The Cowboy and His Baby

by Jessica Clare

  He was a sucker for the cowboy as much as she was.

  “You’re here,” Annie said again, shaking her head. “I can hardly believe it.”

  He slid his chair closer to hers, ignoring the looks that other diners gave them as he moved closer. “I missed you. I got tired of being apart and so I thought I’d come here and see if you still wanted nothing to do with me.”

  “I never said that,” she protested. Heck, seeing him here, feeling his big body against hers, she was thinking that her steadfast decision to part ways was a rather foolish one. Annie hadn’t anticipated how badly she’d miss him and how much she’d wish for him to be at her side. How much it would hurt to sleep in her bed alone. How the thought of being without him every day made her feel all hollow inside. She’d been so happy when he’d texted her, and even though it was probably a bad idea to keep chatting, she couldn’t help herself. She’d never get over him at this rate.

  She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to.

  Annie had struggled with the conflicting feelings as days had passed into a week, then two. She went to doctor’s appointments and took odd jobs walking other people’s pets just to keep busy. She went to lunch with her mother and her friends. She even saw Katherine, who was just about to head off to work on a Civil War television show that was filming in Vancouver.

  It was nice, but . . . that’s all it was. Just nice. She was still restless and feeling unsettled. Some of it was anticipation for the baby, she was sure, but most of it was that she missed Dustin, and she felt like she’d made a mistake cutting him out of her life.

  So to see him here? It thrilled her down to her toes (which were currently curling with delight).

  He’d come for her. He’d missed her so much that he’d braved the wilds of California to join her at her side. And judging from the slightly perplexed look on her cowboy’s face, he wasn’t a fan of Los Angeles, but he was trying for her sake. He picked up a menu and studied it. “What’s good here?”

  “Kale salad?” she offered, just to see his reaction.

  He blanched. “What’s good here that once had a face?” he corrected.

  Annie smothered a giggle. “Chicken sandwich?”

  “All right.” He tossed the menu aside and slid his arm around the back of her chair, consciously scooting her closer, as if their chairs were one big sofa just for the two of them. Her heart fluttered anew. “Hi,” he murmured.

  “Hi,” Annie whispered, unable to stop smiling.

  “Is it inappropriate to kiss one’s pregnant girlfriend in public here?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Don’t suppose it does,” he agreed, and leaned in. His lips grazed hers in the sweetest, most perfect kiss ever, and she wanted to weep with the sheer joy of his nearness. She could smell his aftershave, feel his warmth, the strength of his body. She wanted to wrap herself around him and revel in all of it.

  Breathless, she gazed up at him, trying to compose her thoughts. “So . . . how is the ranch?”

  “I wouldn’t know, seeing as how I’ve been traveling.”

  “To Los Angeles?”

  “Among other things.”

  Annie pulled back in surprise. He hadn’t told her that he was traveling to other places. “Where else?”

  “I took to heart what you said. I went to Florida and checked out the boatyards. Checked out a few places in Florida, actually.”

  Her heart’s happy, anxious flutters turned to something slow and ponderous. Her soul hurt. She’d pushed so hard for him to get that boat, to make that lifestyle choice and she should be happy for him. Instead, she just felt . . . crushed. He’d bought the boat and was going to Florida, then? She braced herself, waiting for him to gush about how amazing the beaches were. “How’s your boat? Is it everything you wanted?”

  Dustin gave her a slight smile, rubbing her shoulder absently. “I didn’t buy one.”

  “No?” She shouldn’t be thrilled. She really shouldn’t. She’d told him to buy one. She was the one pushing him, darn it.

  “No. I got to the place I’d initially picked out and hated it. Then I went to another place that was supposed to be even better, and I didn’t like anything about it, either. I didn’t like the people. I didn’t like the boats. I didn’t like the weather. I didn’t like all the women in bikinis everywhere.”

  She snorted at that.

