She nodded, then said, “Easy, Andy. Be very gentle.” She explained to Brogan, “He understands to be careful with kittens and puppies, and occasionally Cort lets him pet a fish.”
Brogan grinned as he got out two colas.
“He hasn’t been around any babies, though.”
Unconcerned, he asked, “Do you want a glass and ice?”
“Out of the can is fine by me.”
He rinsed hers under the tap, dried it with a paper towel, and popped it open before setting it on the table before her.
His, he just opened and took a big drink.
“Are you going to sit?” she asked. She was getting a crick in her neck from looking up at him.
After eyeing the chair dubiously, he eased into the seat, waited, and when it didn’t collapse under him, relaxed.
Just then, Shayna stirred and made a sound. It startled Andy so much, he fell on his bottom, scampered back with a cry, and dropped his cup. In a panic, he crawled to Pixie. She hurriedly left her seat to scoop him up.
Calmly, Brogan got to his feet and retrieved the fallen cup. “She spooked you, didn’t she, bud? I used to react almost the same way.” He knelt down by the baby and gently smoothed his hand over her. “See? She’s okay.”
Andy wasn’t convinced. He squeezed Pixie, stared at the baby, and then squeezed her again.
“Come closer,” Brogan said to her. “Let him know it’s okay.”
Andy was loosening up a little, so she took a step forward. “You want to see?” she asked him.
He tucked his face into her neck.
“Let’s give him a minute.” Pixie patted his back.
Standing again, Brogan walked over to them. “You okay, bud?”
To her surprise, Andy twisted away from her and reached for Brogan. That hurt, especially when Brogan just naturally gathered the little boy into his arms.
“Holding you is a lot different, my man. You’re a sturdy little guy, aren’t you? Almost as big as your mama, but then she’s a little thing, too.” He turned so Andy could see the baby. “Look. She’s moving again. I think her nap is coming to an end.”
From the safety of Brogan’s arms, Andy watched in clear fascination as Shayna stretched out her arms and legs, scrunched up her face, and then blinked open her eyes.
“Baby girl,” Brogan crooned softly, going to her with Andy in his arms. “Did you sleep well?”
She yawned, blinked a few times, and smiled.
“Yeah, there’s my girl.” He knelt down, and Andy didn’t seem to mind at all, now that he was secure in the big man’s arms. “You want to touch her, bud? Here, look at this tiny foot. Amazing, right?” He lifted her little foot, bared by a sock that had fallen off, and pressed a kiss to it.
Andy grinned, leaned forward, and loudly kissed the air.
Then he offered his own foot to Brogan.
Laughing, Brogan kissed the top of his sneaker.
Once again, Pixie felt invisible, but she didn’t mind. Watching the three of them was something of a revelation. She was seeing a new side of her son, one she hadn’t experienced before. Plus, she was seeing men in a whole new way. Jerks, she was used to. Friendly men from the town, sure. Cort with all his protectiveness, she’d grown accustomed to and now appreciated.
But this, with Brogan. What did she even call it? Admiration? Intrigue? Interest? It was unlike anything she’d felt before, which she supposed made sense. Before, when she’d been drawn to men, she’d been simply herself, insecure and shy Pixie Nolan. A girl without aspirations, intent only on getting by, day to day. In many ways, lost. And obviously easy prey to a smooth liar and manipulator.
It was why she’d so easily fallen under Dylan’s charm. It shamed her to remember the gullible, needy girl she used to be.
Now she was Pixie the mother, a best friend, member of a close community, and respected businesswoman. She was a woman who paid her own way and planned for her and her son’s future. She had her priorities in a tidy row, starting with her son and branching out from there. Now she had reason to be proud.
