The Texas Tycoon's Baby(43)

The music cut off just before Eli said, “Forgive me for ruining your night. Forgive me for everything.”

With that, he headed toward the exit. None of the brothers stopped him.

Chet looked to Mina, who’d always been the calm in his every storm.

But when he saw the sympathy and sorrow in her gaze, his heart sank to the bottom of his chest, where it always seemed to land.





Chapter Nine




The party had lost its air after Eli had gone home, and the brothers had decided to return to Florence Ranch, too.

Mina had left with the women in the limo. The only one of them who’d had any remaining will to celebrate was Jess, and she’d agreed to put an end to the evening when she’d heard about Eli’s appearance.

Mina had gone back to her guest cottage, not expecting to see any more of Chet tonight, even after that dance they’d shared. That magical moment that hadn’t lasted nearly as long as she would’ve liked.

It was morning when she saw him again.

She was strolling out in the gardens in back of the mansion with Caroline, Ally’s baby daughter. Since the bride had a mile-long list of things to do today, along with her maids of honor Mrs. McCarter and Jess, Mina had volunteered to switch off with Zoe in watching over the child.

They were walking down one of the gravel maze paths amidst the roses, but Mina didn’t see many of them. Caroline’s little pink face, which was peeking out from under her knit cap and her swaddling blanket, outshone all the flowers.

Is my baby going to be a sweet little girl like you? Mina thought, brushing a finger down Caroline’s soft cheek. Or am I going to have a boy who turns out to be as big and strong as his daddy?

Caroline smiled up at her, and Mina bit her lip. She wished she’d asked the doctor about her baby’s sex.

She became aware that she wasn’t alone when she heard the crunch of boots over the gravel. Looking up, she saw Chet, his hat in his hands, a mysterious slant to his gaze that seemed full of questions.

But there was a gentleness there, too.

He put his hat back on his head, as if that would cover what she’d seen in him, but she remembered anyway. Her heart had stamped his gaze all over the inside of her chest.

“I thought I should come out here and fetch you for breakfast,” he said. “It’ll be ready in about fifteen minutes in the smaller dining room.”

“The smaller dining room as opposed to the big one, huh? Imagine living in a house with a choice of either.”

“I don’t really live here.” He knit his brow, then gestured toward the house. “It’s buffet style, so no hurry. No fuss.”

Mina smiled. “Somehow, I don’t associate the term no fuss with Florence Ranch.”

“I never did, either—not until I got to know Tyler and Jeremiah better. They’re different than when they were young, when I would come here to visit. They used to be boarding school rich kids.” His own smile held a touch of wistfulness. “Abe didn’t believe in sending me away for my education. He and Mom kept me at home.”

“Seems to have worked out just fine for you.”

A loaded pause balanced between them.

He broke it, looking at the baby, then coming toward her and Caroline, who locked her gaze onto him, enthralled.

“Look at that,” Mina said. “She likes you.”

“Maybe because I resemble Jeremiah a bit.” He touched the baby’s bunched hand. “I’m not used to being around children, but since I’m going to be an uncle, I supposed I’d better get used to it.”

You’re going to be more than an uncle, she thought. But then she recalled how coiled he’d seemed last night, after he and his brothers had confronted Eli at that dance.

More time. He just needed a little more time to come around, and then…

“Here you go,” she said, handing Caroline to him, a lump in her throat.

Without hesitation, Chet took the baby into his arms. A natural, just as he’d been when he’d taken his place at the Barron Group.

It occurred to Mina that he was the type of man who might be good at just about everything, although he didn’t make a show of it.

Would he be just as natural a father?

He was still pretty quiet, and she suspected he was waiting to say something, probably about the awkwardness of last night with Eli. It would be just like Chet to apologize for the situation, which had been out of his control.

Finally, he spoke. “You should see Jeremiah. He’s fit to jump out of his skin right about now.”

Not what she’d been expecting him to say. Maybe he was working his way around to it, as always.

“The former playboy’s getting cold feet?” Mina asked.