Must Be Wright (The Wrights 3)

Gypsy was awed at Wyatt’s loyalty. Sure, it had always been clear that he loved his family, but he also loved his career. Right now, he was country music’s golden child, and with songs from their new album racking up slots in the Top 40, Gypsy didn’t see that ending anytime soon.

“Wow,” she said, stunned. “Just…wow. You went all in. I honestly don’t know any other man who would do that. Well, except for Miranda’s husband, Jack. And, yeah, Marty, who’s family now. But certainly not anyone with a career like yours.”

That put Wyatt Jackson in a group with a very select few. And Gypsy couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to have a man like that in her life every day.

“I admire your loyalty,” she told him. “Belle is lucky to have you. And for what it’s worth, I think you have the potential to be a really great dad. But I have to warn you, there’s a hell of a lot of sacrifice involved, and I think it will be ten times the sacrifice for you.”

Her cell rang, and she pulled it from her back pocket to find her sister’s name on the display. “Oh, shoot,” she muttered to herself as she glanced at her watch. Where had the time gone? “It’s Miranda. I wanted to get by the grocery store to grab dinner before I picked up Cooper.” She held up a finger to ask Wyatt to wait and answered. “Are you both still alive?”

Miranda laughed in Gypsy’s ear. “Your confidence is touching.”

Gypsy heard Cooper’s sweet voice in the background, and she smiled. “I can swing by and pick him up in about fifteen minutes.”

“We’re out running errands. I’ll drop him off at the house. I’d like to say hi to Marty and Alaina anyway.”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll meet you there.” She disconnected and opened her mouth to tell him she had to go when Belle yelled, “Uncle Wyatt, you owe me ten bucks!”

He huffed, not quite a laugh, but he definitely smiled. “That kid… God.”

Gypsy understood perfectly. Loving a child was daunting and all-consuming. Amazing, gratifying, trying, challenging, frustrating. All the -ings. She reached out and covered his hand with hers. “Hang on, Jackson. It’s going to be a wild ride.”

He covered her hand, sandwiching it between his own, and Gypsy’s stomach took a free fall off the high-dive.

“Thank you.” His voice was soft and serious. “I know I’ve put a lot on you when you’ve got your own life to take care of. I just want you to know I really appreciate it. I couldn’t have managed this without you.”

Her insides tingled with warmth. She stared at his hand as he threaded their fingers, and she felt a door inside her open. Felt the longing for a connection like this in her life.

She liked to think of herself as a smart woman. Even smarter after Cooper’s dad bailed, showing her exactly what most men were made of. But right now, in this instant, experiencing this connection with a man she admired and desired, she wasn’t feeling very smart. She was feeling like she wanted to lean across the table and find out if he was as good a kisser as the tabloids claimed. Wanted a second chance to feel if the muscles under his clothes were as real as they felt this morning.

“You really helped me out of a tight spot,” he told her, lifting those bright blue eyes to her face. With that look in his eyes and his hands cradling hers, Gypsy’s brain shorted out. “Let me repay the favor. I’ll get dinner.”

That snapped her out of the trance. She pulled her hand from his, laughing. “You seriously never quit, do you? For the last time, I’m not going out with you.” She pushed her chair back. “Now get Belle and get out of here.”

“Who said anything about a date?” His familiar, flirty smile flashed. “But it’s good to know you’re still interested. I meant going to the store and picking up the things you didn’t have time to get because of me.”

Gypsy pulled in a breath to say no, but Belle ran over. “We’re going to the store?”

“Yep.” He stood and picked her up. Gypsy saw him in a whole new light. As a man of loyalty and honor. A man willing to shoulder the tough stuff. A man dedicated to his family.

She had to admit, in all the years she’d known him, he’d never looked more appealing than he did right now.

“Gypsy’s going home to see her boy, and we’re going to pick up some things for her at the store.”

“And I can spend my ten bucks,” Belle said.

Wyatt dropped his head back and laughed, and like always, the sound made tingles scurry up her spine. But this time, they bubbled in her heart too.

9

Who knew eggs could be so hard to find?

“I want to go home,” Belle whined, her feet on the bottom rung of the grocery cart, her body bent over the side.

“We can’t let Gypsy and Cooper go hungry. She did something nice for me, so I want to do something nice for her in return. That’s what friends do for each other. Besides, I made her a promise. And if you make a promise, you should keep it.”

Wyatt caught himself dishing out life lessons and had a what-the-fuck moment of surrealism.

He set the eggs in the cart, his gaze scouring a grocery store so big, it was more like a grocery warehouse. He wandered a few feet down the rear aisle, scanning the endcaps where candles and fancy cookware lined the shelves. He paused to stare at a display with a dozen different small appliances filling the shelves, muttering, “When did grocery stores start carrying toasters and blenders?”