Since Josh had fallen asleep in Gage’s lap, it was only logical that he should take the little guy down to Emma’s SUV. When he stood, the baby melted right into him, boneless and trusting.

The kid was so limp he was afraid if he let go with either hand the kid would slide right to the floor. “Emma, could you please put my hat on for me?”

“I can do that.” She picked it up. “Lean down a little.”

He stooped so she could reach him. Her scent enveloped him as she moved in close.

“I don’t recognize this hat.”

“It’s my every-day one.” He breathed in heaven as she settled it on his head.

“Do you still have the black one?”

“I wore it yesterday.”

“Oh. Maybe you did. I was so freaked out I didn’t notice your hat.”

Ha. That effort had been totally wasted.

She stepped back and glanced at him. “Hang on. The brim needs to come down a little.” She made the adjustment. “There. That’s better.”

“Appreciate it. I would hate to go out in public when my hat’s not right.” But he was tickled that she remembered how he liked to wear it.

“That’s what I figured. I’ll go first so I can get the door and unlock the car.”

“All right.” He took the stairs much slower than she did. Tripping wasn’t an option. By the time he reached the gray SUV, she had all four doors open, probably to air it out.

If she lived in Eagles Nest and adopted the habit of the locals, she wouldn’t have to do that. On warm days, everyone left the windows down on their parked vehicles. It was just that safe in this small town.

She shoved her sunglasses to the top of her head and gestured to the car seat in the back. “You should be able to slide him in without waking him up.”

“Is the seat supposed to be bassackwards?”

“Yep. Much safer.”

“But he has no view.”

“Which is one reason I don’t take him on long trips. This is the most time he’s ever spent in a car. Luckily he slept most of the way.”

“What happens when he’s awake, staring at the upholstery?”

“I sing to him.”

“Lullabies?”

“No. He prefers classic country.”

Gage smiled. “He got that from me.” Maneuvering around the car door, he leaned down and tucked the sleeping baby into the padded seat. “I’ll let you cinch him in. I’m not familiar with these contraptions.”

But he’d educate himself because he didn’t like the idea that he might not be qualified in this area. Men who’d been given notice of impending fatherhood had time to prepare. He wasn’t used to being at a disadvantage in any scenario.

He watched Emma strap the kid in and memorized each step. Got it.

Emma closed the car door and turned to him. “I just happened to think. Is this development interfering with your plans?”

“I’ll have to cancel my weekend in Malibu, if that’s what you’re asking.” He stuck his thumbs in his belt loops. “But they love me there and I can reschedule.”

“Be serious. Am I taking you away from your job?”

“I’m between jobs.”

She frowned. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“As a matter of fact, it’s very good. This is the first honest-to-God vacation I’ve had since I left home.”

“How long have you been out of—I mean, on vacation?”

“Since the middle of July.”

She stared at him. “But this is September! Is that why you’re in Eagles Nest with your family? You can’t get work and you’re broke?”

“I’m not broke. On the contrary, so don’t go telling Josh that his daddy’s a deadbeat. I’ve been saving and I’ve learned a little something about investing. I can afford this vacation.”

“Oh.”

“I can also afford to contribute to Josh’s upkeep, and that’s another thing I know for sure. I plan to do that.”

“You’re full of surprises, Gage.”

“It’s my mission in life.” But come to think of it, Emma was no slacker in that department, either, showing up the way she had today. “What time should I fetch you and Josh?”

“I’ll just meet you there.”

Not his style. “I’d rather—”

“The car seat won’t fit in your truck. Which reminds me, why isn’t it parked out here?”

He shrugged. “The weather was decent. I walked.”

“You live near here?”

“Not too far. Anyway, the diner’s on Main Street. It’s the only restaurant besides the Guzzling Grizzly. Easy to find.”

“I’m sure it is. Main Street isn’t very long.” She glanced up at him. “I can’t imagine what it’s like living here. This town is really small.”

“It’s nice, though.”

“You like it, then?”

“I do.”

“But you haven’t found a job, yet.”

“Haven’t looked.”

“Aren’t you bored?”

“I was tending in that direction and then a woman I used to date showed up with my kid. I’m not the least bit bored, now.”

“Glad I could help.” She put on her sunglasses. “You’re just as crazy as ever, Gage.”

He tipped his hat. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Guess I’d better shove off.” She closed the two doors on the passenger side and walked around to the driver’s door.

He followed. “Thank you for bringing him down, Emma. I know you didn’t have to do it.”

She gazed at him. “I think I did. See you at six.”

