Facing West (Forever Wilde 1)

“Ah, so you don’t deny you like the guy,” he said with a cheeky grin.

I huffed in annoyance. “Fine. I like the guy. But does it really matter? I’m flying home in a few days anyway.”

Griff’s face turned from teasing to serious. “You haven’t liked someone like this since that jackass when we were kids.”

We didn’t say the guy’s name. I knew exactly who he meant. The guy I’d thought I’d loved who’d crushed my spirit and taught me never to give a fuck like that about someone else again.

“Don’t compare West to that asshole,” I muttered.

Griff’s hand came down warm and assuring on my arm where it rested on the table. “Nico, don’t you think it’s time to consider trying again? You like this guy. It seems pretty clear he likes you too, although… a preppy cowboy? Really? Ugh.” He pretended to shudder in disgust, so I smacked him on the shoulder.

“Cut it out. He’s nice. And smart. And thoughtful.”

Griff’s eyes sparkled again in a knowing way. “Not to mention hot as sin.”

“Amen,” Rebecca singsonged to the baby on the floor.

“You’re not allowed to call him hot, Griffin Marian. You’re a married man,” I chastised. “Plus he’s not… for you.”

“Oh-ho-ho, listen to you. Claiming the fair-haired doctor, are you? Tell me more.”

I sighed. “He’s… hot. Right? Like… so very hot. Texas summer hot. Fire flashover hot. Hot Tamales at the movies with no drink, hot.” I rested my chin in my hands as I thought about his naked body spread out on the bed and my hands free to roam all over that fair skin.

I might have whimpered a little bit. Just a tiny bit.

Griff barked out a laugh. “Oh my god. Mom, we need to call this guy and get him back over here ASAP. I want to see how Nico acts around him if this is how he acts when the guy’s not even here. I bet he babbles.”

“I don’t babble.”

Rebecca chimed in helpfully. “I bet he blushes.”

“I don’t— Okay… I may blush a little. But it’s because he’s so…”

“Hot. We know.” Griff’s laughter was like a familiar drug, washing over me and making me feel better instantly.

“And good at what he does and dedicated to his family. And sweet as hell. Also generous… But you can’t call him. He’s working,” I warned.

“When are you going to give him a chance to explain?” Griff asked.

“When he’s not working. But for now, let me show you guys around Hobie. We can stop off at the bakery, and I can show you what I’ve been working on.”

I felt my mood instantly lift at the prospect of showing off the cake painting to Griff and his mom. We quickly packed up the baby and loaded up in my rental car for the drive into the town square. After parking on a side street by the bakery, we popped the car seat into the stroller-frame thing Goldie had showed me how to use and made our way to Sugar Britches.

Stevie was working at the counter, and I had a brief pinch of guilt at ditching him the previous Friday night at the bonfire. I gave him an apologetic smile, which he answered with a wink.

“Well hello everyone,” he said with a friendly smile. “Who do you have with you today, Nico?”

Shooting him a smile of thanks for at least temporarily letting me off the hook, I introduced him to my friend and his mom. He helped them choose a sweet treat and got them each a specialty coffee while I wandered to the freezer in the back to pull out some of the cupcakes I’d painted the previous weekend.

Rox was in the back, putting a crumb coat on a few tiers of what looked like a wedding cake. I wondered what order it was for that early in the week.

“Hey,” I said to her when she looked up.

“Oh shit, Nico. I just heard the news. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

“What news?” I asked.

“About West being Pippa’s father. Did you know?” Her face was a mix of surprise and sympathy. It grated on me.

Just as I opened my mouth to dispute her assertion, I remembered I didn’t know the actual story yet. I hadn’t talked to West about it. And legally, he was Pippa’s father, regardless of whether or not he shared her DNA.

“I… I don’t really want to talk about it right now if you don’t mind. I brought some friends in to see the bakery, and I don’t want to leave them very long.”

“Sure, Nico. I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, it’s not that. I just… can’t talk about it right now.”

Rox gave me an understanding look. “No problem.”

I walked back out front and showed Griff and Rebecca the cupcakes with little foxes on them.

“I painted these for you,” I told Griff. His last name had been Fox before he’d been adopted by the Marians, and his husband still called him Fox from time to time.