“I love you,” I whimper, wiping my tears.
“And I worship you, and our baby. Come ‘ere,” he holds open his arms and I rush into them, cocooned in pure adoration. “No horses,” he grumbles once more, kissing the top of my head. “You wanna play cowgirl, I got something you can ride anytime you want.”
“Stop,” I laugh and swat his arm. “Brooke might hear you.”
“Speak of the angel. Turn around baby,” he speaks softly.
I spin in his arms and gasp, covering my mouth with both hands.
Brooke is standing but a few feet away, grinning ear-to-ear…holding a puppy.
“Me and Uncle Keaton picked him out.” Her eyes go wide. “I mean…no…this lil’ guy just wandered up to the house looking for you. Shoot, sorry.” Her face falls and Keaton laughs behind me.
“It’s okay, Brooke. She’d have figured us out anyway. Go see your present, baby,” he nudges me forward.
I walk slowly toward Brooke and my new puppy. She hands me the black and white bundle of fur that starts giving me puppy breath kisses.
“It’s a Border Collie, very smart dogs. And it’s a boy, so we could name him Bailey, an Irish whiskey,” Brooke babbles. “I’m gonna help you take care of him and train him, especially when your belly’s too big for you to bend over.”
“Thank you,” I laugh. “That’ll come in real handy. And I think Bailey is the perfect name. Bailey,” I whisper, and kiss my dog. “Big paws to fill, buddy. But I have faith in you.”
“Do you like him, Henny?” I turn at Keaton’s question and take a minute to soak him in—the boy from my childhood now all man—gorgeous, loving, bossy and sexier every day.
“Yeah, I like him.”
“Not too soon?” His brows crumple in concern.
“No,” I shake my head. “Not too soon. Thank you.”
“Anything for you, Henley Gene Cash. Anything.”