  “Well, okay, that wasn’t exactly hard on the eyes.” He grinned at her. “But they were at the beach to have a good time and I didn’t want them to have it with me. I wanted you and Morgan. I wanted to be sitting somewhere, rubbing your feet and getting you ice cream and pickles, because everyone says that pregnant ladies love that.” He played with a lock of her hair. “I gave the dream a shot. I really did. I soaked up some Florida sunshine and walked on the beach and then I decided it wasn’t for me. So then I went and visited my parents.”

  Annie blinked at him, not entirely sure she’d heard correctly. “You what?”

  “Visited my parents. I remembered us talking about them. You kept saying you were worried I was going to turn into my father and that I’d hate you. I went to visit them because, well, I remembered my father being happy with my mother. I remembered them always smiling and laughing together and going on dates on Saturday nights. I remember them sneaking kisses in the kitchen. I didn’t remember them arguing or my father resenting my mother. So I went to visit them to see if everything was as I remembered.” He paused, twining her hair around his finger. “And because I was an awful son and I should have let them know how I was doing.”

  “How were they? What did they say?” She was frozen with excitement and fear both—she wanted to hear good news from Dustin about them, but she was terrified it would be something awful, and she’d feel responsible. He hadn’t contacted them in over ten years. So many things could go wrong.

  Oh no, what if she’d pushed him in that direction and they hated him? Or he hated them?

  “They were good,” he said softly. He watched her so closely and intensely she could feel her body prickling in response, as if his gaze was a tangible thing. “Real good. They’d sold the business and had a pretty little house they built for themselves. They’d traveled a lot. They were happier than I’d ever seen them. And they’d missed me.”

  “Of course they missed you!” Annie exclaimed. “You’re their son.”

  He nodded and told her all about his visit—how it had felt to return home and see the changes. How his mom had hugged him so tightly and how his father had been just the same as he ever was. Their new home and the photo albums of their vacations in Europe covering the coffee table. How worried he’d been that he’d lost them, and how relieved he’d felt to find them whole and happy.

  And how lucky he felt realizing that there was still time to be in their lives.

  Tears pooled in Annie’s eyes as he spoke. “It’s not too late, then.”

  “It’s never too late. Don’t cry, sweetheart.”

  “It’s just hormones—”

  He chuckled. “You always say it’s hormones. Could it just be that you’re softhearted?”

  “Or it could just be hormones,” she insisted, blushing. “I’m so glad you went.” She clasped his hand in hers, and she wanted to hold on to him forever. “You needed to reconnect with them.”

  “I guess I did. Dad pointed out something very wise to me, in fact.” At her curious glance, he gave her a slow, pleased smile. “It’s that plans change.”

  “They do? I mean, of course they do. But why is that significant?” And why was he bringing it up now? Hope sprang up in her chest, but she quickly squashed it again. She’d told him to follow his dreams; she didn’t have the right to hope he’d abandoned them. She’d given up any right to claim him the moment she’d walked out.

  And yet . . . it didn’t mean she couldn’t yearn to hear him tell her those ve
ry things.

  “Yep. My father was a happy man when I was younger. I saw him again a few days ago, and he’s equally happy. Following his dreams didn’t have anything to do with his happiness or how he felt about my mother. They’re still as in love as they ever were, and he’s finally getting to see the world like he’d always wanted. He told me that just because you put off dreams for a couple of years—or even a couple of decades—doesn’t mean that they die. It just means that it’s life. It happens and just because the path forks doesn’t mean it’s a bad path to take.”

  He gave her a long, meaningful look that made her heart swell with love.

  “That’s why I’m here, Annie,” he murmured, pulling their joined hands to his mouth. He kissed her knuckles lightly, then nipped at one just to watch her shiver. “I’m here because maybe this isn’t where I planned on seeing myself for all these years, but that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing. It just means that plans change. It doesn’t mean that I don’t want you or the baby. I kept thinking for so long that I wanted no ties on me, that I wanted to roam the world without a care in my head, but now that I’ve met you, even that would be empty. I wasn’t looking for a purpose with travel. I was looking for something that would ease my boredom. And you know what I’ve found?”

