Stephanie Dees - Their Secret Baby Bond

Latham turned into the drive on his property, his mind on a big fire and a cup of coffee. He’d stayed longer than he’d meant to at the cottage, and the shadows were long over the gravel road. He hoped Wynn wasn’t too bored. Maybe he was asking too much of her. Although, now that he’d seen how big the job she had in mind for him was, he wasn’t as worried about that.

The dogs barreled around the corner of the house as they heard his door open. He gave them a quick scratch and hurried to the door, pushing it open to find Wynn at the kitchen table putting Scrabble tiles into their velvet bag.

She looked up with a smile. “Well, hey. Your pop was just starting to get worried about you.”

“Was not.” Pop’s voice came from around the corner.

Latham shook his head. “He wasn’t too much trouble?”

“No, he was not.” The grumpy voice came from the living room again.

“Maybe he’s hungry?” Wynn suggested.

Pop stuck his head back into the kitchen. “Yes, as a matter of fact, he is hungry.”

Latham ignored his unruly grandpa. “So he was okay today?”

“He was great. He beat me at Scrabble. Apparently, I need to brush up on my vocabulary.” Wynn walked into the kitchen, lifted the lid on the slow cooker and stirred something that smelled amazing before grabbing her purse and jacket from the counter. “I guess I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Bye, Pop.”

The grizzly gray head popped back into the doorway. “See you tomorrow, Wynn.”

Latham, still in his coat, followed her out the door, Teddy bumping his legs.

Frank dropped a grimy ball at Wynn’s feet, and with a smile, she bent to pick it up. “You’ve got my number, don’t you, Frank?”

With a quick movement, she hurled the ball into the yard and Frank tore off after it. “He knows I can’t resist his goofy grin.”

“Please stay and eat some of the dinner you cooked. It’s only fair.”

She paused on the walkway. “I’ve got to head home tonight, but rain check?”

Across the yard, Frank scooped up the ball and ran full speed across the yard. Latham could see the trajectory of his path, and the seventy-pound dog was bearing down on Wynn, like a runaway train.

Just as Frank reached them, Latham dove between him and Wynn, grabbing the dog and spinning so that he landed on his back and not on top of the dog. Frank scrambled away.

Wynn rushed to his side, tripped over his boot and landed on his chest with a rush of air.

His arms closed reflexively around her, and her eyes locked with his. “Wynn—”

Frank dropped the nasty, wet tennis ball by Latham’s shoulder, and somehow understanding he had a captive audience, slurped a big kiss into Wynn’s ear.

She squealed and rolled to the ground on her back, laughing when Teddy joined Frank in planting wet, slobbery kisses on her face.

Latham shooed the dogs, who were highly annoyed that their plan to lick Wynn into a puddle of laughter had been thwarted. He pulled Wynn to her feet. Her hair was scattered over her shoulders, her cheeks pink as she leaned over to scratch behind the ears of his two misbehaving dogs.

She was laughing.

He was poleaxed.

How was it that he hadn’t seen her for years and as soon as he did, the feelings he thought he’d squelched years ago came roaring back?

He cleared his throat, forcing his brain to make words as she found her car keys again. “Sorry about that. Pop’s companion calls them hooligans, and they really are.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow around noon. Hope you and Pop have a good night.”

He waited to make sure her car started and gave her a wave as he turned toward the house. Teddy bumped his leg and whined. “I know, Ted. Believe me, I know.”

* * *

Wynn paused in the driveway at Red Hill Farm when she heard her name called. She’d spent the morning in her new home and had a sketchbook full of ideas to show for it. Was it nesting if it happened before she even had a baby bump?

Jordan, in jeans and riding boots, hugged the fence on an enormous brown horse.

“I was hoping you’d be here today!” Wynn walked to the fence. The big horse sniffed her hair and snorted.

Jordan laughed. “I’ve had Rocco here out for a run. He’s here on a trial basis so we can see if he’s a fit for our therapy program.”

“How’s it going?”

Jordan slid to the ground and scratched under the horse’s mane, laughing when he leaned in to her touch. “He’s amazing. Really calm and responsive. I’m a little concerned about his size, especially with the kids, but we could probably make it work.”

As Jordan took the tack off Rocco, Wynn crossed her arms on the top bar of the fence. “I’ve been making notes about the cottage. I can’t wait to have it ready to move into. I love being at Mom’s, but if I’m going to figure out my life, I need to be in my own place.”

“I heard from Ash that you’re working for Latham, taking care of his pop.” Jordan plopped the saddle onto a stand and rolled her shoulders.

“Yes. He asked if I could help, and we made a deal—his carpentry skills for my time with Pop. I definitely got the better end of the deal. Pop is awesome.” Wynn grinned. “And I have a really long list of things for Latham to do out here.”

“I also heard there was something between you and Latham, you know, once upon a time.” Jordan stopped brushing long enough to give Wynn a long, speculative look.

Wynn was going to kill her brother. “You heard wrong. Mostly wrong,” she amended. “Besides, it wouldn’t matter. I’m not the person I was back then, and I’m not sure he would like the person I am now.”

“Hey, you’re working on it. None of us is perfect. It’s like this horse. He’s going to make a great therapy horse, but I wouldn’t put a kid up on him right now for a million dollars. He’s got the temperament, but developing the skills takes time.”

“You’re comparing me to a horse?”

With a shrug, Jordan laughed. “Hey, I work with what I’ve got. Plus I like most horses better than most people.”

“So it was a compliment.” Wynn laughed and grimaced as she looked at her watch. “I’d love to stay to see what kind of farm animals you’ll be comparing me to next, but I promised Mom I’d be home for dinner tonight. She’s testing out a new recipe for the café.”

“Don’t suppose she needs any more testers?”

“You know she always makes enough food for an army. Come on over.”

“I’ll text Ash and see if he and Levi want to meet me there.” She snapped her fingers, and Rocco rolled his eyes back at her. “I almost forgot, do you think you could keep Levi for me tomorrow?”

“Absolutely, if I can take him to Latham’s with me.”

“Yeah, that’s no problem. Just make sure the space is baby proof. He’s into everything now.”

“I love that. And, of course, I’ll make sure the place is totally Levi-proof.” She started for the car. “Text me if you’re coming to dinner and I’ll set three more places.”

“Look, I know you didn’t ask my opinion.” Inwardly, Wynn sighed as Jordan tied Rocco off and walked to the fence. “Being pregnant doesn’t make you a bad person, but hating yourself can cripple you.”

Tears flashed in Wynn’s eyes. She swiped them away. “Yeah, thanks for activating the pregnancy hormones.”

Jordan didn’t smile, but her eyes were soft with sympathy. “I have some experience with a lack of self-confidence. Have you told Latham about the baby?”

“No.” Wynn looked at the ground, resisted the urge to kick a tuft of grass. “I just...don’t want to.”

“Tell him. He’s going to hear it from someone else if you don’t.”

“I know. And I will.”