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The moment we step over the threshold, the coos over my dog reach my ears. I instantly warm to the voices praising her. Too many people fear the breed without giving these dogs a chance. Without having even met them yet, I feel like I’ve stumbled upon my niche of people.
Boxes are stacked high against the walls of a modern rambler. The cute place springs longing for somewhere to call my own. And maybe a touch of envy that it’ll take years before I can manage to afford a place as cute as this. The size of the open-plan living room and kitchen would be perfect for a single woman like me. I can already picture setting up Ghost’s crate in a spare bedroom. She’s the only roommate I’ll ever need.
That isn’t entirely true. I was planning to marry a man before my world flipped on its axis. I don’t even think the experience was enough to turn me into a cynic. Romantic hearts float around my head from time to time, and I remain open to experiencing the most swoon-worthy moments.
A few pop unannounced into my head. Rhett holding me after the scary experience with Dan the trucker and surprising me with a hot meal the same day I started with my first client. Inviting me on a hike with a gorgeous view and allowing me to simply express myself without him needing to fix me as if I’m broken.
I’ve known the man for one week, and he already appears to see the battle cracks in my heart and soothes them.
Cami returns to the room with my dog, and a pretty blonde follows her. The woman’s face splits into a grin when she sees me. She steps from behind Cami to take me in from top to toe but loses my focus. The moment she moves from behind her friend, I see the small baby cradled in her arms.
My heart stutters at the cuteness overload. The sweet bundle peers with wide eyes and sucks contentedly on a chubby fist. The green fuzzy blanket swaddled around is clutched tightly in the other.
This town is perfect for me in as many ways as it’s painful. This has to be like the frequency illusion—where you buy a new car and then immediately start seeing the make and model everywhere. The last year of my life has been filled with such a desire to have a baby, and now I’m surrounded by them.
“Hi, I’m Kiersten.” The blonde steps closer with her hand outstretched, forcing me to divert my attention away from the little one.
“Hey. I’m Evie.” I can’t quite help my gaze from reverting back to the baby in her arms. She notices the shift and calls me out on it.
“This little guy is Cedric.”
“He’s beautiful.” My voice fills with awe, and a rush of embarrassment follows. Rhett’s warm palm settles reassuringly on the low curve of my back.
The new mom beams and glances down at her little one. “You are beautiful, aren’t you?” She strokes his cheek as she coos in a baby voice. “Even your stinky little poos are beautiful.”
“He’s getting over his first bout of baby constipation,” Cami adds helpfully. “She’s not normally this weird.”
Rhett coughs behind me, but I hear the low rumble he fails to disguise completely.
Kiersten rolls her eyes. “Weird is relative. I don’t have to explain to anybody why I am the way I am.” She aims a beaming smile at me. “But I already have the feeling we’re going to get along just fine, even if I am weird.”
“I don’t think you’re weird.” She doesn’t appear the type to need confirmation, but I give it anyway.
She shifts her gaze to Rhett. “Love her already! So tell me the story. Are you two an item or just sharing sheets?”
Oh my God!
“Kiersten!” Cami’s defense of us is loudest, but I swear Rhett grumbles from behind me.
“His highly known reputation isn’t a deterrent. We’re just friends.” I rock side to side.
Her brows pinch together as she flicks her gaze back and forth between the two of us. “Hmm. Yeah, I’ve done just friends.” She gives the happy baby in her arms a little jostle. “This is my souvenir.”
My next inhale turns sharp at her words as the sting of infertility settles in.
“Please don’t refer to my son as a souvenir like you just went to Mexico and won a wet T-shirt contest.”
The new voice belongs to another attractive man. He has to be about six feet tall, built—if his biceps are any indication—with a length of brown hair that’s disarranged perfectly on his head. His eyes are adoring as he shifts the box in his hands in order to lean in to kiss his girlfriend or wife on the cheek.
“Not that I’d mind seeing you in a wet tee.”
The hand Rhett placed on my back moves to the left a few inches and squeezes my hip. The slight pressure encourages me to loosen the muscles in my back.
“Unless you two are ready for another baby, let’s turn the heat down a notch, okay?” Cami says with a smile. “Speaking of babies, where’s yours today?”
“His mom asked for an extra day. I’ll have him tomorrow instead,” Rhett answers in a tone that stems additional questions.
Cami directs her gaze at me. “Enough standing in the doorway. Let’s get you a drink. You can meet my hot hunk of a man, and then we can let them get back to manly stuff while we take care of the children.”
