Page 85 of Bailey

Bryce smiled then, and it was more of the caliber that Bailey was used to. “Thank you, Bailey,” he said. “I’ll have Kassie let you know if there’s anything.”

Bailey nodded. She’d offered, and she couldn’t make Bryce or Codi accept anything more than that. Bryce brushed his fingers lightly through his son’s hair one more time, then he nodded at Bailey and left the farmhouse.

Bailey sat there with Samuel. She knew she’d come to do more than just simply hold this precious gift from heaven, but she reasoned she could do it for a few more minutes at least.

She simply wanted to feel this pure spirit from God for a little bit longer. She wanted the world to stay contained outside this living room, beyond this perfect baby. She wanted more time to examine her feelings and experience these feelings of…rightness.

“Clean,” she whispered into the beautiful silence. “I feel completely clean for the first time in my life.”

Tears pricked her eyes, because she’d been taking steps toward this feeling for a long time, and God in His infinite mercy had been gently leading her to this moment for years.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

Reeves pulled up to Bailey’s house, practically itching to see her. He’d never felt like this before, though he’d always been glad to come home from his longer excursions, where it felt like all he did was try to film every little thing. Pure exhaustion wove through him, and while he loved making his videos, he wondered if he could move to a schedule a little bit less intense.

As he got out of his truck and headed up her front sidewalk, she opened the door, her laughter spilling out, before he’d even made it to the porch. Reeves’s face burst into a smile.

“You’re back,” she said, still giggling.

Reeves wanted this type of homecoming with Bailey every time he returned. He grabbed onto her and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. “I missed you so much.”

Reeves had never thought he’d be able to feel like this about another person. He’d never had this strong of a relationship with a woman—with anyone—and while he’d never been in love before, it sure felt like he was falling that way, and fast.

He pulled away, his emotions making the words he wanted to say get stuck somewhere in his throat. He leaned down and kissed Bailey, hoping some of his feelings would at least come out that way.

She kissed him back, and when he pulled away, he said, “I’m falling for you, Bailey, and it feels amazing.”

She smiled at him and took his face in both of her hands. “Isn’t it crazy how your feelings come into focus when you’re not with someone?”

He searched her face, wondering what she was really trying to say. She ducked her head, her corn silk hair smooth between his fingers. “Come on in,” she said. “I got your favorite energy drinks as a welcome home present.” She laced her fingers through his and tugged him into her house.

“I thought we were going to dinner,” he said.

“We are.” She led him into the kitchen, where the white Monsters that Reeves loved sat on her kitchen counter.

“I never told you about these,” he said, his mind moving fast to find the memory where he had.

“You told the world.” Bailey grinned at him as she picked them up. “It was in one of your videos. You said you drink one every morning before you go out on the farm, but that they’re too heavy to take camping.”

Reeves honestly couldn’t remember saying that, but he didn’t doubt her. He didn’t pick up the case. “I’ll leave them here, okay? I don’t want them to get too hot in the truck.”

Bailey squeezed his hand. “All right. Where are we going for dinner tonight? I sent you some great opt⁠—”

“I know.” Reeves didn’t mean to cut her off and sound so grumpy. She really had been accommodating and kind about his nervousness at being recognized in public. “I thought we’d try Devil’s Tower tonight,” he said.

Bailey’s eyebrows went up. “It’s Saturday night,” she said. “You’re probably going to need a reservation.”

“Good thing I called and got one earlier this week.”

“Reeves,” she said, really asking him if he really wanted to go to one of the most popular restaurants in town. He did, and he didn’t. He eased Bailey into his embrace again, because it would be easier to tell her this when he didn’t have to look at her.

“Listen, okay?” He’d picked up how to start hard conversations from her. “You’re doing hard things like taking lunch to Codi and Bryce, and I don’t want to be sequestered out here on my farm forever. We’ve been out a few times, and it’s not a big deal. Even if people recognize me, I can be personable and shake their hands and talk to them.”

“Or you can just tell them to leave you alone,” she said. “I know that’s what some of the Country Quad guys do.”

“Yeah, and some of them are just nice,” he said. “Not that they’re not all nice, but I’ve seen Harry’s social media, and even Cash’s, and the rodeo cowboys, and I don’t know. They’ve kind of inspired me to be less of a closet celebrity.”