” Paige said, her adorable chin trembling slightly.

  “I’m the one who needs you. I don’t know how I ever got so lucky to find you—”

  “Rosie picked me.”

  “Right,” Shep agreed, glancing at his daughter, who was straining sand through her fingers, oblivious to how much both of their futures rested on him not messing up this conversation.

  “So much of what’s good in my life is because of her.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and when he opened them, he tried to let all the things he’d never said to Paige show there. “And a big part is also because of you. I know I don’t deserve another chance, Paige. I lied and manipulated, but I swear on everything I am that I intended to make it right. For you. I want all your dreams to come true.”

  She closed her eyes, as if what she saw in his gaze was too much. He kept talking, wanting her to know everything that was in his heart. Even if it didn’t make a difference, she had to understand how he felt.

  “I love you, Paige Harper. I love your big heart and your crazy curls and your eternal optimism and fighting spirit. I love that you’re a survivor...”

  “You know about the cancer?” she asked, eyes now wide with shock.

  “I love that you’re a survivor,” he repeated with a nod, “but you don’t let it define you. You’re strong and brave and I’d do anything for you to feel half of what I do. I get that—”

  She covered his mouth with her fingertips, her other hand splayed across his chest. “I feel more than half,” she told him. “I love you with my whole heart, Shep. Even when I hated you...” She laughed softly. “Even then I still loved you. I think I’ll love you forever.”

  He pulled her hand away, kissed her slowly, the taste of her sending sparks skittering along his skin. He never wanted this moment to end.

  “I think forever is just about long enough,” he told her and lifted her into his arms.

  A round of ch
eering erupted from around the playground as he kissed her again then pressed his forehead to hers.

  “I love you so much. I promise I’ll never give you a reason to doubt it.”

  Paige smiled and curled her hands around the back of his neck. “You’re going to be fueling mom fantasies in Crimson for years to come,” she said softly.

  “As long as I’m fueling yours,” he answered, and at that moment he felt an unexpected breeze tickle his cheek, almost like a butterfly kiss. His heart filled even more, somehow knowing that his mother had just given him her blessing. Shep had found his home here in Crimson.

  And, more important, in Paige’s arms.

  Forever.

  Epilogue

  “You’re beautiful, Paige.”

  Paige smiled as Shep walked toward her and Rosie. They stood to one side of the expansive deck that overlooked the ski mountain, Rosie staring fascinated at the butterflies flitting around a large hanging planter of colorful flowers. “All brides are beautiful,” she reminded him.

  “But you’re the most beautiful,” he countered, leaning in for a kiss, “because you’re mine.”

  Paige never would have guessed at the start of the summer that she’d be married by the end of it. But when Shep had gotten down on one knee to propose the day after he’d told her he loved her, she’d immediately said yes. They’d agreed on a short engagement, both because they wanted to be married right away and in light of his petition for sole custody having already been filed in California. Paige knew Shep and Rosie were meant to be her family, so there was no doubt in her mind about making it official.

  Her friends in Crimson had helped plan everything, and today they’d been married at the base of the ski mountain. She glanced over the railing at the crowd mingling below, happy voices drifting up to her.

  Sienna had acted as her maid of honor, and Cole had stood at Shep’s side as the best man. Her mom was there, too, as well as all three Travers brothers and their wives and many of the other friends she’d made in Crimson. She wished Carly could have been there, but her newest friend had received a huge promotion after the meeting in Germany and had flown to Japan to roll out her company’s newest software program to the Asian technology market.