Reckless Love (Cowboys & Angels 7)

Turning to her, I nodded. “I know you’re right. Thank you, Corina.”

“Go slow, get to know each other better. You’re both about to have your world turned upside down, but in the most amazing way.”

Chewing on my lip, I let her words settle in.

“Mind if I hold my beautiful niece?” Trevor asked, causing my stomach to twist in knots. Did this man have any idea how he made me feel?

“Of course, you can!” I said, smiling as I carefully handed over Merit. Trevor, on the other hand, handled her like a pro. He took her from me, spun her to the other side of his arms and started walking off with her. My mouth dropped open.

“He just handled her like he does that every day!”

Corina laughed. “Trevor is an amazing uncle. Just ask Chloe. Did you know once a week he has a standing tea party with her?”

My jaw was on the floor. “What? You have got to be kidding. That man, at a tea party?” I couldn’t help the chuckle.

Corina nodded. “Paxton told me. Trevor makes time every Thursday afternoon when Chloe gets home from school. I’d love to see it! Can you see tattooed muscle-man Trevor sitting at a tiny table sipping tea from plastic cups surrounded by stuffed animals and baby goats?”

We both chuckled before I glanced over to Trevor and watched him rock his niece slightly back and forth. He was talking to Mitchell, and he looked like this was something he did every single day. Second nature.

A warm feeling filled my chest as I stared at Trevor, and I whispered, “I actually can see it.”

I walked Scarlett to her door and stopped as she fumbled with the key. Once she had it unlocked, she stepped into her house.

“I’m going to head on home,” I said, watching her expression fall just the slightest.

“You are?”

With a half shrug, I replied, “You’ve had a busy day. I figured you were tired.”

Scarlett chewed on her lip. “Thank you for tonight. It meant a lot to me that you did all of that.”

“Well, our baby deserves to be celebrated, right?”

“Yes!” she replied with a soft laugh.

“If you need anything, call me?”

“I will. I promise.”

Stepping into the doorway, I kissed her on the forehead. “Goodnight, Scarlett.”

“’Night, Trevor.”

Walking away from her was the hardest fucking thing I ever had to do. I wanted to pull her into my arms and hold her. Tell her how much I loved her and that I wanted this more than she’d ever realize.

My hand was on the truck door when Scarlett called out my name.

“Trevor?”

I glanced back at her. “Yeah?”

“Um, thank you again.”

I gave her a wave and climbed up into the truck. Scarlett stood at the doorway until I pulled out of her driveway. My heart was pounding in my chest the entire drive back to the ranch. Instead of driving to my house, I headed to my folks’ place, hoping my father would still be up.

When I saw the lights on in the house, I parked out front and made my way to the family room. My mother was curled on the sofa, book in hand.

“Trevor, is everything okay?”

I stepped into the room and gave her a warm smile. “Yeah. Thank you for helping me today with the dinner, Mom.”

Her book went to her lap as she focused on me. “Of course. I knew the moment I got that text from you that we needed to turn things around. I don’t want Scarlett feeling like this baby is a mistake.”

With a nod, I blew out a breath.

“I know you’re scared, Trevor, but I also know you love that girl. Do you know why I initially pushed the two of you together?”

With a scoff, I answered, “Because you’re nosy and like to butt into your kids’ lives?”

“Yes, well, but no, that wasn’t the reason. Eight years ago, I watched my youngest son kiss a girl. A beautiful young woman whom I had grown to know very well. The way he looked at her, watched as she drove away, stood there like his entire world had just shifted, made me smile.”

“You saw me kiss Scarlett?”

“I did,” she replied. “I also remember when the two of you were about eight years old, and you made a pledge to Scarlett. You probably don’t remember, because after that, you started saying you were too old to play with a girl.”

Sitting on the sofa, I laughed. “I don’t remember a pledge. I hardly remember even playing with Scarlett.”

My mother’s face was soft and beautiful. I could see where Amelia and Waylynn got their stunning looks from. Her brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail and those grey eyes were focused completely on me.

“You had both been in the backyard here and Scarlett had fallen, cut her knee up pretty good. I was watching her for Joyce that afternoon. When I walked out with a Band-Aid you were holding Scarlett’s hand. At eight, I could not believe the way you were looking at her. It actually made me stop and watch the two of you together.”