Chapter 13
Thirteen
Baylor
My knee is bouncing, and it’s annoying me, so I know it has to be annoying everyone else. However, when I glance around the hospital waiting room, no one seems to be paying me any attention.
The room is packed with me, my two younger sisters, Copeland’s mom, Mary, his brother, Chandler, his wife, Macie, and Kinzie, Macklin, Bowen, and Dixon.
We’re all awaiting the arrival of my niece…
well, our niece. The guys might not be related to any of us by blood, but Bowen, Dixon, and Macklin are going to love that little girl just as if it were their blood in her veins.
Our grandparents aren’t here, but they’re sitting by the phone, waiting for a call.
Gramps wasn’t feeling well, and Ellison insisted that they stay home.
Besides, they’re getting up there in age, and these hospital chairs are not comfortable at all.
They don’t need to sit in them for hours, as we have been.
It’s Thursday, early morning, a little after 4:00 a.m. We’ve been here since about ten last night, and none of us are willing to leave, not until we know Ellison and baby girl are okay.
“Here.” Macklin hands me a cup of coffee from the vending machine, then takes the seat next to me with his own cup.
“Is that as bad as I imagine it to be?” Dixon asks, covering a yawn.
“Pretty much,” Macklin and I reply at the same time. I turn to glance at him, and he smiles, as if he knows what I’m thinking. How are we already finishing each other’s sentences?
It’s been nine days since we slept together, and we haven’t talked about it.
There has been no more sex, unfortunately, but he did kiss me two days ago in the stables.
I was brushing the horses when he got there, and he stalked over to me, kissed me hello, as if it was the most normal thing in the world, as if he did it every day, and went on about his day.
He’s asked me to dinner twice since that day I begged him to ravish me in the stables, and I’ve been too busy making sure I know where Ellison is with everything to take over while she’s on leave.
While I can just call her and ask, I want her to enjoy these few weeks off with the baby and not have to worry about the inn or the estate at all. She deserves this bonding time with her daughter.
“That’s going to take some getting used to,” Bowen says, pointing at us.
“What? Seeing me with my girl?” Macklin asks, and I don’t have to look at him to hear the smirk in his voice.
“Oh, is she yours now?” Dixon asks him.
“Working on it,” Macklin tells him.
“What can we do to help?” Courtlynn asks.
“Stay out of it, brat,” Bowen tells her. His voice is calm, and there’s no heat behind his words. It’s just their normal sparring.
Before Courtlynn can bite back, Copeland steps into the waiting room. His smile could light up the entire county, and the tears coating his cheeks warm my heart. Immediately, emotion clogs my throat.
“She’s here,” he says, clearing his throat. “Momma and baby girl are both perfect,” he says, as his mom rushes him, pulling him into a hug. Mary battled breast cancer last year and beat it like the warrior she is.
Copeland’s brother and his wife are next, then my sisters, and the guys all rush to him, taking their turns. Finally, it’s just me and Macklin left. Tears well in my eyes, and I can’t fight them. Copeland wraps his arms around me in a hug.
“Congrats, Daddy,” I croak. When he releases me, it’s Macklin’s arms that take over, while he leans in and gives one of his best friends a one-armed hug, leaving the other around me, making sure that I know he’s here.
“Congrats, brother,” Macklin tells him.
“We’re allowed two visitors at a time. Ells is exhausted, but she’s insistent that she sees each of you.
However, we need to make this quick. There are a lot of us, and my wife needs to rest. There will be more time for visiting once she’s gotten some sleep.
” He swallows hard, wiping at his eyes, fighting off more tears.
“She was incredible. Just… incredible,” he says, at a loss for words.
“Mary, you go first,” Leighton speaks up.
“Oh.” Mary smiles. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, you go, and Kinzie can go with you. Chandler and Macie can go, me and Courtlynn, Bowen and Dixon, and then Baylor and Macklin.”
“Sounds like the perfect plan,” Courtlynn says, wiping at her eyes.
“Come on, let’s go meet your granddaughter and your niece,” Copeland tells them. Kinzie is not blood-related, but as I said, we’re all family here.
“Wait!” Courtlynn stops him. “What’s her name? The two of you have been holding out on us.”
Copeland smiles. “Her name is Lainey Mae James.” You can hear the pride and the love in his voice.
