Page 9 of Talk Wicked to Me

Baz was surprised to realize he had a similar feeling. He felt protective of the animals he brought into this world and of his nieces and nephews, but nothing could have prepared him for the bone-deep desire to protect them both.

“That’s how it was for my brother Tank when his son, Leo, was born. When he first saw him, he said it was like someone had torn out a piece of his heart and created Leo with it.”

She looked up from the baby. “That’s exactly how it feels. Like he came from my heart.”

“He did. Have you thought of a name yet?”

She nodded, touching her baby’s cheek. “Mm-hm. I’ve had it picked out for months, whether I had a boy or a girl, it was always going to be Brennan. Brennan Lou Lockhart, after my parents.”

“I bet they’ll be thrilled.”

A wave of sadness washed over her face, but it was gone as quickly as it had come. “I lost them a long time ago. Brennan was my dad’s name, and Louisa was my mom’s.”

Shit. He hadn’t expected that. He struggled against the urge to wrap her in his arms and hold her, covering her hand with his instead, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks, but as I said, it was a long time ago. I’m used to being on my own, but now I’m not alone anymore.” She looked lovingly at Brennan and kissed his forehead. When her gaze found Baz again, the shadows of sadness were gone. “Do you want to hold him?”

He had a lot of questions, but her subject change told him she didn’t want to talk about her parents, so he let it go for now. But while he wanted to hold the baby more than anything, he was having a hard enough time trying to wrap his head around his own fucked-up feelings, and holding him would only make it worse. “No, it’s okay.”

“Come on, Baz,” she coaxed playfully. “I see the way you’re looking at him. You know you want to.” She cocked her head, brows lifting expectantly as she held the baby out, beaming.

He didn’t have the heart to say no again. “Is it that obvious?”

“You look like you might be catching baby fever. Do you want me to get a nurse and see if they have a remedy, or will you feed the hunger and hold the baby?” She accentuated the last part with a deep, villainous voice.

“Well, if you put it that way.” He took the baby from her, drinking in his tiny features and the thick dark hair standing straight up along the center of his head like a mohawk. He was so little and vulnerable, stirring that unfamiliar sensation in his chest again, awakening the skeletons of his past.

“See? I knew you wanted to hold him.”

He looked up as she took a picture of them with her phone and cocked a brow in question.

“It’s for his baby book, since you delivered him.” She gazed at the picture for a long moment before setting the phone down beside her. “Besides, Gwen will never believe that there are veterinarians that look like you out here.”

He laughed.

“You laugh, but I’m sure with those dimples and that surfer hair, women are buying pets left and right just to come see you.”

“Some of them even pretend their dogs ate chocolate chip cookies to get my attention.”

“I did not.” She laughed.

“Okay, maybe not, but you did just happen to go into labor on the road where I run. I’m sure that was planned. Fess up. How long were you stalking me to figure out where I run?”

“Shut up.” They both laughed.

“I’m only kidding. Kind of.” That earned another grin. “Would you mind texting me that picture, and I’ll send you the one I took of you right after he was born?”

“That’s a sneaky way to get my number,” she teased.

“Whatever it takes.” He rattled off his number, and she sent the text. He took out his phone and opened her text. His pulse kicked up at the way he was looking at Brennan in the picture she’d taken. Fuck. He did look like he had baby fever. He needed to put some distance between them. He sent her the picture he’d taken and pocketed his phone, trying to shake off that image.

“This whole thing is crazy,” she said. “I had a detailed birth plan, and it did not include squatting on the side of the road with the cute vet who found lettuce in my hair.”

He cocked a grin. “The truth comes out. You’re into surfer hair and dimples, aren’t you?” Way to keep your distance, asshole.

She rolled her eyes. “Actually, looks aside, I think you’re pretty amazing. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. I must seem like a hot mess, but I’m really an organized person when I’m not on the verge of having a baby. I’ve had a bag packed for a month with cute nursing pajamas, an outfit to bring Brennan home in, and clothes for me to wear home. I even bought matching mommy and baby fuzzy socks.”

“Well, you definitely need those. Where’s the bag? In your car?”