Page 18 of Stolen Hearts

She threw up her hands. “Fine. I’ve been better.”

Willow stepped closer, leaning her hip against the desk. “You wanna talk about it?”

“No.” Her response was too quick, too sharp. She couldn’t help it—part of her heart was back there in that barn, cracking wide open with every second that Denver stared at their daughter. “I just need…a minute.”

“Make it a fast one, because it’s bonfire night.”

She shook her head. “I’m sitting this one out.”

The idea of attending the weekly ranch bonfire tonight shook her to the core. What if Denver showed up? He had every right to—it was his family, after all. His, not hers.

A lump lodged in her throat, hot and constricting.

“You have to come. You know how everyone looks forward to passing the baby around.”

It was true. The veterans who sat around the fire, the same ones who played with Navy or put her to sleep, all lit up when they saw her coming with the baby in her arms. The sight of Navy getting passed around, toasty warm in the arms of those rough military men, to the arms of her uncles…and her Aunt Willow…choked Rhae up even more.

She couldn’t get a single word out.

“Come on, Rhae. You would encourage your patients to face their fears.”

She gaped at Willow. “This is a little different.”

“But is it? It’s a gorgeous night for a bonfire, and Auntie Willow needs some Navy snuggles.”

“But Auntie Willow isn’t going to say anything, right?”

“Nope. Not a word.” Her beautiful eyes widened, accentuating her long, thick lashes. The same ones Navy inherited.

Dammit.

“All right, I’ll go.”

Willow bounced on the toes of her cowgirl boots. “I’ll put the baby in her footie pajamas!”

Rhae moved to lift the sleeping child into her arms. For a beat, she stared down at her peaceful face, thinking how innocence smoothed out everything.

And connecting the shape of Navy’s eyes to her father’s.

This wasn’t the first time Willow followed her back to her quarters. The rooms were small but adequate for her and Navy.It consisted of a small sitting room with a TV she rarely got to watch, since she worked long hours and motherhood made her collapse into bed every night. She barely had a few minutes to scroll on her phone before sleep claimed her.

The bedroom was larger, big enough for a dresser and a queen-sized bed. When she first arrived, she emptied out the closet to create a tiny nursery nook for the crib, and Oaks had been kind enough to add some shelves where she stocked diapers and supplies.

Willow went straight to the dresser. “Top drawer, right?”

“Yes.” She gently laid Navy on the bed, but her eyes popped open anyway. Wide awake as if she already knew what was about to happen. She gave a big, gummy smile, the few teeth she had glinting white. The new one hadn’t yet broken through.

Rhae issued a sound, almost like a sob, but smiled back at her daughter. She stuffed her hands in her pockets, awaiting what was to come from all of this.

“Ohh, she’ssocute.” Willow hovered over Rhae’s shoulder, pink cotton footed pajamas in hand.

“I’m biased, but she is the cutest baby of all time.”

“Those eyes…”

Rhae gulped. “If you don’t mind getting her in her pajamas, I’ll just change clothes.”

“Of course.” Willow reached for the baby, earning a giggle from her.

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