“I say go for it,” I said. “Then you’ll have the capital to build this place.”
He looked into my eyes and studied them for a second. “I just want to have nothing to do with that place. Paid off building or not.”
I grabbed the hand that was fisted at his side and placed a kiss onto his knuckles. “Copper, no one cares about the building. We just want comfortable chairs and air conditioner.”
“I gotta say, the booths in the bar are really kind of great,” Cane interjected. “My only complaint is having to clean up all my crap at the end of the day so the bar can open.”
“That’s actually going to change, too.” Copper flipped his hand over and caught mine in his, then tugged me closer so that I was under his arm. “Bar’s closed for the foreseeable future. We’re gonna need a place to work while they’re doing construction back here. And the bar’s it. Feel free to claim any booth you need for now.”
“Uh, sir?” Millicent called out. “All the staff are here and ready to get started with the board meeting.”
Copper nodded and said, “Let’s do this.”
For the next forty-five minutes, Copper spoke with the staff that’d made the cut.
There was Millicent, who was a godsend for Copper. Keely, obviously—who was happily bouncing my happy child on her lap and getting guffaws from him. There was Rawlins, who was going to be watching all the kids of the employees by herself—Rosanna and Candace hadn’t made the cut.
There was Cane, obviously. As well as the security guard, Bells.
There were also two or three others, but I’d stopped listening at one point when Copper had reached out and taken Holt when he started to get fussy with Keely.
He expertly bounced Holt on his muscular forearm and patted his back, instantly calming him down.
It was so hot.
I couldn’t wait to make more with him—which was a far cry from how I felt when he was first born.
I figured the second child I had would be completely different, though.
First, I would have the support of a man that deserved the title of “father.” Copper would in no way, shape, or form make my birth any harder than it needed to be. He’d also be there for all the nightly feedings, the dirty diapers, and anything else that arose.
Second, I would be well aware that postpartum depression was a possibility, and my doctor, Copper, and I would be very much aware of the changes in my health.
Third, I would know what it’s like to be a parent already. Holt had been the guinea pig. I’d had to do all the trial and error with him. When I got to the next baby, I wouldn’t have to figure out the hard way how to take care of a child.
I was so lost in thought that I wasn’t aware that the meeting had wrapped up until Keely said, “Baker, do you want to go get lunch?”
I looked up and smiled. “Of course.”
“I can watch Holt,” Rawlins offered.
“No, I got him. It’s nap time anyway, and all he’ll do is sleep.” Copper’s eyes came to me. “Bring me back something?”
I stood up and smiled. “Of course. What do you want?”
“Anything,” he said. “Unless y’all get pizza.”
Keely snickered. “I heard you like pizza now, though?”
The teasing in Keely’s tone had me grinning wide. “He’ll do anything for me.”
Copper’s eyes went lazy. “Damn right.”
After a kiss to the mouth that was quite possessive, Keely and I headed out, choosing to drive separately since she needed to get home and relieve Dima on baby duty.
We chose a little place downtown that supposedly had the best food imaginable, and I was overly excited as I drove deeper into the heart of Dallas.
“Turn right,” my GPS urged in his Australian accent.
