Chapter Eight
“I’m still not sure this is a good idea.”
Wyatt held the driver’s side door of her Civic open, and Maddie hopped out. Lord, what the hell was she doing here at Leone Estates? Why had she let Wyatt talk her into this? She couldn’t imagine any of the Leones would welcome her. Why would they? The families had been feuding for more than twenty-five years. At least her grandfather had.
Gramps. Her stomach pitched and rolled. She couldn’t fathom never seeing him again. Couldn’t imagine going it alone. Having no family. No. Gramps had never been her family. Not in any real sense of the word. He’d provided for her, but there’d been no emotional involvement on his part. Had he ever really loved her? She wasn’t sure. Liar. She’d suspected the truth all along. It was why she’d gone to such lengths to keep her relationship with Wyatt a secret. She’d known what would happen, but couldn’t face losing Gramps. Like it or not, he was all she had.
Not anymore. A chill ran through her. She shuddered. Stop it. Maddie couldn’t dwell on him now. She’d break down if she did, and no way would she let that happen. Jacob needed her to stay strong.
Wyatt grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be fine. You’ll see. My parents will be thrilled at having a grandson. I promise.”
Even when they learned he was half Scott? Maddie wasn’t sure. Gramps rejected Jacob when he learned the truth.
“We should get you off that foot, too.”
She couldn’t argue. It hurt like a son of a bitch after walking on it all day. “Okay.” Maddie hobbled over to the passenger side of Wyatt’s truck to get Jacob. With her car packed to bursting point, there’d been no room for him in her back seat.
It seemed strange not having him with her. Even for such a short period of time. She couldn’t remember a time since his birth that he wasn’t by her side.
Jacob lay in his carrier. She leaned in, and inhaled the scent of warm baby. He smiled up at her, and everything seemed right with her world. He may not have been planned, but she couldn’t imagine her life now without him in it. Don’t you worry about anything, sweetheart. I’ll take good care of you. You can always count on me to be there for you. No matter what. She kissed his soft, smooth cheek. “Mama loves you.”
“Daddy does, too.”
Maddie peered around. She hadn’t heard Wyatt approach.
“From the first moment I saw him.” He shook his head, surprise and wonder glowing in his eyes. “I never understood how much I could adore…”
Maddie’s heart turned over. To see this big, hulk of a man besotted and obviously in love with their child… Her insides melted.
“It’s pretty amazing isn’t it? I fell head over heels for him the moment the doctor placed him in my arms.”
He cupped her face in his palm, and brushed his thumb back and forth over her cheek. She sighed and gave herself up to the soft, gentle caress.
“I should have been there when he came into this world. I’m sorry I wasn’t. More than you’ll ever know. I can’t change that, but I can promise you I’ll be here for him moving forward. No matter what.” Sincerity rang true in every word.
Maddie blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. She believed him. “Good. He’s going to need a father.” Lord, she had to lighten the mood before the dam burst open and she sobbed all over him. Again. Once today was bad enough, and she didn’t want to scare him off with any more outbursts. She pinned a determined smile on her face. “Especially when he gets to be a teenager.”
Wyatt let out a rumbly chuckle. “You’re right, if I was anything to go by.”
“Right about what?” a feminine voice asked.
Maddie whirled around to face the newcomers and froze. A slender, fifty-something woman with blond hair and brown eyes stood in front of her. She’d recognize her anywhere, and not because she was Wyatt’s mother. In addition to the soap opera that had put her on the map, Margret Miller had starred in numerous movies and television shows over her long acting career. Talk about intimidating…
A man of similar age accompanied Margret. Maddie glimpsed what Wyatt might look like in the future. Tall and big like his son, David Leone had curly brown hair with a touch of gray, and hazel eyes. He frowned, making him seem even more imposing. She couldn’t blame him, couldn’t imagine what must be going through his mind. A Scott hadn’t stepped foot on Leone soil in more than twenty years, and here she stood.
She should go. Coming here was a mistake. She and Jacob could go to a hotel for a few days until she found an apartment.
Wyatt turned and dragged a hand through his hair. “Mom. Dad. You remember Maddie, don’t you?”
They nodded in unison. Margret gave an apprehensive smile and extended her hand. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Maddie sucked in a breath and shook it, trying to keep her own from trembling. “It’s nice to see you, too.”
David nodded and reached for her palm. “It’s been a long time.”
Yes, it had. Margret and David hadn’t deserved Gramps’s angry outburst when they’d come to her parents’ funeral. They’d been grieving the loss of David’s father, and their son was in the hospital fighting for his life. It still amazed her they’d come to pay their respects with everything they’d been going through at the time.
“And this is Jacob.” Wyatt lifted the baby out of the car seat and cradled him in his arms. “My son.”
Both Margret and David stared wide-eyed at Wyatt, mouths gaped open.
“Your son?” David repeated.
“Yes.”
Margret let out a squeal of delight. “Is this why you called a few minutes ago and said you’d be stopping by?”
“Yes. I wanted to introduce you to him.”
“I can’t believe it.” Margret threw her arms around Wyatt taking care not to squash the baby. “A grandson. How wonderful.”
Maddie let out the breath she’d been holding. Wyatt was right. His parents seemed thrilled.
Margret turned to Maddie and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Maddie stiffened. She hadn’t expected Margret’s enthusiastic response would extend to her.
Margret didn’t seem to notice Maddie’s hesitation. She released her and turned her attention to Jacob. “Oh, he’s beautiful. Can I hold him, please?”
She reached out, and Wyatt handed Jacob to her. “Come on. Let’s go inside. I want to get to know this little angel.” Margret smiled down at Jacob. “I’m Grandma, my sweet little cherub.”
