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My chest tightened while I watched Avery. Beau was right—she was a natural. And she looked so damn happy, completely enamored with that baby.
I thought I’d made peace with the fact that I’d missed the chance to have my own kids, but I had to admit there was a hollow ache in my chest now, wishing things could have taken a different turn.
“Are you thinking about making Grady a grandfather someday?” Beau asked with amusement.
Avery snorted.
“If Dad had his way, I wouldn’t date until I was forty years old. I can’t imagine what his reaction would be if I ever got pregnant.”
Then her gaze shifted to me. I clenched my teeth until my jaw throbbed. I couldn’t be that man for her—the father of her children. She could pine and flirt and hope all she wanted, but she had to find someone else.
…if I ever got pregnant.
I closed my eyes and turned away, inhaling a steadying breath. I knew better than to allow myself to slide down the slippery slope of that rabbit hole, but my brain went there anyway.
The vision of Avery became so clear in my mind. One hand resting on her rounded belly, carrying our child. She would press my palm to her stomach with a smile as the baby kicked and squirmed.
She’s strong, like her daddy.
Fuck, why was I torturing myself like this? It didn’t matter how much Avery dropped hints, conveying her interest. It didn’t matter that I wanted her in return. It simply wasn’t meant to be.
Two hours later, I had the trailer hitched to the truck, and the cattle loaded for auction. Grady was supposed to accompany me, but he was busy facing off with Avery outside the bunkhouse.
“Come on, Dad,” Avery said. “It’s just an auction. I can drop off the cattle myself.”
“I never said you couldn’t,” Grady countered.
“Then let me do this.”
“There’s plenty of work you can keep an eye on here.”
“Letting me go to the auction—alone—proves that I’m taking a more active role in the business of the ranch. You’ve spent decades networking with other ranchers and making connections.”
“And you have been by my side for many of those years,” Grady protested. “It’s not like you’re brand new to this, Avery. People will recognize you.”
She sighed and crossed her arms.
“Yeah, they’ll recognize me as the cute little kid who followed you around everywhere like a puppy. No one will take me seriously. Which means that no one will want to do business with me.”
Grady groaned and scrubbed a hand over his mouth. I ducked my head to hide a little smile. Avery had him backed into a corner.
“You know I’m right,” she pointed out.
“You don’t have to rub it in,” Grady grumbled.
“I wouldn’t have to rub it in if you would let me handle the auction on my own. I need to start making connections, too.”
He blew out a breath of frustration and glanced away. Then his gaze fell on me.
“You’re not going alone,” Grady said at last.
“Dad,” Avery said with exasperation. “If you come with me, that defeats the whole purpose—”
“Not me. Bowen. I always take him to the auction—or one of the other cowboys. You will do the same.” When Avery opened her mouth to speak, Grady held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it. If you intend to be the boss one day, you have to learn how to delegate work. You can’t do it all yourself.”
She beamed and wrapped her arms around Grady’s neck. It never failed to amaze me that they could be at each other’s throats one minute, then hugging it out in the blink of an eye. I guess that was a testament to their security of their relationship. No matter how much they fought, they still cared about each other.
“Thank you, Dad. You’re the best.”
