Cordy was aware of everyone’s expressions then. Ruby was watching with wide eyes but thinned lips as if she wasn’t quite sure if she ought to be glad or worried. Jaycee’s mouth twitched as she held back her grin. Sam’s expression said he didn’t think Chance was good enough for Cordy. Pierce was the only one looking at Chance, and the hero worship in the teenager’s eyes glowed like a second sun.
Cordy supposed Chance had earned that after today. Her own expression must be similar.
“Okay,” she said, her heart feeling too big, “home it is.”
“Oh hell,” Chance muttered. “I forgot. Pierce! You up for one more run?”
“Yes!” Pierce practically saluted.
“Get Cordy a funnel cake. Bring it to my truck.”
If Chance hadn’t been holding her, Cordy would have swooned. After all that, heremembered.
She realized then that if she wasn’t careful, she would fall right in love with this man.
sixteen
Chance breathedin the scent of his coffee and sighed with pleasure. Now that his house stocked strictly decaf, morning coffee with his brothers was a lifeline.
Not even Holden’s presence in the kitchen could dampen his mood. Turned out that having a beautiful, charming, sexy woman waiting at home each night was good for him.
“You look happy,” Quint said. “Ruby told me what happened at Third Thursday. Is Cordy okay?”
“She is now that I talked to the Saxons and told them to cut that shit out.”
Not even Mrs. Saxon’s tears had held Chance back. He hadn’t been a huge dick about it, but he’d been clear. “Cordy has to be nice to you because of the baby,” he’d said. “She needs a good relationship with you, so she’ll pull her punches.” He’d stared right at Mr. Saxon. “But I don’t have to be nice or pull my punches. When I see someone treating Cordy wrong, I can step in and do whatever I need to stop it. And I will.”
His smile had held a warning.Things changenow.
Mr. Saxon and Hailey had gotten the message. Bob had nodded—he wasn’t much of a talker anyway—and Hailey had said she would talk to Cordy later, smooth things over. Chancecould only hope those two passed the message on to Janet, who hadn’t stopped crying.
Maybe it was cold of him, but she wasn’t Chance’s concern. Cordy was.
“Good,” Quint said. “Someone needed to tell them. Ruby says a bunch of people have already signed up for the meal train. You’re going to have enough food to last you a year.”
“I signed up,” Rye said. “I’m bringing hot dog casserole.”
Chance stared at his brother. “Seriously? What is that? It sounds like a nightmare.”
“Just kidding, I’m freezing some wild rice and mushroom soup.”
“When did you learn to make that?”
Rye blushed. Actually blushed. “Oh, recently.”
Chance stuck his tongue inside his cheek. Huh. Rye didn’t usually get embarrassed about anything. And he wasn’t one to go trying out new recipes. He might do most of the cooking, but his ingredient list started and stopped with hot dogs.
“Sounds good,” Chance said. “And speaking of Cordy delivering soon, I’ll need to talk to HR about my paternity leave. I’m taking at least six weeks, maybe more.”
Quint frowned at him over his mug. “Paternity leave? What the hell are you talking about? We don’t have any damn HR department, either.”
“Cordy’s going to need me at home once the baby comes. So I’m taking time off.”
Holden pinned Chance with a glare. “Thought it wasn’t your baby. You got all heated telling me that, swearing up and down, it wasn’t yours. But you’re taking care of it.”
“First of all, the baby is not anit. Second, no, the baby is not mine, but here’s the thing about babies—and children too—they need taking care of no matter who the father is. You might not know that.”
Holden didn’t even flinch because the bastard had no shame. “I know that, better than you. I just can’t figure out why you’re taking care of this woman and baby if they’re not yours.”
