by Kim Law
His dad?
Cord’s shock skittered to a halt. Why had Doc brought his dad into the conversation?
Had his father put Doc up to this?
Was that what his dad’s earlier conversation had been leading up to?
He managed to tamp down the spurt of anger—and to keep himself from saying anything he might later regret—but he also recognized the feeling now flowing through him. This whole thing felt like a setup. It felt suspiciously like the type of manipulation his mother might have once orchestrated. Of course, she would have done so only if it had benefited her. But wouldn’t this benefit his dad? Wasn’t Cord coming home exactly what his dad wanted?
“I see I’ve caught you off guard,” Doc Hamm said when Cord forgot to reply. Hamm reached out and clapped Cord on the shoulder. “There’s no rush. Give it some thought,” he suggested. “If you’re not interested, then I’ll put the word out. See if I can find another physician looking to move to the area. Let’s talk after the holidays, okay?”
Cord managed a cordial nod. “Sounds good.”
Doc walked off in the direction he’d originally come, and Cord stood rooted to the spot. Years of anger threatened to surface.
His common sense told him to go talk to his father. To see if he really had put Hamm up to this. His common sense also told him that whether his dad had put him up to it or not, it wasn’t as if the doctor would retire simply because Cord’s father might have suggested doing so could be a way to bring Cord home. This was a legitimate proposition. It was an offer that he could consider. If he wanted to move back to Birch Bay.
But, did he?
He needed to find Maggie.
Not to talk about this with her. He had to come to his own decision. Instead, he just wanted to be near her.
Before he could turn back for the hospital room, however, his phone dinged, and he looked down.
Alice Dawn Denton, born 1:13pm, seven pounds thirteen ounces.
The text arrived with a video of mom, dad, and newborn baby.
As he watched the video, everything inside him went still, holding tight as reality set in. Then warmth began to seep throughout his body. He and Maggie were going to have the first Wilde grandson.
Potential fury with his dad or not, he couldn’t stop the thrill the knowledge gave him. He hadn’t let himself put too much thought into the idea before. He couldn’t have imagined none of the other babies wouldn’t also be a boy. But now that it was a fact, he found himself unable to stop the grin from appearing on his face. He had to find Maggie.
When he turned, anxious to get back to her, he discovered that he didn’t have to go looking after all. Because Maggie had already found him. She stood ten feet away, her own phone held out in front of her and her mouth forming a little O of surprise. She lifted her gaze.
“We’re going to have the first grandson,” she whispered.
The kind of pride that Doc Hamm had been talking about earlier enveloped Cord. “We’re going to have the first grandson.”
Chapter Eighteen
Maggie stood in the doorway of the bedroom Cord had been using, her fingers twined together and her hands resting on top of her belly. She watched as the man packed his bag to head back to Billings. “I’m going to miss you this week.”
She bit her lip as the words slipped out, and Cord looked up.
A smile gentled his features. “I’m going to miss you, too.”
She swallowed, her worries temporarily eased. They’d come so far so quickly, but at the same time, it felt as if things had stalled since they’d gotten back from the hospital the day before. Possibly, they’d even gone in reverse—at least for him. Cord hadn’t done or said anything different. Not directly. He was still sweet with her. He still caressed her belly and talked to their son. And he still kissed her as if pulling his lips away was the hardest thing imaginable. Yet he’d been different. Even before they’d left the hospital.
They’d visited with Dani and Alice before heading home, and she’d noticed a distance between him and the others at that point. He hadn’t snuggled with Alice quite the same way he’d done with Ivy. He hadn’t smiled and joked with Dani as he had earlier with the rest of his siblings. Basically, the wall that had once so prominently sat between him and the rest of the world seemed to have been securely re-erected. And whatever was going on in his head? He hadn’t shared a thing with her.
“You’re sure there’s nothing you need to talk about before you go?” she asked, hoping he wouldn’t drive away without opening up first. His altered mood had been bad enough, but worse was wondering what had caused it. Was he second-guessing their relationship? Had being there for Ivy’s and Alice’s births changed his mind for some reason about wanting to be present for his own child’s?
She hoped not. And really, she would find that hard to believe. He seemed too invested in his son at this point. But something had happened at the hospital to cause this change.
“I told you, I’m fine.” He didn’t look at her as he repeated the words he’d used the night before, zipping his bag closed instead, then he exited the room to cross to the small guest bathroom. He didn’t meet her gaze as he passed her in the doorway, and when he entered the other room, he left the door open. She could hear the drawer she’d emptied for him being opened and closed.
“Do you still want me to go with you to your family’s house next week, then?”
He popped his head back out of the bathroom at her question. “What? Yes. Of course, I want you to go with me. Why would you ask that?” Worry creased his brow. “Do you not want to go?”
She did want to go. But only if he really wanted her there. And the more she’d thought about it, the more the invitation had felt spur of the moment. Had he gotten carried away with kissing her and blurted it out without meaning to? Was that what had been bothering him?
