Page 34 of A Baby for the Billionaire Cowboy

Ava patted Daisy’s arm and stood up. “All right, I’ll give you two some privacy.”

Before Daisy could explain that she and Xander wouldn’t have any private business, Ava had darted into the nursery. Okay, the comment was more likely an excuse for Ava to join her friends and argue about who got to hold the baby next.

Daisy texted Xander the okay to visit, and the knock came a minute later. She opened the door and drank in the sight of him. With so many other visitors, he’d been scarce, except for checking in each evening to see if she needed anything.

“Hello.” He gave a hesitant smile.

How long had she been staring? She hadn’t even noticed the two dogs standing beside him, wagging their tails. She stepped back and waved him in. Maybe he’d assume she had postpartum mush brain.

“I should warn you, my auntie Rhonda is here with Glenda and Barbara and your mother.”

“Oh.” He glanced toward the nursery and sighed. “I won’t visit Avery then.”

She took a moment to give each dog a scratch behind the ear. They licked her hands and trotted away.

Daisy closed the door and headed for the kitchen to wash her hands. “You can probably escape while they’re distracted by Avery, and they won’t even know you were here.” She hung up the hand towel and turned toward him.

He studied her face. “You look wonderful.”

She snorted. “Liar.”

“No, really. You’re...” He seemed to search for a word before giving up. “You look happy.”

“I am. Avery is healthy, and I’m feeling better every day. I’m coming back to the office tomorrow.”

“Oh. So soon?”

Daisy crossed her arms. “I hope you’re not going to get all bossy and tell me I should be staying home with my baby.”

“Uh.” He blinked a few times. “Actually, I was going to give you this.” He held out his hand.

Daisy took the thing and frowned at it. “A keychain? With a little flashlight?” The flashlight was small but made out of metal, so it would be sturdy.

“It’s getting dark earlier. I don’t want you to stumble getting between your cottage and the office.”

Suddenly Daisy was blinking rapidly, trying not to burst into tears. Stupid hormones. The gift was so Xander, completely practical and yet so thoughtful. He didn’t want to protect her by pressuring her to stay home. He wanted to make sure she was safe when she came back to work. Her commute was only a hundred feet, but he’d make sure she didn’t trip on a rock or stumble over a stray chicken.

She clutched the key chain tightly but resisted the urge to press it to her chest. “Thank you. I might not need it for a while yet, since I’m only working a couple of hours a day, but I’ll keep it with me.”

“Oh, I got you this too.” He pulled something out of his coat pocket.

“Is that...” She took the plastic wrapped block of cheese. “Gorgonzola!”

“You said you were missing it while you were pregnant.”

Daisy held her precious gifts, when she really wanted to hold Xander and cover his face with kisses. They smiled at each other. The moment stretched out.

Daisy needed to say something, before it got awkward, before he guessed her thoughts and she embarrassed him by acting like his kindness meant something more. But she couldn’t say any of the things she wanted to say.

Chapter Fifteen

Xander couldn’t takehis gaze off Daisy. They hadn’t been alone together in a week. Not that they were alone now, what with four women and a baby a few feet away through the open door to the next room. Still, it felt like they were suspended in this private moment in time.

The baby started wailing.

Daisy jolted and swung toward the nursery, where Barbara was cooing at the baby and bouncing Avery against her chest. Glenda started offering advice, while Rhonda demanded Avery be returned to her.

Daisy gave Xander a rueful smile. “Want to see me try to reclaim my baby? Not that I’ve figured out how to keep Avery quiet either, unless he’s hungry or needs a diaper change. I just fed him, so it’s not that.”

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