Best of My Love (Fool's Gold, #20)

“That baby looks good on you,” Aidan said with a smile.

She laughed softly. “I can’t believe you said that. You’re not freaked out by this whole thing?”

“Why would I be? Not my baby.” He raised one shoulder. “Although I have to admit, it’s more tempting than I thought it would be.”

Shelby leaned toward him. “Want to hold her?”

Aidan backed up so fast, he nearly knocked over a chair. He held up both hands, as if surrendering. “No way. I’m not that guy.”

For a second, Shelby wanted to tell him he was exactly that guy. That he would be a great father. But she knew the thought of it terrified him. Talk about getting stuck. Still, a girl could dream.

She turned back to her sister-in-law. “She’s amazing. You’re so lucky.”

Destiny wiped away tears. “I know.” She smiled at Starr, her fifteen-year-old half sister. “You hanging in there?”

Starr nodded, even though she looked a little shell-shocked. It was one thing to know there was going to be a new baby in the house and another to actually see her an hour or so after she’d been born.

Shelby made a mental note to make sure she and her honorary niece talked that night. Starr would be staying with her the first couple of nights after the birth. Just to give the new parents time to settle in. Shelby wanted to use the time to make sure Starr was adjusting all right to the sudden change in circumstances. While Starr was excited to have a baby niece, a newborn would sure change things.

Kipling grinned at the teen. “You must have friends who can give advice on having a baby in the house.”

Starr smiled back. “Yes. They said to be gone when it’s time to change the poopy diapers.”

Later, after Kipling had dropped off Shelby and Starr at her place, Shelby led the teen into the guest room.

“You doing okay?” she asked. “For real?”

Starr sat on the bed. “It’s really strange. I knew Destiny was like having a baby. I mean how could you look at her and not know. But when she had Tonya, it was all so...”

“Unexpected?” Shelby offered. “Real?”

“Yeah.”

Shelby sat next to her and hugged the teen. “You know that the baby is going to get a lot of attention from everyone. Not just your sister and Kipling, but the whole town.”

Starr nodded. “I know. She’s small and cute.”

“With those big eyes. It can’t be helped. Just remember that none of that means you are loved any less. You’re an important part of this family. For a while it’s going to seem like everything is messed up and then it will get better.”

Starr leaned into her. “Thanks for looking out for me.”

“You’re my favorite niece.”

Starr laughed. “You have to stop saying that. Now you have two.”

“Oh, right. I didn’t think of that. Well, I’m going to say it for a while more and then I’ll just think it.” She kissed Starr’s forehead. “How about pizza for dinner?”

“I’d love that.”

“Me, too. Let’s go pick our toppings.”

Starr crossed to the kitchen drawer with the take-out menus and found the one for pizza.

“Pepperoni for sure,” she said.

“Of course. It wouldn’t be pizza without it. What else?”

Starr tilted her head. “You’re dating Aidan.”

The change in subject surprised Shelby. “We’re not dating. We’re friends.”

“But you’re together all the time and you’re not seeing any other guy. You like him. How is that not dating?”

“It’s hard to explain, I know, but we really are just friends.”

“That’s not what everyone is saying.”

Then everyone was wrong. But she didn’t say that, because the statements were starting to get repetitive. Instead she pointed to the menu.

“Extra cheese.”

Starr grinned. “Absolutely.”





CHAPTER NINE

THE SWING OF the ax followed by the thunk of the blade sinking into wood was satisfying. The crack as the log split. Aidan bent down to grab the split pieces, then he tossed them into the growing pile by the side of the house.

The sun was out, the snow steadily melting as the temperature climbed into the fifties. He’d already hung his coat over the railing. In another half hour or so, he would be rolling up the sleeves of his shirt.

“You could help,” he called to his brother. Nick sat on the porch in one of the big chairs. Charlie was settled in the other man’s lap. Neither of them seem inclined to move.

Nick waved his bottle of beer. “You’ve got it covered, bro. I’d only be in the way.”

“You like watching me work.”

“I’ll admit it’s satisfying.” He rubbed Charlie’s ears. “What were you thinking with this dog?”

“You like Charlie.”

“I do.” Nick took a drink. “He’s not your type.”