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“Right in here.”
Anne’s voice preceded her into the room. A man followed her inside, carrying an infant whose photo could have been given as Luna’s direct opposite. The baby had ivory skin and light brown hair, and she was dressed in a fancy floral sundress and matching headband.
She didn’t resemble Willow, either, if having brown eyes didn’t count. Though the babies were supposed to be the same age, this one appeared smaller than Luna, but that might have had to do with the man carrying her. The one who crowded the doorway with those broad shoulders and muscular arms, emphasized by his fitted black T-shirt.
Anne gestured toward the guest chair and then crossed behind her desk and sat.
“Come in and have a seat so that we can begin.”
The man didn’t budge, though, as his light green eyes focused on Willow. Something about him struck her as familiar, but then he looked like a cowboy, and ranch hands were almost as common as cattle in the area. He had tousled brown hair, long on top and trimmed close at his neck. His bronzed skin was probably the result of too much outdoor labor and not enough sunscreen rather than any genetic bent. Those thigh-hugging jeans and the boots that had missed a shine or a dozen didn’t fit, either.
Well, the jeans did.
At the sound of someone clearing her throat, Willow blinked several times, her neck and cheeks burning. What was she doing? Had she been staring at the guy who might have come there to take her child? Sure, he’d been looking back, but probably only at Luna, as he searched for any resemblance to signal that she was his. Well, she wasn’t. Willow’s arms immediately tightened around her baby, who squirmed and whined.
Anne gestured to them. “Willow Merrill, I’d like you to meet—”
The cowboy took one step inside the room and waved to interrupt her. “Please, allow me. I’m Asher. This is Harper.”
Though his expression had been stoic until then, it transformed, twin dimples and all, the moment he pressed his cheek to the top of his child’s head. Something Willow chose not to define squeezed inside her chest. She and this Asher weren’t on the same side in this situation, and she needed to remember that.
“And that young lady is Luna.”
As Anne completed the introductions, she shifted in her seat and gestured toward the guest chair again. This time Asher sidled over and settled with Harper on his knee. The infants peeked at each other, taking turns hiding their faces.
“Pleased to meet you, Luna.” Asher cleared his throat. “And Willow.”
“You, too,” she said, though she was anything but pleased. He
probably thought he was being cute by speaking to her daughter first. She wasn’t impressed.
Anne folded her hands together and nodded at Willow.
“I’m so glad you were able to get away from the day-care center to come in this morning. Tender Years, right?” She waited for Willow’s nod before turning to Asher. “And I know how busy you must be on the ranch at this time of year, so I appreciate your both coming in so quickly.”
He nodded, shoving his hand back through his hair in what was probably a habit. Neither stated the obvious that they’d had no choice but to accept that invitation.
“I thought it would be easier to share the information on the possible switch with all of you at the same time, but you both must agree to discussing these matters publicly, in accordance with HIPAA medical information laws.”
“Fine by me,” Asher said.
“Me, too.” She was still hanging on the words possible switch. That still meant it might not be true.
Anne glanced over at the open door. “You didn’t say, Asher. Will Harper’s mother be joining us?”
Her mother? His wife? Willow shot a glance at the empty doorway. As if it wasn’t bad enough that she’d been checking out the guy who should have been her adversary, she’d never considered that there would be a she.
“Long gone,” he blurted and then cleared his throat. “I mean, my former partner is deceased.”
Those two things didn’t mean close to the same thing, but that was none of her business. Even if she couldn’t get over how coincidental it was that both babies had already lost a parent at such a tender age, she couldn’t worry about that just then.
Willow cleared her throat. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Please accept my condolences,” Anne said.
Asher nodded, his gaze sliding to Willow. “Luna’s dad?”
“Same.”
