His chest tightened at the kind gesture. “That was nice of you,” he said. “Would you like to come in?”
She bit her lip. “I have Piper in the car.”
He hesitated. “Bring her in. There’s chicken noodle soup in the Crock-Pot. I’m just watching a movie.”
“Are you sure?” she asked, her gaze searching his.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” he said.
Stacey returned to the car and pulled Piper from her car seat, along with a diaper bag. Colton rushed to take the bag for her. He wouldn’t admit it aloud, but he was still a little gun-shy with the baby.
Stacey pulled a blanket from the diaper bag and spread it on the floor in the den while Colton ladled soup into a bowl for her and poured a glass of water. Colton returned to find the baby propped against some kind of pillow thing that kept her from falling over.
“Does she like that?” he asked.
“She can actually sit by herself, but she eventually topples. She didn’t get much of a nap today, so I thought she could use a break,” she said, and placed a couple of toys next to the tot. “I’m hoping for an early night.”
“I’ll say,” he said, and set Stacey’s soup on a tray on the end table.
“Thanks,” she said, taking a seat on the sofa. She took a spoonful of soup. “This is good. It’s nice eating someone else’s food for a change.”
“Yes, it is. That’s probably why my mother does most of the cooking. She’s good at it, so we just let her do it,” he said.
“My brothers don’t cook either. I got more interested in cooking when I went to nursing school,” she said. “Then, after I got engaged, I wanted to take my mother’s recipes with me when I got married. But that didn’t work out,” she said, and took another spoonful of soup.
An uncomfortable silence stretched between them.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call,” he finally admitted. “I wanted to.” How could he tell Stacey that he feared he was a rebound man for her?
She looked up at him in surprise. “You did?”
“Of course I did,” he said. “I didn’t exactly hide how I felt with you when you were in my bed.”
She looked away. “Well, I have a previous experience with someone who wanted to go to bed with me, but then left.”
His gut clenched. “I don’t want you to feel that way, but it just seemed as if everything was moving fast. It was out of control.”
She nodded. “I wanted you, but I didn’t want to want you.”
“Exactly. I wasn’t ready for what I was feeling,” he said.
She gave another slow nod and took another sip of her soup. “Does that mean you want to forget what we did and go back to being friends?”
“That might be like trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube,” he said. “I always want to be your friend, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to be more.”
Stacey met his gaze. “Then what do you want to do about it?”
The sexy challenge in her green eyes felt like a velvet punch in his gut. “Maybe we could spend some more time together. Go to Vicker’s Corners, see a movie, take some walks when it’s not freezing. Go for hot chocolate,” he said, and wondered if she would find his suggestions lame.
She gave a slow smile. “That sounds nice, but people are gonna talk. I’m used to gossip, but you’re not.”
“I can handle it,” he said defensively, although Colton had never liked people getting in his business. “I’m just probably not as nice about it as you are,” he said and chuckled.
At that moment, he heard his parents walk through the front door. “Yoo-hoo,” his mother called. “We’re home.”
Piper, who had been surprisingly quiet, looked up from playing with her toy.
Colton’s mother and father came to a dead stop as they glanced into the den. “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Foster,” she said, rising from the sofa. Colton also rose. “I stopped by with a few of my red velvet cupcakes, and Colton offered me some of your delicious soup.”
“Good for both of you. I’m glad Colton showed you some hospitality. Frank and I heard there was a mishap with the baby at the winter festival today, but couldn’t get the details.”
Stacey chuckled. “I’ll let Colton fill you in on that. I should be getting Piper home.”
“I’ll just say I’ll wash the shirt I wore today twice,” he said.
His father gave a nod. “Been there, done that. It’s good to see you and the baby, Stacey. I hope you don’t mind if I get some of that soup.”
“Not at all,” Stacey said.
“Oops. Sounds as if there might have been a little mess,” Colton’s mother said. “Don’t rush off,” she said as Stacey put away Piper’s baby paraphernalia. “Let me see that sweet little munchkin. She’s growing like a weed.”
Mrs. Foster extended her arms to the baby and smiled when Stacey handed Piper to her. “What a friendly little sweetheart. Your mother says she’s sleeping through the night most of the time.”
“That’s right. We had a rough time the first few months, and she still has her moments. But don’t we all?” Stacey said.
“I can tell you’re a good mother. I always knew you would be. You just seem to roll with whatever comes your way. I know Rachel is going to be upset that she didn’t get to see you and the baby,” Mrs. Foster said. “Are you sure you can’t stay?”
“I really should go,” Stacey said. “I’m hoping for an early night. It’s good to see you.”
“Same here,” his mother said, then plopped the baby in Colton’s arms. “Here. You carry Piper out to the car. Stacey could probably use a little break from hauling around this little chunk of love after today.”
Colton automatically stiffened but soldiered up. He couldn’t disagree with his mother. After his limited experience with Piper, he was surprised Stacey wasn’t exhausted all the time. From what he could tell, branding an entire herd of cattle would be easier than watching over a baby.
He carried Piper to the car and let Stacey fasten her into her safety seat. Piper fussed a little at the confinement. “You just better get used to this,” Stacey said in a kind but matter-of-fact voice. “You’ll be sitting in a safety seat every time you get in the car.” She shook a toy connected to the front of the seat to distract the baby, and Piper quieted down.
“You’re good with her. I’ll say that much. She can be a handful,” he said, shaking his head.
“She’s curious and sweet, but you’re right. She has her moments,” Stacey said.
“That’s when those bubbles come in handy,” he said.
Stacey stared at him and smiled. “So you did use the bubbles that night you kept her for me?”
“Hey, I had to hit the ground running. That diaper bag is like a bag of tricks,” he said.
“You almost sound as if you’re still afraid of her,” Stacey said. “My little Piper couldn’t terrify a big, strong man like you, could she?”
“Of course not,” he lied because the baby did have the ability to scare him more than a fright movie. “I’m just no baby expert like you are.”
“Maybe she’ll grow on you,” Stacey said softly.
“Maybe,” he said. Piper’s mother was growing on him. He leaned toward Stacey