Page 14 of White Collar Rancher

The new routine his son had formed was almost doable. Once the colic went away, he might actually have consistent hours, with only one or two feedings at night.

The drawback was that Priya might not stop by anymore. He doubted she’d abandon him entirely, but their nightly chats were one of his favorite parts of the day. She didn’t pressure him for details about his past, which made him weirdly want to talk about it more. He was proud of what he’d done. All the places he’d traveled had been perfect for a young guy trying to prove himself and live life to the fullest. The company… It’d had potential. But it had never been what he truly wanted to do. Gabrielle had been so utterly convincing.

You do the negotiating, I’ll run the numbers. We make a good team. You know we do, baby.

How many times had she said, We’ll just land one more account? Stay on just a little longer. Look how far you’ve come.

Now he was thirty and homebound. Exactly where he wanted to be. When Isaiah was older, they could travel. Justin had a nice chunk of savings built up, and soon he might even venture to the bank and open an account for Isaiah. Do the responsible thing and get the will and trust lined up.

His ears pricked up at the drone of a familiar engine. Priya was arriving. She spent all her free time helping him after long hours at the clinic. What did her parents think?

They have their own life. The tightness in her expression gave him the impression that when her parents’ nest had emptied, they’d built their own life, and Priya moving back hadn’t changed anything.

His phone rang just as Priya parked. His heart slammed at the number on his screen. He’d never called Maisy’s parents and they’d never called him, but their number was plugged into his phone, just in case. He should’ve called.

Her mom was calling now.

“Hi, Katherine. How are you doing?”

“Justin.” The wistfulness in her voice ate at him. Like calling him was a giant obstacle she was still trying to overcome and failing. “We’re good. You know, as we can be. How are you? How’s… Isaiah?”

Truthfully, he was surprised they hadn’t called before. When the funeral had ended and he and Isaiah had been left alone, he’d thought he’d see them at the hospital. Then Isaiah had been discharged and Justin had gotten busy with him and he hadn’t contacted them. With the colic, he hadn’t given them more thought beyond wondering if they were going to be a part of his son’s life.

He reclined against the back of the chair and prattled on about Isaiah and the last couple of months.

Priya entered on a swirl of cold air. She smiled at him and yanked off her stocking hat. Her hair was coiled into a bun-braid or whatever they were called. Her jacket’s collar was as high as it could go, and she wore stylish winter boots with rubber soles. She was the sexiest snow bunny he’d seen in a long time, and his years in Denver gave him a lot of memories for comparison.

But Priya had always outshone the others around her. She had a natural radiance, she exuded sharp intelligence, and she was quiet—until you got to know her.

Why wasn’t Priya the one he’d made a play for all those years ago?

She’d never thrown herself at him like Maisy had. No coy looks, no flirtatious giggles. As a boy with raging hormones and unwilling to experience rejection, he’d gone for the sure thing. Maisy had made it clear she was guaranteed.

Besides. He’d sworn off women. And if he hadn’t, Priya wouldn’t be the one he went after.

A sour taste lingered in his mouth. No, he wasn’t going to be going after anyone. That declaration didn’t feel right either, but it wouldn’t be Priya. She was…just a friend.

“So, that’s about it,” he continued, not knowing how Katherine was reacting to his verbal vomit of all things Isaiah. He was one of those parents now. If someone asked him about his kid, he trapped them in a corner until he was done talking about his pride and joy.

Priya grinned at the baby strapped to his chest and wandered into the kitchen. He had food in the crockpot. He hoped she helped herself—and that it tasted good. Today, with the extra freedom baby wearing had given him, he’d resolved to do better in the food department.

Didn’t mean he could do more than dump a roast in a pot. And vegetables. He included those now. For her.

I just feel better eating a veggie-heavy diet, and it’s what I’m used to. Keep your meat. I’ll eat around it.

Still, he’d simmered the carrots and potatoes in vegetable broth.

“I was thinking…” Katherine’s timid start put him on alert. She blew out a breath like she was frustrated with herself. “We’d like to see him. Spend some time with our grandson.”

He quickly mulled it over. Too long of a pause and she might think he was resistant to the idea. He wasn’t. “Would it best if we all hung out for a little, get you used to his wily baby ways? I admit, he and I haven’t parted since he’s been home from the hospital, so I might have a harder time than he does.”

“And leaving him makes you uncomfortable.” She wasn’t upset. More matter-of-fact. “I’ll be honest, Justin. You know Maisy was an only child. I haven’t been around babies in thirty years. So, yes, why don’t you two come over and we’ll figure this out?”

Relief poured through him. “I really want him to have a good relationship with his grandparents, especially when he’s lucky enough to have a set that lives in the same town.”

“Oh, Justin.” A breathy catch on the other end clued him into her tears. “I was worried—I know you and Maisy had your issues, and I don’t pretend to understand them.”

“We can talk about that, too,” he said quietly. He was curious to know if they blamed him for things between him and their daughter.

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