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His eyes drop to Charlie. He comments, "Being a parent definitely isn't always fun. She's easy right now."

I laugh. "You weren't at my house the other night when she screamed for two hours."

"She have gas?"

"Apparently."

"Did you panic?"

"Absolutely."

Dean's mouth finally curves. "I used to drive Lainey around in the truck when she wouldn't stop crying."

"Really?"

"Only thing that worked."

I glance at Charlie. "Good information to have."

"She liked the vibration."

"I'll remember that."

The tension eases a fraction.

Charlie starts fussing.

I rise. "She's probably hungry. I'm going to grab her diaper bag." I rush out of the house before he can say anything. When I come back, I run her bottle under the kitchen water while Charlie cries louder.

Dean rises and bounces her, but nothing calms her.

When the bottle is ready, I take her and lean against the counter. She sucks hard on the nipple.

"There you go, peanut," I coo, hating the big tears on her cheeks.

Dean doesn't say anything, watching us. When she's done feeding, I hand her back to him. He walks her around the house, cooing and beaming at her.

Eventually, I check the time and wince. I hate to do it, but I announce, "We have to get going so we can get to the racetrack on time."

His face falls. He looks down at Charlie. "You hear that, darlin'? Your daddy's taking you away from me already."

"Hey, don't make me the bad guy. I brought her."

"And now you're taking her."

"I'll bring her back."

His eyes come to mine. "You better."

I smile. "Yes, sir. I will."

Dean kisses Charlie's forehead before reluctantly handing her over.

I settle her against my chest, then suggest, "It would be great if you could come to the ranch for Christmas. I know Lainey and Lorraine would love it, but the rest of my family would too. Plus, Charlie would get more time with her granddaddy. I'll even tell my family to back off."

It gets a smile out of him. But then it falls. "I'll try. But I've got a ranch to run."

"Understand. But see what you can do to make it happen."