“Aww,” comes from all the ladies at once, and we all laugh.
The next hour or so, the waiting room seems to perk up as each new team of two takes their turn, quickly, per Copeland’s orders, so his wife can get some rest. The room starts to clear as everyone heads home to get some sleep themselves.
Finally, it’s our turn. I don’t know why, but I wanted to go in last. Bowen and Dixon come walking out. Their visit was the shortest so far, but they both are wearing wide, tired grins.
“She’s a cutie,” Dixon says.
“She’s so damn tiny,” Bowen adds.
“We were afraid to hold her.” Dixon laughs. “She’s too new.”
“We’ll catch you later,” Bowen says, covering a yawn.
We watch them leave, and Macklin turns to me. “You ready for this?”
“I am. I wish that our parents were here to see this, but Cope, Ellie, and baby Lainey are surrounded by love. It’s just hitting me, I guess,” I say, smiling through the tears that are burning the backs of my eyes.
“I think it’s a little of being home, because I was sure I wouldn’t be here when Ellison delivered, and now that I am, I hate myself for staying away as long as I did. ”
“Hey.” Macklin pulls me into his arms, wrapping me in a tight embrace. “Your sisters love you, Bay. They wanted you to be happy.”
“I know, and now that I’m home, I realize how unhappy I was, and I’m mad at myself for that, too.”
Macklin eases back and places his hands on my cheeks, guiding my eyes to his.
“You’re human, Baylor. We all make choices we think we want and change our minds.
All that Ellison cares about is that you’re here.
You get to meet her daughter the day she was born.
The rest of that is just noise, baby. You’re here, home where you belong, and that’s what matters. ”
I sniff and fight back more tears. “Were you on some kind of cowboy inspiration team or something on the circuit? You’re really good at this ‘giving advice’ thing,” I say, pulling back and wiping at my eyes.
He grins at me. “No, I’m on team Baylor, the only team that matters.”
“I’m trying not to need you, remember? You’re making it really hard for me.”
“Good.” He leans in and presses his lips to my forehead. “Come. We have a niece to meet.” He laces his fingers through mine and leads me down the hall to Ellison’s room.
After a round of hugs, I manage to steal my niece. I can’t stop staring at her. Baby Lainey is asleep in my arms, and she’s the most precious thing I’ve ever seen. “She has your nose, Ellie, and Cope, she has your chin,” I tell them.
“Well, let’s hope she grows out of that and looks just like her momma,” Copeland says, kissing the top of Ellison’s head. He’s lying next to her on the bed, and they’re snuggled close.
“Are you going to keep hogging her, or are you going to give Macklin a chance to hold her?”
“Do I have to?” I ask, lifting my head, and my eyes meet Macklin’s across the room.
His heated gaze has my breath hitching. I don’t need his words to know what he’s thinking.
We had unprotected sex, nine days ago, and sure, it was only one time, but that’s all it takes, and this, this tiny human in my arms, could be our reality.
Just thinking about it makes my heart beat faster. I shouldn’t want that. I mean, it would be a nightmare, right? Getting pregnant so soon after a disastrous relationship, by my childhood crush, who also crushed on me, and now we’re not really dating, but seeing where things go?
That’s the definition of the “it’s complicated” social media status.
“Do you want to hold her?” I ask Macklin, his gaze still locked on mine.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he answers, but the way he’s looking at me, it’s as if he’s saying more. Not just whenever I’m ready for him to hold her, but… whenever I’m ready for a baby?
That sounds insane, right? That can’t be what he means, but his stare and the deep timbre of his voice sure as hell sound like it.
“I guess I have to share,” I say, trying to break out of the intensity of what I’m feeling.
Macklin slowly stands and moves to sit next to me on the small couch. Carefully, I transfer Lainey into his arms and watch as he smiles down at her. My heart is having a party inside my chest at the view.
“She weighs hardly anything,” he comments.
“Seven pounds, eight ounces, twenty inches long,” Copeland rattles off like the proud dad that he is.
“You look good holding a baby, McBride,” Copeland teases.
“When you’re ready,” Macklin whispers so only I can hear him, before clearing his throat. “Yeah,” he agrees. “I could handle a few of these running around the house.”
