My brother’s expression flattens, and I shake my head. “Nope. I just look like that sorry bastard.”
“Oh. Okay.” She juts out her bottom lip before she returns her focus to Beau. “See you soon!”
When she walks away, he hands me the piece of paper with her number on it. “Here. She was more into you than me.”
“Nah. I’m good.”
As we head to the checkout, he elbows me. “So you and Baylee, huh?”
“We’re not a done deal. It’s more like I’m desperately trying to make amends.”
He frowns. “For what?”
“For being a dumbass.”
I tell him what I did in high school, and he shakes his head. “You’re right. That was dumb. Is that when she started making everyone else puppy chow except you?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” Though I hadn’t realized it at the time.
“Savage.”
“I kinda love that about her.” I dump all of the baby supplies on the conveyer belt. “I laid it all out last night. Apologized. Asked for another chance. And she said as much as she cares for me, there’s no way she’s going to New York. Last night, she was ready to head to the ranch to stay with Paige, but Austin got sick.”
His brows rise. “So whatcha gonna do?”
“The only thing I can. Show her I care and that I’ll always be there for her and Leo.” Baylee will be here while I’m on the other side of the country, and at some point, she’s going to meet a man who realizes she’s amazing and will snatch her up. Just thinking about that makes it hard to breathe.
No, losing her is not a fucking option. I have to win her back.
As we wait for the cashier, I turn to Beau. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a long-term relationship.”
“Because I have a dangerous job.”
“But even before that.”
He shrugs. “I’ve dated a few women, but at the end of the day, I’m a fireman and a rancher and busy as hell. No woman is gonna put up with my schedule.”
“You have a point.”
When we make it back to the condo, there are a crapload of boxes piled in front of my door. “Shit. I didn’t realize everything would arrive so quickly.”
“What did you do? Buy an entire baby store?”
“Pretty much, yeah. Leo needs a lot of stuff, and who better to supply it than his awesome uncle Maverick?” But damn, it’s a lot. “Would you mind helping me move this into the spare bedroom?” Good thing I didn’t order any office furniture.
As Beau helps me haul in a giant box, he grunts, “Want some unsolicited advice?”
“Shoot.”
“Don’t give this to Baylee all at once. She’ll baulk. Start out with the bottle stuff tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll come over again and help you put some of this together. Maybe if she sees everything assembled, she’ll be less overwhelmed. Plus, having it all set up here might make her want to stay around a little longer.”
I smile. “That would be awesome.”
When he leaves, I debate washing all the bottles and nipples, but then wonder if maybe Baylee would enjoy opening everything. All this gift-giving is exhausting. I rub the back of my neck, which is starting to ache.
Before I forget, I grab my phone and call Sheriff Reynolds.
“What can I do for you, Maverick?”
