Call Her Mine (Harmony Pointe #1)- Melissa Foster Page 0,55
man.” Then he hugged Aurelia and said, “And I hear this big lug finally wrangled you onto his arm.”
“That he did,” Aurelia said as she crouched to love up Molly.
“So, all I have to do to get a beautiful woman is find a baby?” Fletch asked as he peered into the stroller. “She’s a cutie, but I think I can do without the midnight feedings.”
“No shit,” Ben said as Molly came to his side, tail wagging, tongue hanging out, in search of attention. As he petted her, he said, “It’s exhausting, but worth it. Speaking of women, are you seeing anyone?”
“Don’t even go there, dude. Your mom keeps giving me bottles of body wash. I’ve been giving them away for faculty birthdays, and I scrub my hands with Brillo after touching them, just in case.”
They all laughed.
“We’re heading into the park. Want to join us?” Fletch waved across the street toward Chiffon Park, where people milled about on acres of lush lawns and winding trails.
There was a hill on the other side of the park, with an old farmhouse at the top that Aurelia had heard might be going on the market as commercial property. It was the perfect location for a quaint teahouse or café, as that was an iconic winter sledding hill.
Ben arched a brow at Aurelia, who nodded eagerly. “Sure,” he said. “Let me just put these bags in Aurelia’s apartment.”
Aurelia gave him her keys, and he disappeared around the side of the building.
“How’s he holding up with all this?” Fletch asked.
“He’s good,” Aurelia assured him. “Tired, but you know Ben. Once he realized the baby really needed him, he figured out the best way to handle things and went all in.”
“And you? I know Ben’s been into you for a long time, but this is a lot to take on all at once.”
“Tell me about it. Single girl to single dad’s girlfriend inside of a week’s time. It’s been a whirlwind, but just look at her.” She gazed into the stroller and said, “You know, Fletch, a baby is a lot to take on, and I have no idea how this all happened so fast, but I’m all in, too.” She thought about what Ben had said about a big brood, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for all that yet, but the three of them? That she wanted. Desperately.
“I don’t get it. I mean, she’s cute, but I’m not feeling a paternal clock ticking or anything,” Fletch said.
She met his assessing gaze and said, “How long did it take you to fall in love with Molly?”
“Ten minutes maybe. I got her from the Loves. One of their orchard dogs had pups. She was just a little bundle of fur when I got her.” He waggled a finger at Aurelia. “I see what you’re doing. I’d imagine a baby is hard to resist if you have some familial—or romantic—connection to it.”
Aurelia laughed. “You should hold her. She’s much harder to keep your distance from than a puppy.”
He took a step backward. “No, thank you. Molly’s enough responsibility for me.”
“You know, B’s only half the allure of the Ben-and-baby equation. You do know Ben, right? Big, handsome guy with a heart larger than this town? Trustworthy, great secret keeper? Not afraid to say when he’s wrong? Well, that man had me way before B did,” she said as Ben came around the corner of the building, his eyes locked on her, unleashing a flutter of heat in her chest. Oh yeah, you had me all right.
Ben draped an arm over her shoulder and said, “I put another bottle in the backpack just in case she needs it. Ready?”
“Am I ever,” she said, and as they crossed the street she looked at Fletch and mouthed, Thoughtful, too.
Fletch smiled, nodding his agreement. “How are things coming along with the bookstore?”
“Great. They’re almost done with the renovations, and Everly is starting a mural for the kids’ section next week. I’m thinking about starting a monthly book club. You’ve lived here a long time. Do you think that would fly in this area?”
“Hell yes,” Fletch said as they entered the park.
“That’s a great idea, Rels.” Ben winked at Fletch and said, “I bet Fletch knows lots of women at the college. He can probably pass out flyers.”
Aurelia shook her head. “You’re not using my book club as a dating pool for Fletch.”
“Sorry, man,” Ben said. “I tried to hook you up.”
Fletch laughed and took a tennis ball from his jacket