Baby Mine (Stubborn Texas Siblings Book 1) by Faith Loveright Page B

Jeff,” Eric reminded his brother in a craggy voice. “It didn’t last. I’m not sure that I trust in that sort of relationship with a woman any more. But I won’t deny that I want Madeline physically… I’m not stupid enough to believe I can be involved in a no strings affair. Especially not with her. Believe me; I’m fully aware that I’m going to have to take a risk where she’s concerned.”
    The nurse came out with Lillie Rose and handed her over to Eric. “You can take her in to the other room,” she said, pointing at a door on the other side of the busy nursery. “There is a rocking chair where you can sit with your daughter. Normally, we reserve it for the NICU patients, but I know Maddie. If she asked for time alone, she needs it. I know when she went into this whole parenthood thing; she hadn’t expected to have to share the baby with anyone else. I realize she’s determined to do what she believes to be the right thing by her daughter, which means she is bending over backwards to include you in the baby’s life. Your friend here is welcome to join you,” she said, nodding at Jeff before turning and walking away, leaving them alone.
    “Well, that was about as subtle as a gunshot wound straight to the heart,” Eric grumbled, shaking his head as he carried his daughter back inside and through the door the nurse had pointed out. “Come on, little brother. Let’s make an effort to get to know this precious baby girl.”
    “Give her a break,” Jeff scolded as Eric settled into a rocking chair with his daughter snuggled into the crook of his arm. “She cares about Madeline. Clearly, she has her issues with men. If she didn’t, she would have gone about getting pregnant the natural way.”
    That statement hung in the air and Eric had to consider what she’d told him earlier. No man had ever touched her. That fact had left him hard for a long time, despite his overwhelming fear. Now, he had to stop and ask himself what reason there could possibly be for that, where the unbelievably beautiful doctor was concerned.
    “Yeah… come to think of it, there has to be something in her past somewhere that has made her leery of men. No worries. I have every intention of changing her mind about that. As soon as humanly possible.”
    He watched as Jeff walked out of the room, laughing so hard, his belly shook. Eric’s lips curved into a smile in response. His brother had been just as stone faced around him as he had been distant ever since Victoria had been killed. If it was half as relieving to his little brother to see him living again as it was for him to see the twerp laugh , Eric was pleased that he’d been able to relieve a little of his little brother’s concern.
    One more thing to thank Madeline for bringing back into both of their lives. He looked down at the gorgeous baby girl in his arms and offered her his finger to wrap her pudgy little hand around. “You and me, kiddo. We’re going to find a way to make your mommy smile again. The sooner the better. We owe her that much after everything she’s given us.”
    When the nurse came in and told him that Madeline was awake and asking to see her daughter, Eric stood up, refusing to hand the baby over. He carried her down the hall into the delivery room himself. His heart was light as he pushed the doors open and handed the sweet angel in his arms to the beautiful woman in the bed. He tried hard not to think about how much he wanted to pull Madeline into his arms when she reached for the baby.
    When she smiled and immediately moved her gown out of the way to nurse their daughter, Eric tensed; his gaze glued to the milky white skin she’d bared. Keeping things light and easy until she healed was going to be next to impossible if she was going to insist on being so open about breast feeding. He shifted uncomfortably, forcing himself to look away.
    “So… I’m just going to pull up a chair and try to get some shut eye now. If you need anything…