  “What?” She could scarcely breathe.

  “I’m not bored when I’m with you. I’m happy. I like thinking about coming home to you every day. I like the thought of waking up with you in my arms. I like the thought of changing diapers at three in the morning and holding my son—or daughter—and watching their first steps. It doesn’t matter if I’m here in Los Angeles or if we’re in Wyoming, or even if we’re in Florida, as long as we’re together. That’s all that matters to me.”

  She licked her lips, flustered and full of love. “Oh, Dustin.”

  “Being apart for these last few weeks was good, though, I admit. You were right for us to split up. Not because I think we should stay that way, but because it was a good chance to see what I didn’t want. And that’s a life without you.”

  Yep, definitely crying at this point, and Annie suspected it had very little to do with hormones. “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you too. If I propose to you again, are you going to turn me away?” His eyes gleamed with amusement and he rubbed her knuckles against his lips, smiling.

  She shook her head.

  “Good, because I brought the ring.” And he got down on one knee, right on the patio, in front of two dozen other diners.

  Spidey immediately climbed out of his chair and sat next to Dustin on the patio, then offered his paw, and she burst into laughter. (And tears, sure.) When she could finally speak, she said yes.

  She said yes a thousand times.

  They had a quick lunch.

  Theoretically. Annie didn’t remember much of it, but at some point their plates were cleared and the check was paid and they walked several blocks back to her mother’s little bungalow. Not that she paid much attention. Her senses were filled with Dustin, his nearness, his pleasure at holding her hand.

  Her joy felt overwhelming.

  Once they returned to the house, her mother was gone. That meant they had privacy. Annie flung herself on Dustin, her arms around his neck, her belly pushing against him and making kissing awkward. It didn’t matter. Within moments, they were stripping each other naked with hungry, quick motions, and then he carried her to her room and laid her gently on the bed, on her side. They made love curled up against each other, with Dustin’s big body spooning hers and her cowboy holding her so tightly against him as he kissed her ear and whispered words of love.

  Afterward, he cupped her breast and kissed her neck, and they remained tangled in bed together, content.

  “So,” he murmured between nips at her shoulder. “We moving to LA?”

  “God, no. You met my mother, didn’t you?”

  “I did. She’s a real nice lady.”

  “Kitty? Kitty Grissom?”

  Dustin chuckled, caressing her skin. His hand slid down to her full belly, rubbing over the mound of it. “She’s not like anyone I ever met before, but she’s real nice.”

  “She likes kids but she’s not keen on the idea of being a grandma. Besides, LA is expensive. And wouldn’t you miss Wyoming?”

  She felt his big body tense against her, and he hesitated. “I want to be where you want to be, Annie.”

  “I want to be with you. And I liked Painted Barrel.” She pulled his hand from her belly and kissed his palm. She could kiss him for days and days on end. “Do you like being a cowboy?”

  “I do.”

  “Well, there’s a lot more of that sort of work in Wyoming than there is in Los Angeles.”

  He laughed, his breath sweet against her hair. “Fair enough. But I don’t want you to feel as if you’re giving anything up.”

  “I’m not. I didn’t enjoy the last movie I worked on.” She played with his fingers, admiring the engagement ring he’d given her. It had a woven band that looked like a vine, and in the center of a delicate flower was a tiny diamond. It wasn’t big and ostentatious like the rings that were in all the shops in Beverly Hills, but it was unique and pretty and she loved it with all her heart. “I still like dogs, but the movie part wasn’t fun. I’ve never wanted to be on camera or live the Hollywood lifestyle. My mother loves it. I’m not much like her.”

  Dustin made a thoughtful sound. “No, you’re not. So what do you want to do?”

  “I’ll figure something out. There has to be a need for pet services in Painted Barrel, I would imagine. If they can’t come to me, maybe I can go to them. A roving pup truck of some kind.”

