Ever since yesterday, Emma had spent every waking minute worrying about how Gage would react to this news. She’d only known the fun-loving side of him, which made predicting his response to something life-changing nearly impossible. So far he’d handled the situation admirably.

“This may sound crazy.” He glanced over at Josh. “But he looks at me like he knows we’re connected somehow.”

“That’s a sweet thought, but he dishes out that soulful stare to lots of people. My mom, my brother, strangers in the grocery store—they all get that treatment.”

“Oh.”

“He was giving the lady at the bakery his best melt-your-heart look and she was falling for it. He’s a charmer.” Much like his father.

She still hadn’t adjusted to interacting with him again. Much as she tried to lock down her reaction, he still made her heart race.

He’d had that effect on her every time he’d sauntered into the neighborhood bar where she’d worked. He’d flash her a smile and she’d turn into a puddle of lust.

They’d flirted for a while, long enough for him to learn she wasn’t in a relationship. He’d asked her out the first part of December. Both of them were only looking for a fun time with no strings attached.

He’d come into town from the ranch where he’d been working as a wrangler, spend the night with her, and return to the ranch in the pre-dawn hours. Then he’d taken a new job in Idaho and that had been the end of it.

“I should have asked you this before. Are you driving home today?”

His question interrupted her trip down memory lane. “Tomorrow.”

“Do you have a place to stay?”

She was so glad she’d made arrangements in advance. “The Nesting Place.”

He frowned. “I don’t—”

“The B&B outside of town.”

“Guess I have heard of it. Forgot what it was called.” He hesitated. “Do you have to get back to Great Falls right away?”

“I only planned for one night.” She kept an eye on Josh, who’d abandoned the coffee table and was crawling across the hardwood floor in the general direction of Gage’s chair. “Josh is on the move.”

“I see him. Listen, if you could change your plans, I’d like you to stay longer.”

“That really wouldn’t be conven—”

“I’d pay for it. But we’re coming up on a weekend. You might have trouble getting someone to cover for you.”

“I’m not a bartender anymore.”

Josh stopped halfway across the room and sat down to look around and blow bubbles.

Gage gave him an amused glance before turning back to her. “You left the bar?”

“A month before Josh was born. I started an internet business that I can do from home.”

His eyebrows lifted. “What sort of business?”

“I’m a virtual assistant.”

“That’s cool.”

“It’s working out great.” She was proud of herself for creating a baby-friendly solution for her new life.

“Any chance you brought a laptop with you?”

“I did, but I didn’t pack enough clothes or baby food for more than one night.”

“I can help you solve those issues. If you’re willing to stay.” He resumed watching Josh, who’d started toward him again.

“I don’t know.” She sighed. “Wouldn’t it be better if we took a break and let the dust settle?”

“I’m not convinced that’s the best way to—well, hello, buddy.”

“Da-da!” Josh used Gage’s pant leg to pull himself upright. Then he patted Gage’s knee. “Da-da-da-da.”

“Should I pick him up?”

“Not unless you want to. He’s fine right there. It’s not like he’s asking to be picked up.”

“How do you know?”

“He’ll try to climb in your lap if he wants to cuddle.”

“And are you absolutely sure he isn’t saying daddy?”

“Positive. It’s just an easy syllable for him. He likes hearing himself make noise.”

“It’s just that he seems so focused when he says it.”

Josh chose that moment to blow a raspberry, which always made her laugh. “Great timing, kiddo.” She glanced at Gage. The raspberry had coaxed a smile out of him, too.

Ah, that smile. Sunshine through the clouds. She’d put the poor guy through it today. If he needed her to stick around a little longer, then she would.

“All right,” she said. “If you can help me find what I need, I’ll stay through the weekend and go back Monday morning.”

“Great. Thank you.”

Josh grabbed onto Gage’s jeans and climbed onto one booted foot.

“Now he’s asking you to pick him up.”

“Uh…okay.” Leaning over he slid his hands under Josh’s armpits and lifted him into his lap. “What do I—oh, hey, there.”

Turning in Gage’s grip, Josh yawned and snuggled against him.