They headed into the modern, stuccoed ranch.
“David, why don’t you take them into the living room? I’ll join you in a minute after I put the coffee on. I’ll bring out some pastry, too.”
“Please don’t fuss on my account.” Her stomach roiled at the idea of anything to eat or drink.
“Don’t bother, Mom. We’re fine.”
“All right, then let’s go and sit down.”
Maddie followed Margret and David to the end of the hall. Her gaze darted around as she stepped into the sizable room. Light floors and walls mixed with dark wood accent pieces offered a tranquil charm, and she couldn’t help but feel welcome in this space.
“Have a seat.” Margret gestured for her and Wyatt to sit on the tan overstuffed couch. She took one of the matching chairs across from them, and placed Jacob on her lap. David sat in the other. “So…”
Maddie tensed. Surely Margret and David expected them to explain about why they hadn’t learned about their grandson until now. They were probably wondering about her and Wyatt, too. What was she supposed to say?
Wyatt cleared his throat. “Maddie and Jacob are going to stay in the guesthouse for a while.”
Margret shifted her gaze from Jacob to Wyatt, and then to Maddie.
David drew in a sharp breath. “Stay here? At Leone Estates?”
Shit, shit, shit. She’d been right. They might be excited to have a new member of the family, but as she’d imagined, their hospitality didn’t extend to a Scott. At least not one who didn’t have some Leone blood running through them. “Don’t worry. We can stay somewhere else if you’d rather.”
David shook his head. “No. That won’t be necessary. You and Jacob are welcome to stay here for as long as you want.”
Margret nodded. “Yes, we’d love to have you.” She stood and handed the baby back to Wyatt. She sat next to Maddie, gave her another hug, and kissed her cheek. “If you need anything, anything at all, just ask. We’re here if you need us.”
Moisture gathered in the corners of Maddie’s eyes. They hadn’t turned her away as Gramps had. Instead, they’d welcomed her and Jacob. She squeezed Margret tighter. “I can’t thank you enough. Your generosity means more than you can imagine.” A tear trickled down her cheek. She eased away, and wiped it with the back of her hand. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“It has.” Wyatt stood. “We should get going so Maddie and Jacob can get settled.”
“We’ll let you go then.” David crossed to the couch. He tweaked Jacob’s chin, the same awestruck expression on his face Wyatt had shown earlier.
“Ready to go?” Wyatt asked her.
“Yes.” Maddie rose and they strode to the door. Margret and David followed.
“Will you bring him by for another visit tomorrow?” David asked.
Maddie nodded. “Yes, of course.”
David grinned and ruffled the tiny curls on Jacob’s head. “Grandpa can’t wait.”
Margret kissed Jacob on the cheek and turned to Maddie. “I’d be happy to babysit anytime you’d like. All you have to do is ask.”
Maddie stared. Their kindness, and acceptance—no questions asked—floored her. Why did Gramps hate these people?
Maddie followed Wyatt’s truck as they drove the short distance from the main house to the guesthouse. She unbuckled Jacob from his car seat when they arrived, and Wyatt grabbed the porta-crib from the bed of the truck.
“Let’s go inside.” Wyatt gestured to the two-story wood and stone lodge.
They walked into a huge, open area. A bright, airy kitchen stood at the far end with white cupboards and a massive island open to the living room. Light oak flooring ran throughout the space. Wyatt handed Jacob to Maddie.
“Do you want me to set up the crib down here, or upstairs?”
Maddie glanced at her watch. Crap, it was already after eight. She shouldn’t be surprised. It had taken quite a few hours to pack up their belongings. “Right here is fine.” All she wanted now was to plop down on the overstuffed sectional and veg out for a little while before heading off to bed.
Wyatt nodded. “I’ll set it up next to the couch.”
“Great.” She ambled over to the wall of windows while she waited. A magnificent view of the Sonoma Valley with its lush plains and rolling hills greeted her. “What do you think, little one? Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Jacob yawned, and his long lashes drifted down.
“Spectacular.” Wyatt stepped beside her and rested a hand on her shoulder. “The cot is all set up if you want to put Jacob down.”
Maddie moved the short distance, and laid Jacob in the crib. She placed a light blanket on top of him. “Sleep tight, my little darling.”
“Want the ten cent tour of the place?”
“Absolutely.”
“What you see is pretty much what you get. Kitchen, dining area and living room are on this level, and there’s a half bath and laundry right off the kitchen. I won’t make you do the stairs right now. No use putting more stress on your ankle.”
She laughed. “Thank you, kind sir. I appreciate that.”
Wyatt wiggled his brows. “In any case, there are two bedrooms up there, and a full bath. What do you think of the place?”
She peered around the room and smiled. The country style and décor came straight out of the pages of a home-and-garden magazine. Despite the immense size, the area seemed cozy. A comfortable, welcoming place you could relax in. The complete opposite of her grandfather’s home. Thank goodness.
“I understand it’s not as nice as your house at Scott Hill, but—”
She lifted a hand and placed her finger on his lips to stop him from saying anything more. “It’s perfect.” Maddie threw her arms around him and squeezed.
Wyatt crushed her to him, and she couldn’t breathe. She didn’t care. His glorious body surrounded her, and those strong arms, and his heady scent… It was like coming home. She burrowed deeper into his warm, secure embrace, wanting nothing more than to stay here with him.
Wyatt jerked away. “I, uh,” he dragged a hand through his hair, “should get the rest of the things from my truck, and then I have to get going.” He strode to the door.
Maddie shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Good grief, what was wrong with her? Okay, once upon a time she’d wanted him, but things were different now. Wyatt wanted to be a father to Jacob. Period. She’d do well to remember that.