He wanted more. Wanted to be there every damn day to watch her grow up. To be a part of her world. But Belle and Caro were a package deal—so he had to somehow convince Belle that the three of them belonged together.
He glanced at Belle, standing behind the refreshment counter, helping Caro take the paper off her cupcake. He smiled to himself. The two of them were so beautiful it was hard not to look. The buzz of conversations, the ripples of laughter seemed to drift away. He was so caught up in watching them, he didn’t even notice Chance walking up alongside him.
“You’re making plans, aren’t you?” he asked.
“What?” Caught, Wes looked at him.
“It’s all right,” Chance said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “See, there’s a look in your eye when you look at my sister that tells me I should back off. Let you two figure this out. So that’s what I’m going to do.”
“Glad to hear it,” Wes said wryly, though he hadn’t been the least bit worried about Chance Graystone or his brothers.
“Don’t make me sorry.” The man wandered over to Caro, scooped the girl up in his arms and gave her a spin that had giggles erupting and floating in the air like soap bubbles.
Wes watched and continued to plan. That little girl was his. Her mother was his, too. She just didn’t know it yet.
But she would, soon.
* * *
By the time they got back to Belle’s house, Caro was wired on sugar and excitement and getting her ready for bed was a challenge Wes was happy to leave to Belle. While they were upstairs, he went out to his car to get the surprise he’d had sent in from Texas. He’d called his company three days ago to order it, and tonight was the perfect time to give it to Caroline.
The now familiar house was quiet when he went back inside and headed up the stairs to his daughter’s bedroom. But as he approached the open door, he heard Belle and the little girl talking. Shadows thrown from the night-lights plugged in at intervals along the hall crouched in corners. The old house sighed in the cold wind whipping under the eaves. Moving quietly, he stopped in the doorway and blatantly eavesdropped.
“Is Wes gonna kiss me good-night?”
“He’ll be here in a minute, sweetie.”
“He’s nice,” Caro said, and though he couldn’t see her, he imagined her small hands moving with every word, and his heart swelled.
“Yes, he is nice,” Belle said, and Wes couldn’t help but wonder if it had cost her to agree with her daughter.
“He’s funny, too, and pretty and I think he should stay here now.”
“Here?” Belle asked. “In Swan Hollow?”
“Here with us, Mommy,” Caro answered and Wes went perfectly still, waiting to hear the rest. “He likes me and he should be here so we can play some more.”
“Wes lives in Texas, honey,” Belle said gently. “He’s just visiting us.”
“He’s gonna leave?” There was a catch in Caro’s throat that Wes felt as well.
“Not right away,” Belle reassured her daughter, “but yes, he’ll have to go home soon.”
“But he can be home here, Mommy.”
“It’s not that easy, baby.”
“Why?”
“Because...” She paused, clearly searching for an explanation that would make sense to a little girl. “...because his house is in Texas.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s where he lives.”
“But why?”
He muffled a snort. He really shouldn’t be enjoying so much how Belle squirmed, Wes thought. Still, he couldn’t help the deep pang of regret he felt at making his little girl unhappy. It only strengthened his resolve to stay in her life permanently.