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“Now you should never ever, ever talk to strangers,” Cole continued, looking into Mia’s eyes. “But your mom and I know each other very, very well. And your mom is here to let you know that, so it's good you can talk to me. Okay?"
"Okay,” Mia said, with a shrug. The little girl’s voice sounded so sweet and innocent like the voice of an angel. She was his little angel. His heart felt as if it was overflowing with emotion. He couldn’t believe the precious miracle in front of him was his own flesh and blood, his love child. That’s what she was, wasn’t she? He was crazy about Hope and they’d been so good together and the passionate love they’d made that night, probably the very night they’d conceived their little miracle.
Hope stood by the bedside hugging her cup of coffee as if the mug were radiating warmth within her. He glanced up and looked into her eyes and the chemical reaction sparked between them momentarily. But he had to keep his focus. Right now Mia was his business. This was family business and making sure that his daughter was okay. He needed to take things slowly with Hope. He didn’t want to rush into anything physical between them as much as it would be very difficult for him and as much as his body wanted her oh, so badly.
He had to resist Hope’s charm and her sweetness and shift his focus on trying to make things right after all these last years. They had so many unresolved issues to take care of.
A part of him felt disconcerted with his former office goddess for keeping this precious little girl from him for so long, a hidden secret she would've kept from him for God only knew how long.
But then another part of Cole longed to touch Hope again and to pleasure her and caress her sensuous curves just as he’d done years ago. And to somehow make everything okay—to correct the past, to right a wrong, to be a loving close-knit family, just as his father had wanted him to have.
This all seemed like a dream to Cole. Just a day earlier his father was talking about him and Leo finding the loves of their lives to settle down with as Dane, Brandon and Chase had done, and wanting his family tree to grow and flourish, and wanting to have grandkids.
My God, Cole thought. He could not believe the irony of the situation. What would his father think if he knew Hope was back in the picture after these three long lost years and he now had a three-year-old granddaughter? Just like that. Like magic.
The whole situation seemed surreal.
Unbelievable.
Cole couldn't wrap his head around this new reality—this new normal. But he was determined to step up to the plate. He didn't have time to get used to the situation—but he had to get used to it now. He was a man of action and a man who could adapt to any circumstance. And this situation was no different. No, it was a beautiful blessing.
Just then, the doctor walked into the room with his clipboard. "Oh, good to see you all up and ready. As I said to you earlier," the doctor continued, turning to Cole then to Hope. "Your daughter is good to go. The x-ray came back fine. Her vital signs are all normal. The blood tests look good. Her chest is clear and she looks healthy. I can tell she's well taken care of."
"Thanks, doc," Cole said.
"Thank you so much, doctor," Hope added.
"You’re one of the luckiest little girls in the world, do you know that?" the doctor commented to Mia. "You've got two wonderful people who care about you very much. And it's a good thing your mommy had your puffers with you. It's so important to have more than one puffer in the home, just in case. You got here just in time. Are you all set to go out and have some fun?"
"Yeah!" Mia said excitedly.
"We’re set then,” Cole said. “Thanks again, doc."
"You're very welcome. And you’re one of the lucky families. Quite a few children will be here over the holidays. Well, take good care now."
Cole just thought of something. "There’ll be kids here over the holiday?" Cole clarified.
"Yes," the doctor said as he stood at the door about to leave the room.
"Hey, listen, I know this might sound a bit unconventional but," Cole said, "please let me know how many families will be here. I want to make sure that every one of them has a memorable Christmas with their kids. I have something to give to the kids who’ll be here with their families."
"Oh my, Mr. Belmont. That's very generous of you, sir. But your family has done so much with donations to this hospital already."
"There’s nothing to it," Cole said, feeling warm-hearted when he looked at his little girl. He held her hand and she wrapped her tiny fingers around his. A feeling of hope climbed around his heart. It was the indescribable sensation of having a child.
He couldn't imagine a child being so sick that he or she would have to spend Christmas at the hospital. The thought caused his heart to ache.
"As a parent myself I can only imagine how hard it can be. But please let me know. Here’s my card. I’m also going to contact my office manager." He handed his business card to the doctor and the doctor took the card appreciatively.
"Thank you so much again, Mr. Belmont." The doctor then nodded to Hope and to Mia and left the room with a warm smile on his face.
"That was very nice of you, Cole," Hope added.
"It's nothing. Anyway, we have to get going soon.”
“Right. So glad I’m not going back to that god-awful garage, Cole. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Nothing to it, Hope. I’d do anything for you. You know that.” His dark sexy gaze captured hers and held her for a moment. She could feel the chemistry pulse between them. Yes, he would do anything for her. That was why she loved him more than anything in this world. Yet, she couldn’t get too close to him again because of what she’d done in her past. It was all catching up with her.
He then sighed. “I just wish you wouldn’t keep me in the dark as to what’s going on with you. I don’t understand why you don’t trust me enough to tell me what’s really bothering you.”
“I do trust you, Cole.” It’s just that I feel that you’ll never understand the choices I made in the past.
Cole couldn’t believe how much he still felt for Hope. Heck, he’d kill anyone who tried to harm her. Yet, she really puzzled him just as she’d done three years ago when she fled. He was determined to get to the bottom of this—and he would. All in good time, of course. But he wasn’t going to stop encouraging her to talk about what was going down with her past. She wasn’t that good at hiding the fact that she was hiding something. Which, in a strange way, was good. He was at least very appreciative that she was willing to play a happy couple with him in a convenient marriage for the sake of his dying father. That meant a lot to him. She meant a lot to him. Cole just prayed Hope wouldn’t change her mind on him when he showed her the agreement she would have to sign.
Chapter 9
For most of the drive, they were silent but then Cole spoke up while Mia was asleep in her car seat. Hope was beside her in the backseat.
“Hope, before we arrive, I need to discuss a few things…”
“A few things?”
“Yes.”
“Such as?”
“Well, firstly, I really appreciate you wanting to help me fulfill my old man’s final wish to see me settle down before he…goes,” his voice trailed off as they drove through the scenic waterfront. The lake looked so blue and crisp and icy at this time of year. It was so smooth one would believe you could skate on it, though it would be dangerous to attempt it.
“Cole, I think that’s so sweet of you that you want to do this. You just saved me from being homeless after my garage landlord got crazy. It’s the very least I can do. Besides, I love Mr. Belmont. I have so much respect for him.”
“Thanks, Hope. He really cares about you, too. So you’re okay with this?”
“Yes. I’m very okay with this.”
Cole rubbed his stubble. “Hope, I understand you weren’t…ready the last time,” he hesitated. “Well, I don’t want you to feel trapped. We’ll get married to make him happy but you’ll only have to do this for a period of time. We’ll have to sign an agreement to make it official and so that we both understand what we’re doing.”
"Yes, I understand." She glanced outside the window looking at the blueness of the waterfront. How would the dying man feel to know he'd lost three years of his grandchild's life because she didn't tell Cole he was Mia’s father?
He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a blue folder with a document inside it then handed it to Hope. “You can look it over and then you can sign it before we get to the house. There’s a pen in there, too. I’ll let my father know we’re engaged again and the wedding will be soon."
Was this what their relationship would be about now? A business arrangement? But then who could blame him after she’d fled a few years ago without telling him the real reason? She’d already broken his trust once.
There were sheets of paper in the dark blue folder. She observed the folder. It was crafted of velvet expensive material. Almost like a high-end menu. When she opened it she saw some sort of a contract. Well, this was unusual.
