to her chest, feigning offense. “She is happy and healthy, Ford,” she snaps, wearing a smile.
“I feel that, almost threw my back out,” I grumble.
She laughs, shaking her head. “You’re full of it, Ford Matthews.”
Brooks lifts her little hands and slaps them against my cheeks, forcing my attention from her mama to her. Smiling at her, I look into her blue eyes, eyes that match her father’s to a T.
“Hey, honey,” I rasp. “You’re a big girl now, ain’t ya?”
She babbles, then blows a raspberry, getting her baby slobber all over me. Lifting one of my hands to the back of her head, I close my eyes and let out a loud laugh. Then, I dip my chin and bury my face in her neck, giving her the same raspberry treatment causing her to wiggle, giggle, and squirm in my arms.
Listening to a baby’s laugh would soothe the largest ache in the world, and Brooks’ laugh does just that. Keeping her in my arms, I walk over to Louis and Tulip who are sitting next to Wyatt and Rylan who are busy at work manning the grill.
“Ford, brother,” Louis says, standing up. Extending my palm, we shake as he claps me on the back.
“Hey,” I murmur.
Tulip stands, but Louis walks over to help her up. “I’m not an invalid,” she huffs.
My eyes flick down to her belly, then lift to meet hers. “How much longer?”
“Three months.” She smiles as she reaches for her stomach. I watch as she lovingly holds her belly, she lets out a puff of air. “I think Louis makes gigantic babies though, because I feel absolutely huge.”
Brooks laughs, which causes all of us to chuckle. “I think you look beautiful, Tullie,” Louis grunts.
“You do, Tulip. You look beautiful.” I smile.
She rolls her eyes with a thanks, then makes her way over to the other women. “I kind of didn’t mention that I weighed ten pounds when I was born,” Louis whispers.
“Fuck,” I groan. “You big bastard.”
Louis lets out a bark of laughter, Rylan and Wyatt doing the same. “You know you look good with a baby, just sayin’,” Wyatt mutters.
Shifting Brooks to my other arm, I turn my head to look at him. “Maybe I’ll just keep y’all’s munchkins. Seems like you keep makin’ ‘em and may have one or two to spare.”
“Get your own,” Rylan snaps.
We all laugh, I shake my head as Brooks starts to wiggle. “I’m gonna take her back to her mama unless you want her?” I ask Rylan.
He shakes his head. “Can’t hold her when I’m mannin’ the grill. She gets way too fuckin’ curious.”
Turning away from him, I head over to where the women are gathered. They are deep in discussion, their heads tipped together. Hutton has joined them and I wonder what the fuck they’re conspiring about now. It’s always something with them.
They all stop talking as soon as I approach. “Okay,” I drawl. “This one’s gettin’ wiggly, Mama. Reese probably wants to get that pole baited and, in the water, too,” I say.
“Ford?” a voice calls out.
Turning my head, my heart stops beating in my chest at the sight in front of me.
Stephanie LaRue.
Chapter Four
STEPHANIE
Oh. My. God.
Ford Matthews looks back at me, that same sweet little girl from HEB in his arms. Channing takes the baby from him and my eyes shift from him to her, then back to him again. God. They look gorgeous together.
Of course, he would have a wife and a beautiful family. I knew he would, but seeing it, damn, it breaks my heart immediately.
Ford frowns at me, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks down into my eyes. “What the fuck’re you doing here?” he barks.
My shoulder jerks as though his words have physically assaulted me. Taking a step back, I grip the charcuterie board tighter so that I don’t drop it.
“Here, let me grab that for you,” a very pretty petite pregnant woman says as she slips the board from my hands.
I can’t even thank her, my eyes are glued to Ford’s. God, he’s more beautiful than he was seventeen years ago. Time and ranching have been good to Ford Matthews. His once thin, lean, muscled body has bulked. He’s grown too, at least three inches. His jaw is strong, his eyes so dark blue that they almost look black.
“Um,” I hum, pressing my lips together. “Nothing. I’m just going to go,” I whisper as I turn around to leave.
“You will not,” Channing snaps.
Turning my head, looking over my shoulder,