Page 47 of A Baby for the Billionaire Cowboy

“I can’t fit in my dress shoes anymore.” She tossed her head. “Never mind that. I have something to say to you, and you’re going to listen.”

“Yes ma’am.” He braced himself for a dressing down. Maybe it would be for the best. If she put him in his place, he might find it easier to stay there. If she told him she wanted nothing to do with him, he might stop thinking about her all the time.

Probably not, but maybe.

She took a step closer, hands on her hips. Sunlight gilded her face and brought out the golden flecks in her eyes. A tendril of hair caressed her temple. He wanted to slide his arms around her and sink into another kiss.

“I like you,” she said.

Xander blinked. “Um?”

“I like youa lot. I want to be with you.” A flush washed over her cheeks, but she kept her gaze steady on him. “I know you’re worried about being my boss, but we can fix that. Your mama already has a solution.”

“My mama...” He glanced back into the darkness of the barn, where Josh was pretending to fiddle with the combine engine. “She knows what happened between us?”

“You don’t give her enough credit.” Daisy tossed her head again. “Never mind that. The point is I like you, and I’d like to be in a relationship with you, but I need to know that you want it too. And not out of sympathy for me because I’m one of your sad little abandoned creatures, or because you love babies and I have one. I need to know that you want me for me.”

Xander could only stare, his mouth open but his mind unable to form words. Was this really happening? Daisy wanted him too? Not just because she felt grateful or was scared and needed comfort, but for real? A relationship, she’d said. He could have that?

“Okay. I said my piece.” She smiled and patted his arm. “It’s all right. You don’t have to say anything now. You figure out what you want, and you let me know.” She spun and scurried away.

Xander watched her go. Part of his mind yelled at him to follow, but he couldn’t seem to make his body move.

Josh stepped up next to him. “So it’s like that.”

Xander found his voice. “You don’t sound surprised.”

Josh merely chuckled and patted Xander’s shoulder. “I’ll clean up in here.”

“I’ll help. I need a minute. I can’t...”

“Yep, the right woman will make you feel like you can’t think straight.”

They cleaned up the tools in companionable silence. Xander kept glancing toward the barn door. Had that really happened? It wasn’t his imagination, a dream? His stinging knuckles told him he was awake. And he’d had plenty of daydreams about Daisy, but he didn’t think his imagination was good enough to bring her to life in that much detail.

Daisy had made everything sound simple. They could figure out a way to be together. Shewantedto be with him! He almost burst into song.

But what else had she said? She needed to know he cared for her, not simply because she was someone in need or had a baby. He adored Avery, but he’d met plenty of babies and not fallen in love with the mothers. And he didn’t see Daisy as someone in need. She was one of the strongest people he knew.

He ought to tell her that.

“I think I’m ready to talk to Daisy now.”

“Have fun.” Josh grinned and gave him a cheerful wave.

Xander went to the cottage and knocked. No one answered. Had she decided to take a nap? Surely she couldn’t settle down so quickly after that emotional scene. But maybe it had exhausted her. Or maybe she was nursing Avery and didn’t want to get up.

Or maybe she’d changed her mind.

No, he wouldn’t panic. He hated to knock again in case Avery was sleeping, but he’d already made Daisy wait a good ten minutes for his answer. He didn’t want her to think he was indifferent. He knocked again, briefly but loudly enough that she should hear from any room. He listened carefully but didn’t hear anyone call to him. The door stayed closed.

Xander grunted in annoyance at himself. Idiot. She’d returned to the office that day. Obviously, since she was dressed for work and had spoken to Mama. Daisy had scrambled his brains real good.

Xander started for the office, but he glanced down at his dirty, grease-stained clothes. He ought to shower and change first. Declarations of love should come from someone who looked halfway presentable. He hurried to the house and cleaned up.

When he left his room, he heard voices in the living room. He paused, listening, and winced when he heard Rhonda’s booming voice. He generally avoided her, since she made him feel like a strange insect at a zoo. But then Mama’s softer voice came, and if those two were there, Daisy might be with them.

He gathered his nerves and stepped into the archway to the living room. Rhonda and Mama sat on the sofa with mugs of coffee and a plate of shortbread. No Daisy, or even Avery.

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