“See you then.” He touched the brim of his hat in farewell before returning to the sidewalk.

When she fired up the engine and backed out, he turned away and went back to lock the door. Wes’s truck was gone, which meant he’d be hoofing it back to his dad’s after all.

He pulled out his phone and read his brother’s text. Had a client call. Hope everything went well. Sorry I can’t give you a ride. Leave the key with Ingrid.

Both Abigail and Ingrid were busy with customers so he waited for a break in the action before walking over to the coffee counter.

Ingrid’s brow puckered. “Are you okay?”

“A little shell-shocked. Did Wes give you the deets?”

“A few. We didn’t have much time to talk.”

Abigail came over, her usual cheerful expression subdued. “How did it go?”

“As well as could be expected.” He gave them a quick rundown.

Abigail glanced at the clock on the wall. “Just FYI, this place was buzzing after you left with her and the baby. And news travels fast.”

“Meaning someone might have already alerted my dad.”

“Maybe not,” Ingrid said. “If he hasn’t called you yet.”

“He wouldn’t call. Even if he’d heard something, he’d wait for me to contact him. I’d better text and see if he’s home. Excuse me a minute.” He sent a quick message to his dad. The instant response—I’m here—was all the info he needed. He looked up from the phone. “He knows.”

Abigail nodded. “Thought he might. Want a brownie for the road?”

“No, thanks.” He dug in his pocket, pulled out the key and handed it to Ingrid. “I put the brownies in Wes’s fridge. Emma didn’t think giving one to Josh was a great idea.”

“Probably not.” Ingrid took the key.

“She seems like a good mom,” Abigail said. “And Josh is adorable. He has your eyes.”

“Yes, ma’am. That he does.” He tipped his hat to them. “See you two later.” He vacated the premises quickly. After texting his dad that he was on foot and would take a little longer than usual getting home, he set off at a brisk pace.

He’d gone about a quarter of a mile past the edge of town when somebody beeped at him from behind. He looked back just as Kendra McGavin pulled the Wild Creek Ranch van over to the shoulder in the far lane.

She leaned out the window. “Want a lift, cowboy?”

“Yes, ma’am. That would be great.” After checking for traffic, he jogged across the road, walked around the front of the van and climbed in on the passenger side. “Were you in town this afternoon?”

“Only drove through on my way home. I went to Bozeman today for—it doesn’t matter what I went there for.” Her blue gaze was gentle. “Your dad called me.”

“Then you’ve heard.”

“Yes. He asked me to watch for you on the road.”

“That was thoughtful of him.”

“I’ll bet this was quite a shock.”

“Yes, ma’am. I had no idea.”

“That goes without saying. A Sawyer doesn’t dodge his responsibilities.”

“That’s for sure.”

“I imagine you two will have a lot to say to each other, so I’m just going to drop you off so you can talk without me hanging around.”

“But Dad might want you to be there.”

“He always wants me to be there, which I treasure. But you two have a lot of history I haven’t been a part of. It’s better if I let you have some privacy.”

“Maybe so.” Her willingness to back off impressed him. He was still slightly in awe of her and a bit wary. He’d arrived on the scene after her romance with his dad had blossomed, while his siblings had been on site to watch it develop.

He was thrilled for his dad, who seemed happier than he’d been in a long, long time. His enthusiasm for this second chance at love was fun to watch.

On the other hand, what was Kendra’s role, exactly? She hadn’t married his dad and it didn’t sound as if she intended to. They lived across the road from each other, not in the same house. She wasn’t officially a stepmother.

And yet, she and his dad often functioned as a team, whether with her kids or his. Like today, when his dad had shared the news with her and then asked if she’d give his son a ride on her way home. But she wasn’t going to stay and be part of the discussion, and while he liked her a whole lot, he was mostly relieved about that.

He looked over at her. “I don’t know if you and my dad had made plans, but I’ll be leaving to meet Emma and Josh a little before six.”

“As a matter of fact, we don’t have plans. I’m getting together with the Whine and Cheese Club tonight. We’re going to the diner.”

Which was how his luck was running today. “Then I guess I’ll see you there.”

“That’s where you’re going?”

“Yes, ma’am. Is this a girls’ night out?”

“It is, but we have a purpose. We need to plan Faith and Cody’s baby shower and the Guzzling Grizzly has a band tonight. It’s too noisy, so the diner was our choice.”

“Makes sense.” He was invited to that shower for her son and daughter-in-law. He and Pete would be the only unattached guys there. That was still true, but his take on the whole baby situation had done a one-eighty.

