True was pointing at the door. “Both of you get off the bus.”
Paul grunted negatively and said, “Not a good idea, True. She’ll smile and bat her eyelashes and you’ll give her whatever she wants. It’s my job to—”
True removed his hat and dragged both hands through his long hair. “So help me, if you don’t get the hell off this bus and let me talk to her alone, I’m firing your pushy ass.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Check my contract. I can.”
“True, she—”
“Not another word. Ride with the others. You, too, Noble. We’ll talk afterward.”
“But don’t you see what she’s doing? She sees an easy ride and you’ll give her—”
“—whatever she wants. I know!” Taking a deep breath, he maneuvered Presley Ann past his brother toward the couch in the middle of the bus. “You don’t get it. I’ll explain later.”
Noble shook his head, his jaw flexing as if he was grinding his teeth. “I know you think you owe her but you don’t. I don’t. She was an easy lay, that’s all—”
True startled all of them when he snarled and used his fist to cut off Noble’s words. Paul caught him as he fell back. “Shut the fuck up and get off this bus before you say something else you’ll regret later.”
“Shit. Come on, Noble,” Paul muttered as he turned to the door. “We’ll ice your lip and give him time to cool off.”
She hugged Whit closer to her as she glowered back at Noble before they disappeared down the steps.
True turned to her. “The driver is up front in his compartment. It’s only you and me now…and this little one,” he said as he walked toward her. Her legs were suddenly weak as they hit the back of the couch and she plopped down rather gracelessly. Her heart pounded as she looked up at True. His gaze rested on the baby and there was a tender smile on his face. His hands flexed on his knees and one lifted as if to reach out to touch the baby but he paused. “What did you name him?”
“Whitman Merritt Woodworth. We call him Whit.”
“We?” he asked, before he looked through the tinted bus window, in the direction she knew Kendry and Jared still stood, or hoped they did. “Those men…” She could hear the questions in his voice. “I suppose it’s too much to hope that they’re your brothers?”
Averting her eyes, she shook her head. “They’ve been there for me since before Whit was born.”
“You’ve changed,”
Heat crept into her cheeks and she was painfully aware of how much space she took up on the couch as she sat opposite of him. “I was on a strict diet when I met you. I put on weight when I was pregnant with him—”
His hand was warm on her wrist as he interrupted. “You’re even more beautiful than I remember, honey. I wasn’t complaining at all. What I’m talking about goes beyond your appearance. You have a glow about you.” His sincerity was in every velvety syllable he spoke, making her heart thud almost painfully.
Whit began whimpering louder and she felt utter mortification. “I know this is really awkward, but he’s hungry and he’ll only get louder. I need…”
“Does he need a bottle?”
She shook her head. “Sorry, hope you don’t shock easily.” Whit needed to be fed and True’s sensibilities might need to stretch a little. She opened the blue silk pashmina and flipped it over her shoulder and trapped it against the back of the couch as she reached beneath and into her blouse to unsnap her nursing bra. As if it was a signal, Whit began rooting in earnest, knowing his meal was at hand, and he let out a little happy grunt as he latched on and grew still. She smiled to herself as she looked down at his chunky little form and thought that this should juuust about run the cowboy off before they could even have their talk. She rubbed her forehead, all kinds of feelings and thoughts running through her mind before she lifted her eyes to True’s.
She’d expected confusion, and maybe even a little judgment. He was entitled to however he felt. But it surprised her when she looked up and saw the ear to ear smile on his face.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all that he comes first. You obviously take very good care of him,” he said as he reached out a tentative hand and gently squeezed Whit’s roly-poly thigh. His smile widened and he surprised her when he drew a slightly shaky breath. He was even more gorgeous than she remembered, almost angelic in his dark beauty. He sat back and said, “I wish I’d known, honey. If I had, you can bet I would’ve been here. Although…” He looked to the other bus with his fingertips to his lips. “It would’ve been complicated.”