Page 40 of The Decoy

“It just kind of slipped out that you were the dad.”

“Listen, Princess, from the very first office visit, when you didn’t correct the nurse when she called me the father—which I thought had a nice ring to it, though a slight surprise—I decided I would be whoever you needed me to be. I just want to be here with you and this little guy. And frankly, until now, I didn’t feel like I needed to confirm or deny my title or role in this baby’s life. That’s completely up to you. So I’ll always follow your lead when it comes to this.” He rests his palm over my belly.

“Why are you the sweetest?” I lean up on my toes and kiss his lips.

“Because my mother taught me how to treat a woman properly.” He kisses me again.

“Well then, I guess we better get ready for family dinner tonight.”

“I’m ready when you are, but if we don’t have to leave now, let’s lie on this couch a little longer and see if he wants to say hi again.” He smiles, and there’s a twinkle in his eyes, like he just caught the winning touchdown.

Good God. I almost want to call Dylan and thank him for being a douchebag and bailing on my baby. Because seriously, how lucky am I to have this man in my life?

“Okay, Vaughn, let’s see if we can feel the baby again.” I lean up and kiss him one more time, then pull him over to the couch.

CHAPTER TEN

Brody

The steak knife in my right hand feels too small, almost like a toy designed for someone half my size. And I’m entirely underdressed, but I can’t worry about that right now.

I sit at the long mahogany table inside the Renwick’s penthouse. Across the expanse of silver cutlery, crystal stemware, and a huge floral centerpiece, Charles Renwick studies me over the rim of his tumbler like I’m a puzzle he can’t figure out.

To his left is Molly Renwick, Ellis’s mother, dressed in an elegant cream sweater, looking every bit the posed matriarch who likely runs Manhattan’s social circles. Next to her is Bryan, swirling two ice cubes in his glass of scotch, looking like he’s waiting for the entertainment to begin.

Ellis sits next to me, her hair falling over her shoulders. She’s wearing the same clothes she wore at the office, neither of us having time to change before dinner. Every time my eyes catch her, the thought of that little kick against my palm makes me smile.

“So, Brody,” Molly begins, setting her wine glass down on the table. Her sharp blue eyes sweep over me. “A terrible loss on Sunday, a quick sprint to Manhattan this afternoon, and an unexpected pregnancy announcement before dinner. It’s true what they say about you. You move fast.”

“Mother,” Ellis warns, her cheeks flushing pink.

“What? I’m just trying to piece everything together. I thought you were being seen around town with the hockey boy, so I had to do some quick research before you arrived,” Molly replies smoothly, an amused tilt touching the corners of her lips. She leans forward, resting her chin in her hands as she looks across the table at me. “But I must say, though this came out of nowhere, we can be grateful for the genetics. Lord knows this boy is going to be handsome.”

Bryan snorts, coughing slightly. “Mom, please.”

“What? It’s a factual statement,” Molly says, completely unfazed. She turns her gaze back to me. “I assume he’ll inherit his father’s athletic frame. And wouldn’t it be fun to have some talent in the family outside a boardroom?”

Charles clears his throat, setting his glass on the table. “Molly, love, let’s not skip ahead.”

“Darling, the baby kicked today,” Molly counters, waving a dismissive manicured hand. “We’re past the initial steps here. We’re firmly in nursery-planning territory.”

“Not to drag down this celebration, but we need to discuss how we’re going to handle this publicly. Do you plan to be discreet or make an announcement? You’re both in the public eye. Page Six will run with a story if we don’t get ahead of them.” Bryan says.

Molly hums, leaning back in her seat, eyes twinkling. “Well, discreet or not, it proves a timeless point. Just the tip can get you in a whole lot of trouble. Like the Titanic.”

Bryan spits out a sip of his scotch back into his glass, choking as he grabs his napkin to wipe his face.

Charles’s eyes widened in shock. “Molly! For God’s sake.”

Ellis covers her face with both hands, letting out a horrified groan. “Oh my God, Mother! That’s not even…you know what, never mind.”

“I’m just pointing out that actions have consequences. And whatever method you used clearly didn’t work. Not that I’m complaining because I got my first grandbaby out of it.” Molly picks up her glass, smiling at the rim as she sips some wine.

I bite down on the inside of my cheek, trying with every ounce of willpower not to burst out laughing. A low, muffled rumble escapes as I take a drink of water to cover my amusement.

Once Charles recovers, he clears his throat, fixing his gaze back on me.

“Listen, I know this comes as a bit of a shock to you both,” I say, my voice steady. “And I know this might be slightly complicated because I partner with your company. But I care about Ellis, and I’m completely committed to her. I’ll be there to support her through all of this. There’s nothing more important to me than taking care of my family.”