Then what the hell am I doing? If I don’t get myself together and get home, I’ve already lost her.

Cole walked back toward his desk. He stared at the mountain of paperwork and wanted to strike a match to it. With Rick gone, he was doing twice the work with half the results. Damn, but I miss you, buddy. And thank God that you’re getting well.

He made a mental note to swing by the hospital later and check up on the Garzas before going home. It should be interesting to go home tonight and have everyone watch me make a fool of myself, he thought, then shrugged. What did it matter? I’ve already acted like a fool. One more time isn’t going to make that much difference.

*  *  *

Buddy sat in silent awe, staring at the tiny bit of humanity wiggling around on his brother’s bed. The baby’s hair was thick and dark and stood up like new-mown grass. His fingers itched to touch, but he feared to make the move. There was no blinking cursor on this tiny little man to tell him where to begin.

The baby began to squeak. That gave him the impetus to introduce himself.

“Hello, Charlie Longren,” he said quietly. The baby ceased wiggling instantly as his little blue eyes searched blindly for the location of the unfamiliar voice. “I’m your uncle. My name is Robert Allen Brownfield, but you may call me Uncle Buddy…when you learn to talk.”

The baby squiggled and kicked. The soft white blanket covering his legs slipped down and with one more kick, it was in a wad at his feet.

“Yes,” Buddy said, conversationally, “I can see that you’re very strong. That’s good. Obviously like your father, of course. I never was much for feats of physical prowess.”

The baby shoved a fist toward his mouth and grimaced when the fist went sailing spastically by.

“You’ll get the hang of it eventually,” Buddy said, as if he were talking to one of his peers. “Personally, when I was younger, I preferred a thumb. However, you may choose a finger or a combination of several. I understand some do.”

Lily blinked back tears. She’d walked into the room, certain that the baby was probably awake and then caught her breath at the sight. Buddy was in love. It was probably going to be his first and only, but that made it all the more special.

“Lily!” Buddy said. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“I just arrived,” she said quickly, not wanting him to know that she’d overheard any of the man-to-man talk that had been going on.

He nodded, satisfied that his secrets were safe. “I think he likes me,” he said softly.

The baby began to fuss after hearing Lily’s voice.

“He’s probably hungry,” Lily said. “I brought his bottle. Do you want to feed him?”