Page 58 of Bryson

Bryson looked up as the woman bustled into the room. "Give us a few more minutes," he ordered.

As soon as the woman walked out of the room, he gathered his wife closer to him with his free hand. "Thank you, darling."

"You're more than welcome."

"My God! I want one of my own. I never saw myself as a papa, but this baby, this cute little tyke with his perfect ten toes and ten fingers and those glorious hazel eyes has changed my mind. A week old and he looks like he already knows the way of the world. I want one."

Taking her son from him, Julianne slid him a wry glance. "You do realize he's an actual person and not an acquisition, right?"

"So?" He gave her a challenging stare, watching in fascination as the baby zeroed in on his mother's nipple. Brian had extended his visit for another two weeks, unwilling to tear himself away from the newborn. And he was a constant visitor to the beautifully decorated spring yellow and green nursery. The first time Bryson came in and saw him curled up cozily on the softplush sofa by the window while Julianne breastfed their son, he had been taken aback and expressed his displeasure.

"He was staring at your breast."

"He was staring at Alex," she corrected. "Brian is one hundred percent gay and has seen me naked a number of times. Trust me when I tell you, he's not in the least bit interested in me."

That had staggered him. "He's seen you naked? A number of times? Did you two..."

"Have you heard the part about him being gay?" she asked in exasperation.

"You're beautiful and he's not blind. I don't like the idea of him looking at your breasts. I'm the only man who's entitled to."

Now whenever she breastfed their son, she used a blanket to cover her exposed flesh.

Looking at her best friend in amusement, she shook her head. "You're not even in a relationship."

Brian sat across from her, his fascination with the baby growing. "I'm a man of means and I've been thinking of adopting. I spoke to Barbara about it. I would adopt one of those cute kids from the children's home and make this my permanent residence. The sale of the cottage has gone through and I'm thinking of moving here permanently. It would give me the chance of being here for my godson, a lot of birds with one stone."

"You're serious."

"As the proverbial heart attack."

"Being a parent is not something you just jump into..."

"You did not want to be a parent and now here you are and you cannot tell me you're not loving it," he pointed out reasonably.

"I have the support. Even Barbara is on board. My husband..." She smiled as she said it. Shifting her son to the other breast, she stroked his hair gently. "Bryson is a terrific dad."

"Are you saying I would make a lousy father?"

"I think you would do great. But this is something that will change your life."

"Then perhaps my life needs changing." He pointed to Alex. "Yours certainly has."

He had scrubbed himself clean before climbing into bed with her.

"How about you let me take over now?"

It was always the same with him. He would finish his tasks earlier than usual so he could come and be involved in his son's bedtime ritual. Even though he worked from dawn to dusk on the ranch, he would urge her to get some sleep when their son woke up for his feed at midnight and two in the morning.

"How was he today?"

"A little fussy."

"Anything wrong?" Bryson examined the tiny features carefully. It almost seemed to him that the baby recognized him.

"Babies fuss, darling. Brian is spoiling him." She tucked the blanket around him. "He wants to adopt and stay here permanently."

Bryson's eyes flew to her face, his frown deepening. "At the ranch? Darling, I know he's your friend, but I don't think he should actually live here."