Page 49 of The Cowgirl's Forever Love
He knew exactly what she was wondering. “That she looks like a dead ringer for one of your family? No, we all saw it.”
“Something weird is going on. I know Tamara’s going to be curious, and I don’t want her worried about anything.” She lifted big brown eyes toward him. “Help me set up a meeting?”
“Sure.”
Caleb marched back into the room, head swiveling toward them. He let out a deep breath. “God.”
“Tamara’s okay?”
“She’s fine. She’s better than fine.” His lips twisted. “She told me, and I quote, ‘I can damn well wash my own ass, get the hell out of here.’ She suggested I go bond with our baby.”
Lisa rocked to her feet, Josiah placing a hand on her butt to help her hit vertical. She snickered as she gave him a dirty look, but she walked toward her brother-in-law. “Bonding with Tyler is a wonderful idea. Sit down.”
Caleb offered a deadpan stare. “I have done this before.”
“No, you haven’t,” Lisa said. “Doesn’t matter how many babies you’ve taken care of, this is your first time with this sweet thing. Sit down and relax. I’ll take care of everything else.”
“But your day off—”
Lisa snapped up a finger and pointed at Caleb’s easy chair.
He quick-marched over and sat as ordered, glancing at Josiah with amusement. “I hope you have better luck getting her to listen than I do.”
“Not a chance,” Josiah offered. “Face it. Sometimes it’s fun to be bossed around.”
Both Caleb and Lisa missed his joke because Tyler was being transferred between loving arms.
An instant later his friend was totally mindless, lost in staring at his son, untangling the blankets to examine fingers and toes, the baby squirming and complaining until Caleb swaddled him up again. Competent as he’d said.
Obviously head over heels in love.
Josiah slipped into the kitchen. Lisa was turning on the kettle and putting a pot on the stove. He stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her and pressing a kiss to the side of her neck. “Unless you need me for anything, I’m going to take a rain check on our date. I’ll rearrange things and line up some work so I can take time off in a couple of days.”
She pivoted in his arms, grinning up at him. “I’d like that. Sorry for the messed-up date.”
“It’s been a good day.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips because he couldn’t help himself. “I’ll talk to Brad and get contact information for Julia. I’ll let you know what we organize.”
Tamara called from the back bedroom.
“Coming, sis.” Lisa gave him a quick hug before vanishing around the corner.
He took one last look at Caleb sitting with the baby in his lap. His best friend was cooing and making baby noises.
Then Josiah took that aching need in his belly, slipped on his coat and boots, and quietly snuck out the door.
11
The next hours were a blur.
Lisa helped Tamara into clean clothes then brought her out into the living room to join Caleb. She left the two of them to bond with their newborn, moving as quietly as she could in the background, making phone calls and sending texts. Tamara travelled between the living room and the bedroom, Caleb hovering like a mother hen.
Caleb met Sasha and Emma at the bus stop before bringing them in to meet their new brother. They were thoroughly impressed, at least until Tyler screwed up his face and began crying.
Lisa got dinner on the table then prepared for a steady stream of visitors. Each one of Caleb’s brothers stopped by, offering congratulations and hearty pats on the back.
Tamara snuck off to bed after nursing Tyler, leaving Lisa to field the remaining phone calls from family, including one from their sister.
Karen wasn’t able to come for a few days and she was annoyed as heck. “I was trying to make sure I had nothing dire on the agenda for a month from now. Figures Tamara would do this.”
