Surprise Package

“We can call her Cupie.”

“Not me! How about Annie or Lucy? Or Janie?”

“I’m not good at this. You pick one.”

She thought for a minute, picturing the cherub face, the dark eyes. Deserted by her mother. “What about Casey?” she asked, turning down an aisle bordered by baby clothes. “It’s short for Casilda. The name means ‘unknown,’ and almost everything about her is unknown.”

“Casey?” He rolled the name off his tongue, then smiled. “I like it. Not that she’ll keep the name long. I’m still counting on her mother coming back for her—soon.”

“But until she does, she’s Casey. It fits.” She stopped and pulled an adorable pink frock from the rack and held it at arm’s length. “Look at this one. Lace and ruffles and tiny rows of smocking. We absolutely have to buy this for her.”

He fumbled for a price tag. When he found it, his mouth flew open. “Do you know how much this costs?”

“You get what you pay for.”

“Yeah, but I’m the one doing the paying.”

“But it’s so cute.”

“Cute? For that price, it should be a national treasure.”

“Wait until your daughter finds out you’re a cheapskate.”

“Don’t say daughter. It makes me nervous.” He held up the list Lily had made for him. “Nowhere on here does it say lace, ruffles and smocking at ridiculous prices.”

“It says clothes.”

“It says soft, sensible, unfettered clothes. Lace, ruffles and smocks are legally considered fetters.”

“We’re not in court, counselor. Just think how adorable Casey’s going to look when you show her off to all your friends.”

“She looks adorable in diapers. I have no intention of introducing her to my friends and you are having entirely too much fun spending my money.”

“I’m hanging out with you, Kyle. By no stretch of the imagination can that be called fun.” Except that it was. And not only because shopping was her second favorite pastime—right after work—but because, as much as she hated to admit it, Kyle was fun to be with, as long as they were only friends.

He pulled a pair of pajamas emblazoned with the Dallas Cowboys logo off the rack. “Now this is more like it.”

She stuck up her nose. “No self-respecting little angel would be caught sleeping in those.”

“Hey, watch your mouth. This is the Cowboys you’re talking about. Sacrilegious comments like that can get you thrown out of Texas.”

“I’ll take my chances. Let’s go for something a little more feminine.”

“Then how about these?” He exhibited his next choice.

She rested her hands on her hips. “What’s feminine about cowboys and horses?”

“Shucks, ma’am. I thought all women liked cowboys.”

“Hmm.” Cowboys and romance. Her mind jumped from babies to the Ranchers Association. “You might have hit on something, counselor.”

“Does that mean I should invest in a Stetson and a pair of boots?”

“Why would you?”

“To impress you, of course.”

“It really bothers you, doesn’t it, that I don’t chomp on your bait and fall at your feet like the other women in your life.”

“I’m a man. We have fragile egos and we hate rejection. Fortunately, I know you go to bed every night wishing I was there with you. You’re just too stubborn to admit it.”

“Yeah, hold on to that thought, take it to the bank with a hundred dollar bill and see if you can get five twenties for it.”

He smiled seductively. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.” He picked up a stuffed bear and tossed it to her. “If you like, I’ll buy this for you, give you something cuddly to sleep with on cold winter nights. Or leave the bear, and I’ll come over.”

“No, thanks. I have a blanket, and it doesn’t snore.”

“I don’t snore.”

“Then you must have had a wild animal sleeping with you on the couch last night.”

“I could have. You and Casey ran her off.”

“You poor dear.” She played a fake violin with her hands. “Could I give you music with that whine?” Turning away from him, she picked up a pair of pajamas in a buttery soft fabric patterned with sleeping kittens. “Entirely unfettered,” she said. “What do you think?”

He fingered the row of snaps that ran up and down the inside of both legs and across the crotch. “Am I supposed to do something with these when I dress her for bed?”

“That would be my guess.”

“You don’t suppose she can dress herself, do you?”

“In a few years.”

Kyle grimaced but took the pajamas from her and dropped them into the basket. Ashley kept shopping until they easily had enough outfits for him to change the baby’s clothes a half dozen times a day. “I say we move on to the next department.”

“What else is on the list?”

“Toys,” Kyle answered. “She likes to pull hair. Maybe we could get her a wig.”

Ashley led the way to a display of cuddly baby toys. “How about a doll?”

“Good idea, especially since you said the one her mother left with her wasn’t meant to be played with.”

“A doll? Hmm.” She put a finger to her chin as if she were giving the matter serious deliberation. “Like the blow-up ones you usually sleep with?”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “You could change all that, neighbor. One night and I could melt you down to nothing more than liquid gold.”

“And then what would you do for a challenge?”