“I just don’t want to be in the way,” she explained. “I thought that maybe once you’d had time to think about inviting me, you’d—”
He was back in front of her before she could finish her sentence, and as he ran a fingertip along the underside of her chin, he pushed her gaze up to his.
“Mags.” The blue of his eyes held more emotion than she’d seen in the last twenty-four hours. “I want you to go with me. I invited you because I want you there. I’m looking forward to spending Christmas you, but I’m also looking forward to you spending Christmas with my family.”
That meant a lot to her. Especially since she wouldn’t be able to be with her own family. She didn’t feel like taking that long of a drive to see her parents, and she couldn’t go to Mason’s because he would be working. “Then tell me what happened,” she tried again. “Because something changed for you yesterday, and you’ve been different ever since. Admit it.”
She stared him down, refusing to back off. And when she said nothing else nor made any attempt to soften her stance, he finally relented.
He blew out a breath. “Okay, yes. Something did happen. You’re right. But it’s an issue that I need to think through on my own, okay? I’m sorry. I just . . .” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “I don’t want to talk about it yet, Maggie.”
She could deal with that. Possibly. Especially given the earnestness of his answer. But she had to know one thing first. “Does it have anything to do with me or the baby?”
“Sweetheart.” A hint of a smile touched his lips, and he shook his head as he cupped her face. His eyes smiled along with his lips. “No. You and the baby are awesome. You, me—and Cord, Jr.—are awesome.” He finished with a wink, and she pursed her lips.
“I’ve not agreed to Cord, Jr.” They’d talked about baby names several times, but they hadn’t yet settled on anything.
His smiled inched higher. “Maggie Jr., then.”
“Cord.” She fake-punched him. “Stop it. I’m being serious. You’re worrying me, okay? I just want to make sure that we’re okay. And if this isn’t about us, then I’d love to help . . . if you’d let me.”<
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His gaze turned serious as he continued to stare down at her. “You and I are absolutely okay. Trust me on that. This is something with my dad, all right? Something that I need to work through and then probably talk to him about. But I’m going to wait until after the holidays to have that conversation. I don’t want it involving others or getting in the way of everyone enjoying time together next weekend.”
She wanted to ask what it was again, but she wouldn’t do it. She respected his privacy. But if it was serious enough that it might disrupt his entire family’s Christmas, then she couldn’t help but worry for him.
She reached up and captured one of his hands. “You’ll be able to put it behind you next weekend, though? Long enough to enjoy time with your family? To enjoy . . . our time together?”
She didn’t say out loud that she was talking about them spending the night together, but she could see that he understood. His lids lowered as he took in her mouth, and she caught herself licking her lips in anticipation of a kiss.
“I promise it won’t get in the way of our time together,” he murmured. Then, thankfully, he fulfilled her desire and kissed her. It was hot and urgent, but it ended way too soon. And when he lifted his head, she could see his expectations for the coming weekend mingling with hers. Neither of them knew if they would do anything more than share the bed together, but whatever happened, it would be the intimacy of being with each other that meant the most.
“I’d intended to invite you into my bed last night, you know?” She told him that because she wanted him to ache a little by knowing it. Like she’d ached when she’d had to go to bed alone. “But you—”
“Stupidly went to bed before you could offer,” he finished.
“Yes. You did.” It was as if he’d sensed what she’d been about to suggest, and suddenly he’d been ready to turn in. They’d stood from the couch together after finishing a movie, but then he’d kissed her and headed to his room before she could get a word in edgewise.
“I’m an idiot,” he confessed. “I shouldn’t have let my personal issues get in the way.”
“No, you shouldn’t have.” She gave him the kind of come-hither look that had worked on him back in April, and he groaned out loud.
“Maggie,” he whispered before he leaned in and kissed her again, and that time when he pulled back, he shook his head and let out another groan before dragging her down the hallway. “Quit tempting me, woman. I’m going to miss my flight back if I don’t get out of here.”
They were headed to the front door. “It would be a real shame if you had to spend the whole week with me instead.”
He chuckled, the sound making her smile because of the sexual frustration she heard in it, but he didn’t stop moving until he reached the door. Once there, though, he turned back, and that time he kissed her longer and hungrier than he had before. And that time, he had her whimpering before he was done.
“You’re an evil man, Cord Wilde.” She licked the taste of him where it lingered on her lips.
“I’m a lucky man.” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm, then he let his gaze slowly travel the length of her body. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Maggie?” His eyes met hers. “You were before, but you’re even more so now. You’re mind-blowing.”
A flush washed through her. “You must have a thing for round women.”
“I have a thing for gorgeous women.” He kissed her hand again. “This gorgeous woman.”
He’d called her sexy once before, and now beautiful and gorgeous. And if he were lying, then he was the world’s best liar. She’d certainly not thought of herself in that way in months, and before that, typically “good-looking” was as far as she’d go. She was more girl-next-door than Victoria’s Secret model, and she’d always been okay with that. But when Cord looked at her like he was doing now, she felt as if she could go head-to-head with any long-legged, designer-clothes-wearing woman strutting her stuff.
