Fortune's Heart

“I can’t take it back,” the bartender said.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Stacey took another sip of water and eyed the door.

“Fancy meeting you here,” a familiar male voice said.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she said, and stretched both of her hands toward Colton.

“Problem?” he asked, glancing down at her hands clutching his arm.

“I just went to Ella Mae Jergen’s baby shower. She made a snarky comment about my missing baby daddy. I came here for a beer, but I couldn’t make myself drink it. And some guy bought me another beer. Save me,” she said.

Colton chuckled and gently extracted her fingers from his arm. “Hey, Phil, buy Stacey’s admirer a beer on me.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I was just going to drink half a beer, but I felt guilty after the first sip. Do you know how long it’s been since I had a drink at a bar?”

“Apparently too long,” Colton said.

“Maybe,” she said.

“You don’t have to give up living just because you had a baby,” he said.

She nodded, but she didn’t really agree.

Colton lifted her chin with his finger. “Your life is not over. You can still have fun,” he said.

“I have fun,” she said, unable to resist the urge to squirm. “I have lots of fun with Piper.”

Colton shot her a doubtful glance. “You need to start getting out more. And I don’t mean baby showers.”

Stacey lifted her eyebrows at Colton’s suggestion. “You don’t mean dating, do you?”

“You don’t have to date. You just need to get out. You’re acting—” He broke off.

Stacey frowned. “I’m acting how?”

Colton scrubbed his jaw. “I don’t know how to say this.”

“Well, spit it out,” she said. “I want to know.”

Colton sighed. “You’re acting...old.”

Stacey stared at him in disbelief. “Old?” she repeated. “I’m acting old?” She couldn’t remember when she’d felt so insulted. “I’m only twenty-four. How can I be old?”

“I didn’t say you are old,” Colton said in a low voice. “I said you’re acting old.”

“Well, I have a baby now. I need to be responsible,” she said.

“I agree, but you don’t have to stop living your life,” he said.

Stacey paused, thinking about what Colton had told her. “You’re Mr. Responsibility. I can’t believe you’re telling me to cut loose and be a wild woman.”

“I didn’t say you should be a wild woman. I just said you need to get out more,” he said.

“Hmm,” Stacey said. “I’m going to have to think about this.” She paused. “I wonder who I could call if I decide to get out. If I decide I want to have half a beer.”

“You can call me,” Colton offered. “Remember, I’m Mr. Responsibility.”

In her experience, Stacey knew that Colton was Mr. Responsibility. He always had been and she valued that quality in him now more than ever. But lately, when she looked at Colton, she couldn’t seem to forget what it had felt like to dance in his arms on New Year’s Eve. And that almost kiss they’d shared. Almost, but not quite. She wondered what a real kiss from him would feel like. Stacey almost wished he’d kiss her and she would be disappointed, so she could stop thinking about him so much.

* * *

The next day, Colton showed up unexpectedly at the Joneses’ house. Stacey was happy to see him even though he seemed intent on asking her father’s thoughts about some issue with the cattle. She brought Colton and her father some coffee. Colton tossed her a smile but kept talking with her father.

Stacey couldn’t help feeling a little jealous of the time he was spending with her father. She knew Piper would awaken any moment, and her time would then be divided. Hurry up, Dad. But she knew the mental urging was useless. Her father was usually stone quiet, but when it came to talking about the ranch, once he got going, he didn’t stop.

She checked her watch and felt her stomach clench as she waited for Piper to call out for her. Finally, her father took a potty break. Hallelujah.

“Better today?” Colton asked her as he headed for the door, where Stacey waited on the porch.

She nodded. “I guess so. Sorry if I freaked out on you last night.”

“You didn’t,” he said. “It’s like I said. You just need to get out more. I know your mama would be more than happy to watch Piper for you every now and then.”

“I don’t want to burden her,” Stacey said as she stepped out of the front porch with him. “They’ve taken Piper and me in. I don’t want to take advantage of them.”

“You wouldn’t ever do that,” he said. “Listen, how about if I take you to the bar and grill in town? What’s a good day for you?”

Surprise rippled through her. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude on your, uh, relationship with your new girlfriend.”

He hesitated a half beat. “She won’t mind,” he said. “When do you want to go?”

“I think Thursday may work. I’ll have to ask Mama first. Can I get back to you?”

“Sure,” he said, and squeezed her arm just like one of her brothers would. “Remember to smile.”

She stared after him as he started to walk away. “Wait,” she said, and he turned around. “Do I frown that much?”

He paused. “You used to seem a lot happier,” Colton said. “I hate to see you so sad and burdened.”

“My life is different now,” she said.

“But is it sad?” he asked.

She took a deep breath and thought about his question. “Not really.” She smiled. “I’ll call you about dinner at the grill followed by a beer. I appreciate the pity date.”

“It’s no pity date,” he said. “We’ve known each other a long time. We should be able to cheer each other up. You may have to do it for me sometime,” he said.

“That’s hard for me to imagine,” she said.