An even wider grin tugged at the edges of his lips thinking about how flustered she’d been about his shirt being off. He finished his shower and grabbed a towel, perfunctorily going through the process of getting dressed for the day. A whistle escaped from his lips. He looked in the mirror and kept grinning even though he sported a nice black eye from Roman’s punch yesterday. He scrunched up his face and pointed at himself. “You’re number one,” he stated. And dang, it felt good to say it. Growing up, it’d kind of been the positive affirmation he’d always given himself in the mirror.

For the first time in a long time, he wasn’t thinking about football and vying for his position. It was nice. It was more than nice. He had a new purpose today, and he wasn’t going to let Roman down. He headed down to join Reese and Tiffany. As he jogged down the stairs into the living room, there was an extra spring to his step.

Hearing his descent, Reese looked up and smiled at him. She was sitting on the floor next to Maddy, who had been changed into a cute pink dress. Her hair had also been combed, and a large white flower overtook her whole head.

“Doesn’t she look so cute?” Reese gently tugged at the hair at the edges of the flower on Maddy’s head. “My, she’s a looker.”

Pausing next to them, Sam knelt beside Maddy. He reached for one of her toys and felt his grin expanding as he shook it at her. “Of course she’s cute.”

To his utter delight and amazement, Maddy grabbed his face and cooed.

Warmth filled him at her sweetness. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.”

Tiffany was in the kitchen. She had all sorts of pans out and food was everywhere. “I’m making some spaghetti for you all tonight. I won’t be out that late, but I am driving to Ogden, so, mama, you can probably just mash up the noodles and the sauce together for Maddy.”

“What are you going to Ogden for?” Sam didn’t know exactly how far away Ogden was. He just remembered passing through it on the way to Wolfe Creek. It wasn’t rational, but he realized he didn’t want Tiffany to leave.

Reese spoke up, leaning her back against the couch for support. “Oh my baby’s the next Reba McIntyre, let me tell you what. She can sing like nothing you’ve ever heard.”

“Mama.” Tiffany frowned at her, putting her hand to her hip.

Reese gave an equal scowl back. “What? It’s true. And furthermore, you have more talent than Brett ever had. It made no sense to me when he went off touring and you stayed home. You should have gone with him, but he was too intimidated and worried you would be more successful than him. You know that’s the truth.”

“Mama.” Tiffany now gave her a silencing glare. “We have company right now,” she said indignantly.

Reese flashed her a wide-eyed scowl. “I never liked Brett.” She turned to Sam. “He’s the cheating boyfriend.”

Unsure of what to say, Sam only nodded.

“Mama.” Tiffany deepened her glare, and Sam could feel the chilliness of it sweep through him.

Reese waved a hand through the air. Then turned to Sam. “I’ll level with you, Dumont. I didn’t like you, either. No, I don’t think anyone in this town would like you, knowing what you did to Roman, but…” She paused and held up a hand dramatically. “After Tiffany told me that you were here apologizing to Roman when everything with Josh went haywire and how you stepped up to take care of this baby…” Tears filled her eyes, and she fluttered her large lashes. “I can’t say that doesn’t soften me.” She grinned and reached out to pat his shoulder. “And I will say that I heard about your daddy and—” More tears pooled in her eyes as the grin slipped. “I did lose my husband recently.”

Concern washed through him. On impulse, he touched her shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

Reese wiped beneath her eyes with her long red nails. “It’s fine, Sugar. Me and Tiffany are doing fine, aren’t we girl?”

When he turned to look at Tiffany, she was looking at the floor, a blank look on her face. But she quickly blinked. “Yes, mama.”

Reese took his hand and put it between her own. “I guess we all have lost important men as of late.”

He swallowed and tried to push back the emotion bubbling up. He didn’t know if he pulled Maddy to his lap because she was reaching for him or if he did it because he needed a shield from Reese, but he found himself giving Reese a nod and cuddling Maddy’s comforting frame. “Looks like.”

Watching him cuddle the baby, her flashy grin came back. “Well, that being said, I want you to know I spoke with Roman, and I told him I wanted to have the day with Maddy.”

Sam pulled Maddy closer, not wanting to give her up. “Oh.”

“Well.” Reese lifted her eyebrows. She grinned and turned to Tiffany and then back to him. “Mind you, I don’t want to pull night duty. It wouldn’t be good for my beauty sleep, so I’ll make you a deal. You go with Tiffany to Ogden early, get some lunch, and watch her play her show. Then after you get back, Maddy is all yours.”

“Mama!” Tiffany spoke sharply from the kitchen. “I’m sure Sam has stuff to do.”

Sam had to admit the day had just taken another unexpected turn. He felt his cheeks redden.

Tiffany pursed her lips together and shook her head, clearly embarrassed. “Mama, I don’t need you to meddle.”

For a second, no one spoke. Reese lifted her eyebrows and gave Sam an expectant look.

Sam wondered if he would feel the tightness in his chest that usually accompanied thoughts of hanging out with any woman, but he didn’t. “Actually,” he said slowly. “I don’t have any plans.”

Tiffany leveled her mother with a glare. “Mama.” She scowled.

Reese was unfazed by Tiffany’s outrage. “Now, sweetheart, I know you’re smarting still from Brett, but the best way to get over your fear of horses is to get back on one.” She paused and cocked an eyebrow at Sam. “Not in that way, but you know what I mean.” Clapping her hand to her leg, she shook her head. “Plus, he’d be good for a media plug anyway.”

“If I wanted a media plug, I’d ask Roman and Katie,” she said stiffly, not looking at Sam.

“Ah.” Reese looked embarrassed; she turned to Sam. “You know what I mean by getting back on the horse. It doesn’t mean…that.”

He was now sure his face was on fire. “Right.” He nodded, trying to swallow and process all this.

“Stop it.” Tiffany held her mother’s gaze for a second then continued putting ingredients together. “You are unbelievable, Mama.” But she did look at Sam, and the edges of her lips turned up in what appeared to be an amused smile. “Look at you, putting Sam on the spot that way. He’s blushing.”

“Well.” Reese appeared breathless. “Why, I didn’t put you on the spot, did I, Sam? I mean, now that you’re in Wolfe Creek, you have to accept that we’re like family around here. Everyone is just doing their part to help the others.”

Okay, he wanted to outright laugh at the antics of Tiffany’s mom, but he only cleared his throat and handed Maddy a toy she’d been trying to reach. “Right. It’s good.” He snuck a glance at Tiffany.

Tiffany shook her head and lowered her voice. “I need to do this alone, mama.”

Reese leaned forward, taking Maddy into her own arms, a smug smile of satisfaction on her face. “Oh, hush up, girl, go out and have a good time with a nice looking man. It might actually do both of you a world of wonder.” She winked again at Sam. “Plus, Brett was so negative with you all the time. I think having Sam with you might help your confidence.”

Tiffany threw her hands up in the air and started washing dishes. “I have confidence, Mama.” She didn’t look at Sam.

At this point, Sam stood, making his way toward the kitchen, reaching out, and picking up a carrot that had been peeled on the counter.

“Hey, that’s for dinner.” Tiffany glanced at him.

He grinned, and he realized the muscles in his face were actually kind of hurting from smiling so much since he’d arrived. He chomped down on it. “Well, maybe we’ll have to save dinner for tomorrow.”