“You can ignore us if you want,” Kendra said.

“I’ll leave that up to Emma. She’s agreed to stay through the weekend, but she asked if she could postpone meeting family members until tomorrow.”

“The Whine and Cheese Club isn’t exactly family.”

“Except for you.”

She gave him a startled glance. “You think of me as family?”

“Yes, I do.”

She flashed him a smile. “Thank you. That’s really nice to hear.”

“I just wish there was a better designation than significant other. That’s so weird. And incomplete. Other what?”

“I don’t like it, either. And girlfriend makes me sound like I’m eighteen, but lady friend isn’t an improvement. In any case, do whatever you want about tonight. Like I said, you can ignore us.”

“I’ll leave it up to Emma.”

“Good call. What about the flag football game tomorrow?”

“Oh, geez, I forgot about that. What time again?”

“Two, at the park. Listen, if you can’t make it, then—”

“But my team needs me.”

She laughed. “Yeah, they do.”

“It might be the perfect setting to introduce Emma and Josh to everyone. If she totally vetoes the idea, who should I notify?”

“Me. I’m not sure how I ended up being the chief organizer, but I guess I am. I thought Wes was going to be the head honcho for this, or even Ingrid, but they’re so busy.”

“And you’re not?”

“Ah, it’s fun for me. I love how it’s catching on, how so many are coming out on Saturdays. Eventually the weather will shut us down, but for now, it’s great. Well, here we are, and there’s your dad, waiting for you.”

“So he is.” Quinn Sawyer sat in a rocker on the front porch with nothing in his hands. Not a beer or a sketch pad. That was unusual.

The modest house was surrounded by a piece of property about one-eighth the size of the Lazy S, the ranch in Spokane where Gage and his siblings had been raised. After falling for Kendra like a ton of bricks, his dad had sold the Lazy S and bought this place across the road from Kendra’s ranch.

She braked the van. “I’m not getting out. Just go.”

“Thanks, Kendra.” He unbuckled his seat belt.

Her smile was warm. “Anytime, Gage. Now go.”

“Okay.” He climbed out and started toward the porch. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hi, son.” He rose from his chair as Kendra drove away and stood waiting for Gage to come up the steps. Then he opened his arms.

Gage accepted the hug with a lump in his throat. Apparently, even though he was thirty years old and had been on his own for quite a while, he’d needed that hug. Stepping back, he took a deep breath. “Rough day.”

“I’ll bet. Want anything before we sit?”

“No, thanks. Now’s not the time to start drinking.”

“I figured.” His dad motioned to the rockers.

Gage settled in with a sigh. “How much do you know?”

“Roxanne called to report that you left the bakery with a woman who had a baby with eyes exactly like yours. I guess Michael was tending bar at the GG and heard some folks talking so he contacted her to find out what was going on.”

“Then you haven’t heard from Wes?”

“Nope.”

“He’s probably still dealing with his client, then. He was at the bakery when Emma walked in. Offered his apartment so we’d have a private place to talk. Later on he sent me a text that he had to go out on a call.”

“Emma’s her name?”

“Yes. Emma Green. I dated her nineteen months ago for about two weeks that time I was working at a ranch outside of Great Falls. But this never should have happened. I can’t believe it did.”

“Which tells me it was meant to be.”

Gage looked over at him. “You think?”

“That’s my take on it. What’s the baby’s name?”

“Josh.”

His dad nodded. “Has a nice sound to it. How do you feel about Emma?”

Now there was a complicated question. When it came to the mother of his child, he was all jumbled up. “I don’t know, Dad. She shut the door in my face yesterday, but today—”

“You saw her yesterday, too?”

“Yes, sir. Guess I’d better fill in the gaps to this story.”

“Guess so.” His dad settled back in his rocker.

Gage laid out the facts as best he could. His dad was a damned good listener. He hadn’t appreciated that enough. He finished the story by mentioning the dinner plan for tonight.

“Kendra’s going there with the Whine and Cheese ladies.”

“She told me. But you know what? I can’t introduce Emma and Josh to them before you meet them. That’s not right.”

“Sure it is. Don’t get hung up on that stuff. They’ll be here all weekend. What about the flag football game? Wouldn’t that be a—”

“That was my thought. Kendra reminded me about it on the way over here and that might be the perfect venue.”

“I think so, too. I’ll meet Emma and my grandson then.”

Gage blinked. “Holy crap.” He gazed at his father. “You’re Grandpa Quinn.”

“Yes. Yes, I am.” He smiled. “You’re not the only one who got a jolt today, son.”