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The men gathered in the bar began to move toward the boardroom where that night’s meeting was to be held.
“How are things going for you at home?” Mac asked. “Is fatherhood all it’s cracked up to be?”
“Maggie is not my daughter,” Liam replied, wearying of everyone assuming he’d been foolhardy. “But I’m enjoying having her around. She’s really quite sweet when she’s not crying.”
Mac laughed. “I never thought I’d see you settling down.”
“A year ago I decided I wanted one good relationship rather than a dozen mediocre ones.” Liam was rather impressed with how enlightened he sounded.
“And yet you’ve buried yourself at the ranch. How are you any closer to a good relationship when you don’t get out and meet women?”
“I’ve heard that when you’re ready, the right one comes along.” An image of Hadley flashed through his mind.
Mac’s hand settled forcefully on Liam’s shoulder. “You’re talking like an idiot. Is it sleep deprivation?”
“I have a newborn living with me. What do you think?”
But Liam knew that what was keeping him awake at night wasn’t Maggie, but her nanny and the persistent hope that Waldo might sneak into Liam’s bedroom and Hadley would be forced to rescue him a second time. Because if that happened, Liam had prepared a very different end to that encounter.
Six
Ivy entered Liam’s office with her tablet in hand and sat down. The back of the chair thumped against the wall, and her knees bumped his desk. She growled in annoyance and rubbed her legs. Unbefitting his status as half owner of the ranch, Liam had one of the tiniest offices in the complex. He preferred to spend his days out and about and left paperwork for evenings. When he met with clients, he had an informal way of handling the meetings and usually entertained in the large lounge area or brought them into the barns.
“I’m finalizing your plans for Colorado this weekend,” she said, her finger moving across the tablet screen. “The caterer is confirmed. A Suburban will be waiting for you at the airport. Give Hannah Lake a call when you land, and she will meet you at the house.”
Ivy kept talking, but Liam had stopped listening. He’d forgotten all about the skiing weekend he was hosting for five of his
clients. The tradition had begun several years ago. They looked forward to the event for months, and it was far too late to cancel.
“Liam?” Ivy regarded him with a steady gaze. “You seem worried. I assure you everything is ready.”
“It’s not that. I forgot that I was supposed to be heading to Colorado in a couple days. What am I going to do about Maggie?”
“Take her along.” She jotted a note on the tablet with a stylus. “I’ll see if they can set up a crib in one of the rooms.”
“Have you forgotten this is supposed to be a guys’ weekend? A chance for everyone to get away from their wives and families so they can smoke cigars, drink too much scotch, ski and play poker?”
“Sounds lovely.” Ivy rolled her eyes.
Liam pointed at Ivy’s expression. “And that is exactly what they want to get away from.”
“I don’t know what you’re worrying about. Bring Hadley along to take care of Maggie. The house is big enough for a dozen people. No one will even know they’re there.”
Ivy’s suggestion made sense, but Liam’s instincts rebelled at her assumption that no one would realize they were present. He would know. Just like every other night when she slept down the hall.
“That’s true enough, and Maggie is doing better at night. She barely fusses at all before going back to sleep.” Liam wondered how much of a fight Hadley would make about flying to Colorado. He got to his feet. It was late enough in the afternoon for him to knock off. He’d been looking forward to spending a little time with Maggie before dinner. “I’d better give Hadley a heads-up.”
“Let me know if she has anything special to arrange for Maggie.” With that, Ivy exited the office.
Liam scooped his hat off the desk and settled it on his head. As he drove the ten minutes between barns and house, Liam considered the arguments for and against taking Maggie with him to Colorado. In the ten days since his niece had become a part of his life, he’d grown very attached to her. When his brother contacted him, Liam intended to convince him to give the baby up. With the dangerous line of work his brother was in, Maggie would be better off with the sort of stable home environment found here on Wade Ranch.
Liam entered the house and followed the scent of wood smoke to the den. Hadley looked up from her book as Liam entered. “You’re home early.”
“I came home to spend some time with Maggie.” And with her. Had he imagined the way her eyes had lit up upon seeing him? They’d spent a great deal of time together in the last few days. All under the guise of caring for Maggie, but Liam knew his own motives weren’t as pure as he’d let on.
“She had a rough afternoon.”
She glanced down at the sleeping infant nestled in her arms. Hadley’s fond expression hit Liam in the gut.
