Page 116 of Burning Skies
Baylee brushes his blond hair out of his face. “Leo, can you say hi?”
He waves at me with a shy grin, but then tries to scale his mom.
Maverick jogs over and picks him up, pausing to kiss Baylee. “I’ll take him for a while, so y’all can hang out.”
“Thanks, babe.”
Lifting Leo over his shoulder, Maverick makes airplane sounds and flies the baby into the living room as he giggles the whole way.
I catch Beau watching me from the other room and swoon when he winks at me.
Could we have this? What his brothers have? The ranch and children? Because I’d love that more than anything.
Baylee hands me a beer. “Thanks.”
Paige bounces Ella on her hip and asks Rhett to pull out the turkey. Then she waves me closer. “Come have some snacks. Dinner is almost ready.”
The long kitchen table is covered with food. “Everything looks amazing.” I grab little Ella’s hand. “Don’t you look precious.” Her auburn hair is pulled back by a headband that matches her dress. “Are those bunnies?”
“Bunnies! Yeah!” Ella claps her hands, and I smile.
Paige smooths down her daughter’s adorable outfit. “I’m glad you can appreciate it now because in ten minutes, she’s going to have cheese sauce all over herself. Mac and cheese is her favorite food these days, but she tends to get more on her than in her.”
I give Ella a nod of approval. “I love mac and cheese too.” The baby opens her hands to me, and I take her from her mom. “Hi, darling.”
Ella grabs my face, squishing my cheeks, and I make fishy faces at her.
“Thank you,” Paige says as she shakes out her hand. “My arm was going numb.”
“Do whatever you need to. I can hold her.”
I hang out while Paige puts the finishing touches on dinner and Rhett carves the turkey.
Paige turns to me as she slices veggies. “The kids were crazy this week, weren’t they? The holidays make everyone squirrely.”
I’m nodding when I catch a whiff of vinegar, and my stomach turns. I hand Ella over to Baylee and run for the powder room off the kitchen.
Fortunately, I don’t hurl, but now I’m clammy and pale. I’m splashing water on my face when someone knocks.
“Hey, Honey, it’s me,” Paige whispers. “Can I help you at all?”
With one hand pressed to my stomach, I unlock the door. She and Baylee are standing there, giving me a funny look. “I’ll be fine. I’ve just been really stressed lately. My stomach does this sometimes, but I swear I’m not sick.” I’d never come over if I had the flu.
She tilts her head to the side. “Why don’t you come to my bedroom? Baylee and I have something for you.”
“Okay,” I say slowly and follow her and Baylee out. Rhett’s busy with the turkey and the other guys are in the living room, yelling at the TV. They don’t notice the girls sneaking out.
Paige opens the door to her bedroom and asks me to sit on her bed. “I thought you might want some privacy for this.”
I chuckle. “Are we doing a Secret Santa? Because I have some really cute ideas.”
Baylee elbows Paige. “I don’t think she gets it yet.”
“Get what?”
Baylee’s lips twist. “Is it possible you’re pregnant?”
I laugh and shake my head.
