Reaching over, I let Leo grab my finger. “Can I take him out? I know how to hold a baby.”
She smiles at me. “I remember. You were great with Austin and Gabe. Sure. You can pick him up.”
After I sit, so I don’t have to worry about my balance, I pull him out of the basket, making sure to support his neck. “Hey, buddy.” I cradle him in my good arm and let him wrap his hand around my finger again. He makes a gurgly sound and then smiles. “Look at that grin.”
“Shut up.” Baylee rushes over to me and stares at her son. “He’s smiling!”
“I know. Bet you’re gonna get all the girls with that killer grin, dude.” Baylee glares at me. “What?”
“I’ve been trying to get him to smile for weeks, and the first one he gives is to you.”
I smirk. “What can I say?” I buff my nails against my shirt. “I’m special. Can you blame him?” I’ll admit I’m stupidly happy Leo gave me his first smile. I love this kid already.
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “Are you hungry?”
I watch as she leans over to grab a plate. Her shirt slides up, and I get a sweet view of her ass. “Starving.”
11
BAYLEE
As I waitin line at the Longhorn Sandwich Shop, I stroke my hand down Leo’s back to keep him settled. He’s sleeping peacefully strapped to my chest in his baby wrap.
As annoyed as I am that I have to borrow money from Maverick, I’m really grateful. We’ve been eating like kings this week, and I’m starting to realize my brain felt like mush because I wasn’t getting good nutrition.
Naturally, my mind wanders to my handsome new roommate, which I quickly shut down because I don’t have the bandwidth to analyze the meaning of his lingering looks. I’m too drained to miss my mom and sister or be pissed at Sean for leaving me high and dry. All I can handle is taking care of Leo and running the salon. Everything else will have to wait.
Am I emotionally detached? Maybe. Is it healthy? Possibly not. But it’s what lets me get through my days, so I’ll count it as a win.
Caroline Green smiles at me, then at Leo. “What can I get ya, Baylee?”
“I’ll have my usual.”
“One chicken panini coming up. And a sweet tea?”
“Make that two sweet teas, please. And the Beefeater sandwich with a side of cranberry sauce and an order of sweet potato fries with horseradish sauce.” That’s been Mav’s favorite since we were kids.
Eyes wide, she leans closer. “Is this for that Walker boy? Is he back in town?” She scans the cars outside like she’s hoping he’ll pop out of one.
Crap. I lower my voice. “I can’t confirm, but I will say if itwasfor him, I’m sure he’d stop by here and sign your Lone Star State jersey as soon as he gets a chance to thank you for your discretion.”
She giggles like she’s a schoolgirl and not a grandmother. “That would be mighty sweet of him.” Then she gives me a strange smile and glances at my son. “Is he here to visit Leo?”
What an odd question. “Not particularly,” I say slowly.
I love small towns, but this is the one major drawback—everyone knows everything about everyone. In a big city, no one would care what I’m ordering. I hope Maverick is ready to visit the ranch soon because I’m afraid Caroline is going to spread the word he’s in town.
When I get home, I unstrap Leo, lay him on the couch, and block him in with a cushion before I break out our lunch. “Mav, I brought you the Beefeater.”
“Coming!” he shouts from the other room.
I open the takeout containers and set up his meal on the bar. “When you have a second, we need to talk. I might’ve let the cat out of the bag…” My words trail off when he rounds the corner in nothing but a pair of jeans. His hair is damp and dripping all over his muscular shoulders. I swallow as his chest flexes, sending all those muscles rippling down his stomach. And when he turns to check out the food, I get a nice view of his ass. Holy hell in a handbasket, he’s hot.
“My eyes are up here,” he teases.
“Go put some clothes on. You’re hideous.” If hideous meant obscenely gorgeous.
His smile widens. “Had to shower. No sweaty yetis. I remembered.”
