The Texan's Baby (Texas Rodeo Barons)

Brock gave a short nod and released his hand. “Julieta tells me you were at the hospital after my accident.”

“Yes, sir. Liz was upset and I went along for support.”

“She said you were good to her boy. You like children, son?”

Lizzie coughed beside him but Chris never flinched. “Actually, yes, I do.”

“Have any of your own running around?”

“Dad!” Lizzie protested, but Chris chuckled at the same time as Jacob and Daniel burst out laughing at their dad giving Chris the third degree.

“It’s okay, Liz. I’m just getting the dad test. And no, sir, I don’t have any children. Yet.”

Brock smiled then, a sly grin that curved his lips just a little but lit his eyes. “You’ll do. For now.” He raised an eyebrow that told Chris he’d better not put a hair out of line.

Boy, was the old guy going to flip his lid when they made their announcement later.

“Chris! Chris! Watch me!”

The call came from the pool and he looked up to see Alex do a perfect cannonball from the diving board. He recognized Carly, sitting beside the pool talking to an older lady—Anna, he supposed, as she was the only one he didn’t recognize.

“I think I’m being called on to judge. Excuse me?”

“Sure. You want a drink? I’ll bring you one.”

“Whatever you’re having.” He smiled at her, and then for good measure leaned over and kissed her cheek. The blush was already infusing her skin before he turned away to go to the pool.

He spent ten minutes watching Alex, until Anna told the boy he had to get out and change for dinner. Lizzie brought him a sweet tea and he chatted with Carly, who he learned was particularly interested in bull riding, and then hung with the boys, who were arguing over the ribs and making plans to fly to California the next weekend for a round-up. It was loud and boisterous and mostly good-natured—the sort of family gathering he’d missed growing up. He knew Lizzie grumbled about her family a lot, but did she realize how lucky she was?

Their child would be born into this. It was pretty incredible, but Chris couldn’t help feeling like an odd man out. Like he was on the outside, looking in. Nearly a part of it but not quite.

Lizzie slid up beside him and put her arm through his. “You okay? The Barons en masse can be a little intimidating.”

“I’m holding my own, darlin’.” He smiled down at her and her gaze skittered away. “Don’t be shy,” he whispered, leaning his head down just a little. To anyone looking on, it would look like they were having an intimate few moments.

“I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be. They’re your family. They love you.”

“Ha! Sure they do. But they’re also opinionated, judgmental, nosy...”

“Just like families are supposed to be. Relax.” He should take his own advice. The thought of eight sets of eyes staring at him like a criminal who’d stolen Lizzie’s virtue didn’t sit well.

“How can you be so calm?” She looked up at him and he saw the nervousness in her eyes.

“Because one of us has to be,” he replied, smiling.

Jet called out that the ribs were done to perfection, and bowls started appearing in a staggering number. Salads, baked beans, mounds of corn bread... The Barons didn’t mess around when it came to a family dinner. There were napkins for saucy fingers and bone bowls for rib scraps.

“Come on, everyone, dig in!” Julieta called out as Jet loaded the ribs onto a huge tray.

Anna got Alex situated with his favorites and cut his ribs for him, leaving the meat on the bone so he wouldn’t miss out on the messy pleasure of eating them. Chris grabbed a plate and served himself buffet style like everyone else, taking a seat beside Lizzie around the huge table.

As Alex looked up with sauce smeared on his happy face, Chris had the disturbing thought that he could get used to this. But maybe he shouldn’t. This wasn’t his family. And when he and Lizzie coparented, he’d still be the guy left just a little on the outside.

Chapter Ten

The noise around the table was no different from any other Sunday, but tonight Lizzie listened more carefully, speaking when she was spoken to but for the most part, keeping quiet. Brock was his regular blustery self, complaining about his wheelchair while Julieta assured him calmly that he could use his crutches when he got inside where the floor was even, so he wouldn’t snub them up on the cobblestones. Lizzie’s siblings razzed each other as brothers and sisters do, then moved on to talking about rodeo standings and particular events. Carly shared a story about a current female bull rider that earned her a disapproving look from her father and teasing from the boys, who all insisted the girls should stick to barrel racing and chili cook-offs—which in turn earned them well-aimed elbows from both Carly and Savannah. One big, raucous, loving family.