“I like it!” Daisy exclaimed.
“I like it,” Judge grumbled. “And it ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
Teddy huffed out a breath. “Well!” He dug out his wallet and pulled out a business card, shoving it at Cassie, who took it. “I’m here for you if you need me. You must be new around here, since I’ve never seen you or your daughter before.”
“I am.”
“Then I’m your fella to take care of all that luscious hair for you and your girl. First cut is on the house. Manes on Main.” He pointed down to his shop. “Right there.” He clapped his hands together once. “Now, I need to go open my salon so this little muffin can get out of the cold.” Teddy turned back to Judge. “How long have you lived in town?”
“My whole life,” the big man answered.
Teddy pursed his lips and let his gaze rake over Judge again. He tilted his head. “We go to school together?”
“You’re a few years older than me.”
“Bet I’d recognize your handsome face if you let me trim off that mess.”
“Sounds like a good reason to keep it.”
Teddy gasped dramatically. “Oh, that’s how it is. I see. Fine. Well, then, I’m off.” He turned to Carly. “I’m going to go unlock the door for you. See you down there.”
He made a little squeak, turned as if he was flipping a cape back behind him and flounced down the sidewalk.
Carly unpinned her lips and said, “Please pass on my invitation to Autumn. Have a Merry Christmas.”
“Same to you,” Cassie said.
Carly continued pushing the stroller down the sidewalk, which was now even more crowded. When she got to the salon she found her family staked out, wrapped in blankets, and with red-tipped noses.
Matt was right. The weather was too cold for Levi to spend any amount of time outside. However, tomorrow they’d have no choice. She’d bundle up Levi and then strap him to Matt’s chest to keep the baby warm.
“Have you seen Amanda?” Mary Ann asked her.
Carly waved a hand back over her shoulder. “I think she was having a little pow-wow with Adam back there on the corner. They had to get a few more details straight.”
“How many more details are there?” Ron grumbled. “It’s a—” He shut up as Teddy came rushing out of the salon.
“I turned the heat up for you and the little one. Let me know if it gets too warm.”
“Thanks, Teddy.”
“Well, you take such good care of my broody Bryson buck, so I should be thanking you.”
“If you want to sit outside with the rest of the family, I can take Levi inside,” Mary Ann offered.
“No. You enjoy your time out here.”
“My old bones don’t like the cold much anymore.”
“Time to go south, Mom,” Carly told Mary Ann.
“No! I have my whole family together, I’m not breaking it apart. And I would never miss the opportunity to be around the grandchildren.” Mary Ann leaned forward. “No offense, Leah. I don’t think your mother was happy up here. She wasn’t used to our small town ways.”
Leah put a hand on her belly. “She’ll head up when this one’s close to being born. I don’t think she wants to miss that, either.” She gave Carly a look and raised her eyebrows. “Only one person’s allowed in the room at the birthing center, right?”
“Uh...” Carly knew not only Ron and Mary Ann, but Leah’s mother would want to be there when baby number three was born. They tried getting in the last two times, but Leah had put her foot down. “Just the father.”
“There were more than that in the room when Levi was born,” Mary Ann complained.
“Those were special circumstances,” Carly said quickly. “And I was the doctor.”
“Honey, I’m sure Leah doesn’t want her in-laws to see her like that. Kind of like this morning.” Ron grinned.
Carly knew that grin. She glanced over at her sister-in-law. “What happened this morning?”
“Nothing we’re talking about,” Leah muttered and shot Carly a look.
“Oh...” Yes, Carly was now used to having so much family, there was always risk of getting caught in a compromising situation if they weren’t careful.
In fact, Ron had found her panties hanging from a ceiling fan one morning when he let himself into the house after she and Matt had sex. Carly had no idea how they got up there. They quickly learned to lock doors and pull blinds any time they got naked because they never knew who was just going to show up unannounced.
“I’m taking him inside.”
Teddy rushed over to hold the door open for her. “I started the coffee if you want any.” He followed her in and immediately began to unbuckle Levi. “Oh, I just want to pinch those chubby cheeks.”
Teddy removed Levi from the stroller, planted a loud kiss on one of those chubby cheeks, and held him as Carly peeled the baby out of his snowsuit and down to his onesie. He then carried Levi around the salon, giving him a tour. “I’m going to be the first one to cut those dark locks of yours. And if you ever want to be a hairdresser, Uncle Teddy will be glad to show you the ropes.”
“I’m sure Matt has other plans for him.”
“Let me guess. Joining the Marines and becoming a cop.” Teddy did an exaggerated yawn. “Same old song and dance.”
“It’s in the blood,” Carly reminded him.
“Yes, but this one’s blood’s a little different, so he needs to be an original. He needs to be the Bryson buck who broke rank.”
“I just want him to be healthy and happy.”
“Exactly what I wanted for Matty, too.” Teddy brought Levi back to her and she took her son from him. “And I was serious when I said I should be thanking you. You have made him as healthy and happy as he can be. I think you saved his life.”
Teddy wasn’t normally this serious, so hearing him subdued like that made Carly’s eyes burn and her nose sting. “Teddy,” she whispered.
“Well, it’s true. You became the most
