Winning Over the Rancher. Mary Brady

of what the investigator might have found. “I think I’m going to accept that for now, but I might never want to know what you discovered.”

      “To my family, you seemed the most…human I guess.”

      “I…um…try.”

      “They trust you and I’ve decided to listen to them.”

      “I had the feeling trusting me was difficult for you.” She drew her lips inward. “I won’t disappoint you, Baylor Doyle, because you’re a good man.”

      He lifted an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

      “Thank you for everything.” KayLee closed her eyes briefly and imagined the happy feelings filtering down toward her baby. Everything that was good in her life, she tried to share with her unborn child.

      She noted his expression and tried to figure out what he might be thinking. “You could have given me such a hard time for opening my mouth about being attracted to you.”

      “Still might.”

      “Or take advantage of me.”

      “Still might.”

      It was her turn to laugh and she did and then faced the window when new tears formed in her eyes.

      “Do you cry all the time?” he asked.

      “Pretty much.” She sniffed.

      “Isn’t that normal?”

      “Normal? Nothing about me is normal, if normal is the way I was before I was pregnant.” Her breath steamed the window as she spoke.

      “Here.” He reached around and handed her a large soft hankie with a red-and-white paisley pattern, the kind she used to wear as a scarf, but this one was softer and the color had faded so much, it must have been washed a million times.

      She blew her nose and dabbed her eyes.

      “Thanks.” She tucked the hankie in the pocket of the jacket. She’d have to remember to take it out and wash it.

      “Amy cried for seven months straight before she gave birth to little Trey two years ago,” he said, his voice kind and soft and she so appreciated the gesture of comfort. “Good news, though, KayLee.”

      She sniffed again. “What’s that?”

      “Now she only cries when she’s sad.”

      “That’s good.”

      “Or when she’s happy.”

      She laughed again. Baylor Doyle made her laugh. Not much did these days and she loved him for it—well, liked him for it. When she pivoted in her seat, he was still facing her, arms folded, hat pushed back so golden curls framed his face.

      She had never seen anything that looked as good as he did at that moment. Trouble. Sexy and roguish at the same time. A bad boy. Deep trouble.

      “I can do this job and you will like what I’ve done.” She smiled and placed a hand on her belly. “Now, I need to get back to town and get some rest.”

      “The family will want to say goodbye before you leave.”

      When they got back to the ranch house, the Doyles, including three children, had gathered in the kitchen to see her off.

      Holly and Lance introduced their two-year-old daughter, Katie, and a five-year-old son, Matt.

      “Hi, Katie. Hi, Matt,” KayLee said. Katie grinned and hid behind her father’s leg. Matt stuck out his hand and she shook it.

      From the other side of the butcher block island Seth and Amy introduced her to their shy two-year-old son, Trey. Amy held the frail-looking boy in her arms, and he kept his head on her shoulder.

      Evvy hugged her, and Curtis shook her hand. “Thank you for working so hard on this project for us,” he said. This must have been where Baylor got his blue eyes.

      “Don’t be fooled by all this, KayLee.” With the sweep of his hand, Baylor included every Doyle in the room. “We all have our company manners on.”

      “Speak for yourself,” Holly shot back. “I’m always nice.”

      “You are, Mommy,” the red-haired boy beside her said. “Can I have pie now?”

      Curtis laughed. “You keep it up, boy,” he said to the child. “You never know what you’ll get by asking.”

      “Thanks, a lot, Dad.”

      “So, can I?” Matthew patted his mother on the arm.

      Holly made a fierce face at her father-in-law and was met with grandfatherly innocence.

      “After dinner, sweetie. If you’re hungry now I’ll get you an apple.”

      “Me, too,” Katie cried and jumped out into the open.

      While the other children romped, blond, curly-haired Trey sat quietly in his mother’s arms and seemed to get more attention than he needed. KayLee knew she’d be like that. The first-child syndrome.

      “I’m glad you’re going to work for us,” Evvy said from the table where she had taken a seat.

      “Me, too,” said Amy.

      “We all are,” Holly added, as she washed an apple at the sink.

      The brothers and sisters-in-law all looked to Baylor.

      He shook his head. “Yes, we all are.”

      “Is she your girlfriend, Uncle Baylor?” Matt asked, accepting an apple slice from his mother.

      “She’s going to build more houses here on the ranch,” Holly said to distract the boy.

      “Wow. Real houses.”