Gage’s reaction was priceless. Shocked surprise was followed by a quick grin that morphed into a relaxed smile of happiness. Then Josh shoved one foot against the fly of his daddy’s jeans. Ouch.

Gage winced and gently adjusted the position of that little foot. Then he gazed at her. “Now what?”

“He needs a nap.”

“Here? I mean, that’s fine, but I—”

“No, not here. I’ll head back to the B&B. He’ll be better off in the crib they provided.”

“Good plan.” He looked relieved. “But can I take you both to dinner after his nap?”

“Have you ever eaten in a restaurant with a little kid?”

“Can’t say that I have. Why?”

“It might be somewhat different from what you’re used to.”

“That’s fine. I’m flexible.”

Dollars to donuts he was clueless. “Wherever we go needs to have highchairs.”

“The Eagles Nest Diner should. They cater to families. The food’s good. While we eat, we can work out some of the—”

“Don’t expect to have an uninterrupted conversation.”

“Why not?”

“Usually when I take him out to eat, I spend a fair amount of time monitoring him so he doesn’t disturb other people.” She marveled at how relaxed he looked curled in Gage’s lap. He was fighting sleep, but his eyes kept drifting shut.

“I can help monitor him.”

“I also try to minimize fallout.”

He frowned. “Fallout?”

“If I don’t watch him, he’ll get food everywhere, which is okay if he’s at home. I spread out a drop cloth, but—”

“Now that you say that, I think we did the same thing with my little sister.”

“You have a sister?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She stared at him. “You know what? I just realized that the only thing I ever heard about your family is that they live in Spokane.”

“Except they don’t anymore. Everyone’s moved here. The guy I was sitting with at the bakery is my brother Wes.”

“There’s definitely a family resemblance.” But she’d only had eyes for Gage. Whenever he was around, everyone else faded into the woodwork.

“They’re part of the reason I’d like you to stay. They’ll want to meet you and Josh.”

“Of course.” Getting tangled up with his family would complicate things, though. She’d counted on his relatives being conveniently tucked away in Spokane. “Could we wait until tomorrow?”

“We can.”

“How many people are we talking about?”

He gazed at her. “My immediate family is only five total—my dad, my sister and two brothers, Wes and Pete. But now there’s…you know what? We don’t have to go into all of that yet.”

“Probably better to wait until we’re closer to the time I’ll be meeting them. I might not remember what you’ve told me. I’m a little stressed.”

“Join the club.”

“Josh sure isn’t, though. He’s almost asleep.”

“Is he?” Gage peered down at him. “Huh. Guess so.”

“He must find you calming.” Her son was way more chill about this adventure than she was. She didn’t find Gage the least bit calming. She took a breath. “Listen, I appreciate the offer of dinner, but I can just pick up some fast food and I have stuff for Josh in the room.”

“What’s billed as fast food in Eagles Nest isn’t fast. You can burn a quarter of a tank of gas sitting in the drive-through waiting for it.”

“That’s okay. I can—”

“Please let me take you to the diner. If you’ll only be here a short time, I want to make the most of it.”

She hesitated.

“Think of it this way. You’ll have a chance to put me through my paces, see how I stand up under pressure.”

“I already did that.” She smiled. “You handle pressure just fine.”

“That’s what you think.” His dark eyes sparkled. “You can’t see the sweat marks on the back of my shirt.”

“Seriously, you did great.”

“So did you. Driving down here must have been a scary proposition, but you acted cool as a frozen daiquiri.”

“It’s an illusion I created by wearing this light green top.”

“Which looks nice on you, by the way. Matches your eyes.”

“Thanks.” The compliment created a flutter in her stomach.

“Your hair’s shorter.”

“Easier to take care of.” With Josh asleep on Gage’s lap, the mood was growing more intimate by the second.

His warm glance lingered on her mouth before returning to meet her gaze. “I’ve missed you, Emma.”

Her lips tingled. He kissed better than any man she’d ever been with. But he wouldn’t be kissing her now, even if he looked as if he wanted to. “I…I should get Josh back to the B&B.”

“Right.” He took a deep breath. “Right.”