“Baylor always said she wanted at least three,” Ellison chimes in.
My head snaps to hers, and I give her a “shut up” look, but my sister is too blissed out and happy to heed my warning. Instead, she sticks her tongue out at me.
Macklin chuckles. “Three’s a good number.”
My eyes widen, and Ellison giggles, which pulls Macklin’s attention to her. “Sorry,” she says, holding up her hands. “Just really happy she’s here and healthy.”
“Congratulations,” Macklin tells her. “You did good, Ellie.”
“Hey! I helped,” Copeland says, already laughing.
“Maybe, but Ellie did all the work,” Macklin tells him.
“My wife is a rock star,” Copeland says, smiling down at her.
Ellison yawns, and I know she needs to rest. I’m dead on my feet, as well.
“We should go so you can get some rest.” Bending, I place a kiss on Lainey’s forehead and stand, moving to my sister’s side of the bed.
Leaning over, I hug her gently. “Love you, Ellie. Mom and Dad—” I start, but my voice cracks.
“Yeah” is all that she says, and there’s something in her voice I don’t recognize. I’m sure it’s nothing. We both need sleep.
Macklin hands Lainey to her daddy, and after another round of hugs from both of us, he takes my hand in his and leads me out to his truck.
“Shit. I rode here with Leighton.”
“That’s fine. You know I got you,” he says, opening the passenger door for me.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s late, or early, rather. I should have asked them to stay,” I say, as I climb up into his truck.
“Baylor.” He leans in close. “Don’t apologize. I’m with you. Always. Now, tell me, do you want me to take you to my place or yours?”
“Yours.” I don’t even hesitate. Not because I want something more to happen between us, but because the thought of going home and sleeping in my bed alone, when his is an option, makes the decision easy.
Macklin gives me a tired smile and presses a soft peck to my lips before closing the door and moving around the front of the truck to the driver’s side.
The drive to his place is quiet. By the time we’re walking into his house, the sun is starting to rise, and I’m thankful we have staff at the inn to keep things moving, because I need a few hours of sleep in order to be able to function today.
Macklin doesn’t bother with lights, just takes my hand and leads me down the hall. I was expecting him to lead me to the guest room, but instead, it’s to his room, and he guides us into it as he flips on the small lamp on the nightstand. “Shower?” he asks.
“Too tired.”
He nods, digs around in his dresser, and hands me a T-shirt to sleep in. “Get changed. I’ll dig out an extra toothbrush for you.” He drops a kiss on my temple and leaves me to change.
My movements are slow as I step out of my clothes and into his soft, worn T-shirt. I’m just finishing up when Macklin steps out of the bathroom. He’s in nothing but his boxer briefs as he steps into the dim lighting of the room.
“Bathroom’s all yours,” he says, moving toward the bed and pulling back the covers.
“Thanks,” I murmur, before rushing inside, closing the door, and taking a deep breath.
I want to be here, but now that I am, it’s overwhelming.
Is this moving too fast? Am I asking too much of him when I’m not ready to admit he’s all I want?
My mind is racing, but I push it all back, use the bathroom, wash my hands and face, then brush my teeth, and flip out the light.
The bedside lamp guides me to the other side of the bed, and I slide beneath the covers. The light clicks off, and Macklin is there, in the center of the bed, pulling me close.
“Is this okay?” he asks, his voice low, and I can hear the exhaustion in his tone.
“Yeah, this is okay,” I reply, snuggling closer, because I’m here, and he’s holding me, and I can’t think of a single place I’d rather be right now. I know I’m tossing him mixed signals all over the place, but Macklin makes it so hard not to fall for him.
He told me he was going to make me fall in love with him, and at the time, I didn’t believe him, but my heart is on board, and it scares me how much I want to just let go of the fear and worry and be with him.
He presses a kiss to my cheek. “Night, baby,” he murmurs.
My heart stutters in my chest. This moment, it’s what I always wanted. A partner. Someone who chooses me over and over again. And Macklin is showing me that he will, but will he always?
“Night, Mac.” I close my eyes. Right now is not the time to worry about all this.
We need a few hours of sleep so that we can function today, and then I’ll let my mind wander.
Right now, I’m too comfortable. I feel too safe in his arms to care about anything other than sleeping next to the man who is on a mission to steal my heart.