Page 36 of A Christmas Negotiation

“Do you have a minute?” she asked. “I have two things I need to talk to you about.”

“Sure. I have to leave soon, but I’ll always make time for you.”

“First off, you should know that your dad tried to get one of the tabloids to run a smear piece on me. The reporter called me late last night for comment and after I spoke to the editor, they agreed not to run it.”

Jeremy looked up at the ceiling, furious with his father for attempting to sabotage her while also relieved that he hadn’t been successful. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

She waved it off. “Don’t worry. I’ve had worse things happen to me. And I’m sure that whatever they wanted to print would probably be true. I’ve represented some people who aren’t great. But I’ve always acted in accordance with the law. I don’t have anything I’m ashamed of.”

“Well, good. I’m glad.”

“I simply don’t want to be a part of any of this anymore. I can’t deal with the mudslinging and the backstabbing and everyone trying so hard to disparage each other. I’m hoping we can wrap up the case, but if we can’t, I think I will likely step away from it. I’ve had my fill of it. I love the Eden sisters and care about them deeply, but I also need my sanity.”

“I can’t say that I blame you. If my dad wasn’t in the middle of it, I might be tempted to bail on Summers. None of this has been very fun, has it?”

She shrugged and a slight smile crossed her lips. It was like stepping into the sunlight for the first time—that small glimmer of happiness from her made everything better. “I don’t know about that. I had fun with you. I had more than fun.”

A grin that he was sure was quite goofy broke out on his face. “Me, too. I don’t regret that part.”

“Me, either. Which brings me to the other thing I have to tell you. There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to come out with it. I’m pregnant and you’re the father.”

Of the many things Jeremy had thought Isabel might tell him, that one piece of information had never occurred to him. Not even for a second. “The night we met?”

“Yes.”

“But you...”

“I know. I thought there was no chance. I was wrong.”

“I, uh... I don’t even know what to say.”

“I know. It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything. This is all very sudden and it’s a lot to deal with, especially given everything else that’s going on.” Now that she was talking, she was picking up speed, as if she had a long list of things she’d been dying to say. “I realize that the timing couldn’t possibly be any worse. And we don’t really know each other that well, so I understand that you would be wanting to distance yourself from me, and I can appreciate why. It’s okay. I will be completely fine on my own. I don’t want you to worry.”

He got up from his desk and went to her, taking her hands. “Hey. Hey. Slow down a minute. Take a breath.”

She dropped her head for a moment and when she looked up at him, there were tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’ve wanted a baby for so long, Jeremy. I’ve always wanted to be a mom. But this isn’t the way I wanted it to happen. And I hate putting you on the spot. You’re a good man. I know that. You’re sweet and generous and you don’t deserve to be in this situation.”

Jeremy wasn’t sure what to think about any of this. He’d wanted a family for a long time. He’d wanted a woman like Isabel for a long time. But this was traveling on a preposterous timeline. He wanted to put the entire world on pause, if only for a day so he could have time and space to think. A baby? With Isabel? How would this work? Would it be yet another negotiation? That was the last thing he wanted. And what if things didn’t work out? He didn’t want to be an absentee father, around every other weekend and select holidays. That wasn’t what he wanted for himself at all. It wasn’t what he wanted for Isabel, either.

His phone beeped—the reminder that he had to leave for his meeting. “Shoot. I’m going to be late to meet with Summers. He’s such a stickler for punctuality. I can’t afford to make him angry.”

“I understand. It’s okay. Just forget what I said. We can talk about it after everything with the case is over.”

Jeremy grabbed his briefcase from his desk, then returned to her. “Hey. Will you stop trying to let me off the hook? I’m not like that guy who burned you. I don’t turn my back on people who need me, okay? So just give me a chance to meet with Summers, and talk to my dad, and, and...” He looked at her, certain he couldn’t possibly be in a bigger state of disbelief. “Then we’ll talk about the baby.”

That fresh start Isabel had wanted so badly? It felt like she was watching it crumble to dust in her hands. How could she possibly save Eden’s now? How could Jeremy salvage this situation for Mr. Summers? Even more important, how could the two of them reach an understanding about impending parenthood? They’d hardly had enough time to fall in love.

The scene in the guest bath at Jeremy’s house was still rolling around in her mind. She’d paced back and forth across the white marble floor, arms wrapped around her middle like she was giving herself a hug. She’d been unable to escape how lonely it felt to be doing that on her own, for the second time. It had played out like that when she found out she was pregnant with Garrett’s baby all those years ago—Isabel enduring the painfully slow ticks of the clock while she waited for news that could change her whole life.

The timer on Isabel’s phone had gone off, echoing in the bathroom. She’d closed her eyes for a moment to steel herself for the news, unable to decide what result she hoped for, although she’d known that there was no reason to reach a solid conclusion. Her heart would tell her with its own reaction.

She’d opened her eyes and grabbed the test from the counter.Two blue lines. Positive.She’d stumbled back into the bathroom wall, steadying herself with her hand.Positive. A baby.Her heart did the inexplicable, even when her stomach wobbled—it began to flutter in her chest. However imperfect her situation, a baby was something she wanted more than anything. She’d been waiting years for another chance.

She had to admit to herself that Jeremy had handled the news far better than expected. She’d been prepared for the absolute worst, and he’d kept everything on an even keel. He’d been a rock. She hoped and prayed that this wasn’t another of his acting jobs. She didn’t think she could take it if he wasn’t at least going to play some role in this baby’s life. She couldn’t handle it if he was going to turn his back on her as Garrett had done.

In the car on the way to Eden’s to meet with Sam, Mindy, Sophie and Emma, her heart was heavy. Perhaps her first mistake had been taking this job—she’d only agreed out of loyalty to Sam. But now she was so much closer to Mindy, Sophie and Emma than she’d ever imagined she could be, and it was all on her that they could lose the store. Isabel the fixer had not only failed to fix anything, she’d allowed it to get worse. She should have had the sense to take the letters into her possession that day at Victoria Eden’s apartment. She never should have trusted her clients to keep them out of public view.

Arriving at Eden’s, she waved to Duane the security guard and marched right back to the elevator, prepared to unleash a few unpleasant things on the Eden sisters if necessary. If they’d gotten themselves into this mess, she wasn’t sure she could get them out. She strode into the lobby feeling determined, but the instant she saw Sam, she burst into tears. He rushed over to her and gathered her up in his arms.