Page 117 of No Place for Single Cowboys

“It’s okay. You go get a shower, and I’ll take care of her.”

Cordy tried to cover herself, which made him feel even worse. Had this been a mistake? “I…”

Madeleine wailed even louder. Her cries were like a knife in Chance’s gut. Her distress cut straight through to the most primitive part of his brain.

“I can clean up quicker.” He turned to go to the other bathroom. “You take your time; we’ll be okay.”

She made a noise like she didn’t want him to go. For a moment, he paused. But Madeleine cried again, and he had to go to the baby. Poor thing couldn’t wait any longer.

When he came back with Madeleine, Cordy was in the shower, and his chance was gone.

twenty-seven

Chance blinked awakeas the sun streamed in through the window. He took several breaths, trying to identify the feeling in his head. Clear, strong, like the world made sense.

Oh, he feltgood. Not tired. Like a human being again.

“What the hell?” he muttered. How had that happened? He hadn’t felt like this since the baby was born.

He glanced over at the clock. God, he’d slept six whole hours. Six entire dark delicious hours, and damn, did he feel amazing.

Cordy was curled up next to him, coming awake herself.

“Morning.” Her smile was tender, bright.

“You should have woken me up last night.” Chance felt guilty that he’d slept through Madeleine’s wake-ups. “I would have taken one of the feedings.”

“Last night?” Her brow creased. “Last night…” Her eyes went wide. “I didn’t wake up last night.”

Which meant the baby hadn’t either.

In a flash, they were both up, racing to the nursery.

They tumbled through the door one after the other, panting. Iggy chased after them, barking as loud as Chance’s heart was pounding.

Madeleine jerked awake, her eyes popping open as she started to wail.

“Oh my God.” Cordy grabbed her chest like she was putting her heart back. “She’s okay.”

Poor Madeleine cried harder. Chance took the opportunity to sink to the floor. His legs were rubbery.

“She slept through the night?” he asked.

“She must have.” Cordy bounced Madeleine in her arms, trying to soothe her. “Or she woke up and put herself back to sleep. Poor baby has to have a full diaper.” Cordy glanced at Chance on the floor. “You okay?”

Chance heaved himself up—enough of that. “I’m fine. It’s just that when I realized we hadn’t heard her in hours…”

“I know,” Cordy said softly. “I felt it, too.” She curled around Madeleine, her attention completely on her daughter.

They made an arresting picture backlit by the window. Chance’s heart was anchored and buoyant at the same time as he watched them. It wasn’t just the long stretch of sleep that had him feeling this way—it was the woman and child in his life.

It was going to be hell to leave them today, but his six weeks of paternity leave were up. He had to get back to helping his brothers and running the ranch.

And someday they’d be moving…

“You two will be okay on your own today?” His voice was rough.

Cordy looked up. For a moment, she seemed surprised, and then her expression shuttered. “We’ll be okay. I need to call Glenn about my job, and I was thinking… I should go by and see Reed’s house. Janet says it’s ready to move in.”

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