  “I like that.”

  “I do, too.” Actually she liked it the more she thought about it. She could visit clients and groom, trim nails, give shots (provided she got the right certifications), and work on training a bit. She could pet sit. She could do all kinds of things, really, and it didn’t have to involve horrible directors or traveling all over the world to teach a dog how to sit patiently while some idiot tried to start a wildfire around him. “What about you? Will you be content at Price Ranch?”

  “Yeah. Eli and Clyde need the help and I like it there. It’s a good place to raise a kid. Maybe five or ten years from now we can get a vacation house on the shore, and then you and me and Morgan can figure out what kind of adventures we want to have, together.”

  Together. That sounded amazing. “That’s fine with me. I just want to be with you.”

  “And my baby,” Dustin agreed, kissing her shoulder as he touched her belly.

  “That’s right,” Annie whispered. “My cowboy and my baby.”

  EPILOGUE

  Happy Mother’s Day,” Dustin told Annie, waking her with a kiss. “You get breakfast in bed this morning.”

  “I do?” She yawned, her breasts feeling heavy. That meant the baby would need to be fed. “What about Morgan?” She rubbed her eyes, sitting up, and then smiled blearily at the sight of her cowboy with their daughter perched on his hip, a breakfast tray in his other hand. Morgan, bless her fat little cheeks, had her father’s hat in her hands and was busy chewing on the brim. It was her favorite thing to do, and Dustin’s favorite cowboy hat was looking a little misshapen lately, but the man loved his daughter so much that he didn’t care. He wore the hat, bite marks and all, as if it were a badge of honor.

  And if that wasn’t the cutest thing Annie had ever seen, she didn’t know what was.

  She sat up in bed and propped up against the pillows, smiling at Dustin. “How long have you been up?”

  “Long enough to change a diaper, make coffee, change a diaper again, walk the dogs, and then make Mommy oatmeal.” He grimaced, setting the tray down with a movement that required a lot of balance. “I wanted it to be bacon and eggs but Morgan’s a handful this morning.”

  She put he
r arms out, and Dustin settled their chubby daughter in her mother’s embrace. Annie tugged down the neckline of her nightgown and the baby immediately latched on to her breast, hungry. “This is so sweet of you, Dustin.” She smiled up at him, her hand brushing lightly over Morgan’s red-gold floss of hair. “You’re the best daddy. Two diapers, huh?”

  “Two explosive diapers,” he agreed. “You’re welcome.”

  She chuckled. “Welcome to my world, cowboy.”

  “Kind of makes me happy that all I have to do is hunt down cattle and pry babies out of their hindquarters when they get stuck.”

  “You make it sound like you do that all day long.”

  “Some days it does feel like I do that all day long.” He winked at her, then settled at the edge of the bed, watching her feed the baby. “You get enough sleep, sweetheart?” When she nodded, he smiled. “Good, because I have a surprise for you.”

  Annie glanced up from watching Morgan’s fat cheeks as she nursed. Her daughter was beautiful—the fattest, happiest baby she’d ever seen. But she was probably biased. “Uh-oh. Good surprise or bad surprise?”

  “Well . . . it depends.” He was all mischief, this man. She could practically see the impish humor bubbling out of him, and it made her smile, too. “I figured since it was your first Mother’s Day, we might make it special.”

  “It’s already pretty special,” she told him, and glanced down at her daughter again.

  “I know.” There was a husky note in Dustin’s normally laughing voice, and it warmed her heart to hear it. If Annie was obsessed with her daughter, Dustin was even more so. The man would move mountains for one gurgling Morgan laugh. He was a great dad, always trying to help her out with the baby and taking her for entire afternoons so she could work on launching her Pupmobile “Training and Grooming to Go” business. There was nothing cuter than seeing Dustin come home with groceries, baby carrier strapped to his front, Morgan’s fat little legs jouncing, both Moose and Spidey at his heels.