Of course, she might waddle down the runway instead of strut, but even so, she suspected that Cord would be looking at her. This man was good for her confidence.
“Think about me this week,” she told him.
He lifted his brows. “I think about you all the time, babe.”
Oh, this man was a charmer. She swallowed as he reached behind him and opened the door.
“I’ll pick you up Friday?” he asked.
“I’ll be here.” She hooked her thumb back over her shoulder. “And I’ll have the dollhouses ready to go.” They’d gone Christmas shopping earlier that day, picking up gifts for the latest two nieces, as well as purchasing gift bags large enough to wrap the dollhouses in. They just hadn’t gotten around to doing the wrapping yet.
“Leave them. I’ll take care of it when I get here. I don’t work Friday, so I’ll head out first thing. Snow is supposed to move into the area again next weekend, so I’ll drive instead of charter a flight, but I’ll still be here in plenty of time.”
“Good. I’ll miss you until then.”
He grinned, the sight top-level toe-curling, then he leaned in and kissed her one more time. When they separated, he stepped backward out of the door. “Let me know what the doctor says about you this week.”
“Last week she said that I could have sex if I wanted to.”
He looked as if he’d swallowed his tongue. “Mags.” His entire face flushed hot. “That is evil.”
She grinned back at him. “That’s just me getting you back.” She blew him a kiss and stepped back to shut the door. “I’ll see you Friday, hot stuff.”
After he’d walked toward his rental, she closed the door, and when she turned and leaned back against it, she didn’t even try to fight the smile. She was in love with that man. There was no doubt.
Could he be falling in love with her, too?
She hoped so. Maybe that’s what he’d give her for Christmas. His love. Because that was the only thing she wanted.
She pushed off the door, intending to go wrap the dollhouses instead of waiting for him to do it, but her phone rang before she could make it to the kitchen. She pulled her cell from one of the deep pockets of her shirt and was surprised to find it was her mother calling.
“Hey, Mom.” Most often, Maggie was the one who called, but every once in a while her mother surprised her. And sometimes it wasn’t a good surprise.
“Hey, baby. How are you doing?”
Maggie stopped in the middle of the room as relief washed through her. Her mother was having a good day. She could already tell. “I’m doing great, Mom. How are you? You sound good.”
“I am good. Your dad and I just got back from buying a new horse. We needed another one since our reservations continue to increase every month.” After their first year of getting comfortable owning the ranch, they’d steadily grown the business.
“I can’t wait to see it the next time I visit.”
“Me either. Her name is Summer. You’ll love her.” A pause of uncomfortableness briefly hung in the air before her mother asked, “How’s the baby?”
Maggie knew that even after all this time it was still hard for her mom to think about unborn babies, much less to talk about them. When Maggie had visited to tell them about her pregnancy, she’d been concerned the news would send her mother into a downward spiral. If it had, though, neither she nor Maggie’s father had mentioned it. They didn’t always share everything, though.
“He’s doing good, Mom.” She rubbed her hand over her son. “He’s still growing.”
“Still kicking?”
Maggie closed her eyes as her mother’s question caused physical hurt for the pain her mother had once been through. “He’s kicking my hand right now.”
“Good. Here, your father wants to talk to you.” Her mother was gone before Maggie could say anything else, and the next thing she heard was her father saying her name.
“Hi, Dad.” She loved her dad fiercely, but she always got a twinge of regret in her chest if she thought about it too much. Sh
e’d once been such a daddy’s girl.
“Hi, sweetheart. The baby’s still good? You’re good?”
She nodded, tears clinging to her lashes. “My doctor says everything is on track.”
“And you’re still thinking you won’t deliver until close to your due date?”
She hadn’t exactly said that before. She had no idea when she’d deliver. But there was also no reason to think it wouldn’t be near her due date. “That’s the assumption.”
“Good. Your mom and I have our assistant manager lined up to handle things at that time. Once you’re home from the hospital, we plan to come visit for a few days. We can stay in the hotel, of course. I know that Cord will be staying with you.” She’d talked to her parents the week before, letting them know of her change in relationship status with Cord. “We don’t want to step on his toes,” he added.
“You won’t be stepping on anyone’s toes, Dad.” And by then, Cord would be sleeping in her room. “The guest room will be available if you decide you want it.” She wouldn’t push the issue because she didn’t know if her mother could handle staying in the house with a newborn. “But Dad,” she started, then she couldn’t make herself go on.
“What is it, Maggie?”
“I . . .” She closed her eyes and pictured the waiting room as it had been the day before. And again, the way it was when Harper had been giving birth to the twins. She wanted her parents to be at the hospital for her. If they couldn’t make it in time for the delivery, then she at least wanted them there after. She didn’t want to have to wait to introduce them to their grandchild.
She hadn’t specifically asked that of them before. She’d always felt it selfish to even think the words. But it had been twenty-two years. Surely her mother could be there for her.