Page 3 of The Sweetest Mistake

“Connor? What’s going on?” Julia demanded.

“I’d like to know that too,” the woman said from behind him.

Realizing that he was trapped, Connor swung open the door to reveal the woman behind the voice. And if Julia hadn’t already been suspicious, she became even more so when she saw a beautiful blonde-haired woman holding a baby and looking completely at ease in Connor’s house.

“You might as well come in,” Connor muttered, stepping aside to let Julia through.

At that moment, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. Maybe she’s a cousin or a distant relative. Studying the woman closely, Julia searched for some resemblance to Connor.

“Connor? Aren’t you going to introduce us?” the woman asked, looking Julia over as well.

But before he could make the introductions, the woman repositioned her baby so it was facing outward, and the resemblance Julia had been looking for was right there—in the baby’s face. Ohmigod, ohmigod. It can’t be.

In the next second, her fears were confirmed. Clearing his throat nervously, Connor said, “Uh…Julia. This is Camilla Robertson and her…our…daughter, Ava.”

Suddenly, the room was spinning, and Julia reached out to grab onto something, fearing she would faint. Connor rushed forward and gripped her elbow tightly. “You okay?”

“Okay? Seriously?” Wait a minute. Did I just say that aloud?

Camilla wore a smug expression when she said, “So, I see you haven’t told her yet.”

Scowling, he said, “I just found out myself.”

“How long have you known?” Julia asked, twisting out of Connor’s grip. Her voice had risen along with her blood pressure, but she couldn’t help it. She’d come here to surprise him, and instead, she’d been knocked flat. Is it true? Is he really this baby’s father?

Looking between the two women, Connor said, “Let’s sit down where we can talk.”

Julia thought about turning around and bolting out the door, but Connor placed his hand on her elbow again and almost forcefully guided her into the living room.

Camilla was the only one who looked unaffected, and suddenly, Julia despised her even more then when she’d first learned about Cam. Over a year ago, Connor had caught Cam cheating on him with her boss, which was why he’d broken up with her. And now here she was, waltzing back into his life with his baby in tow.

Julia sat down on the couch, grateful to get off her shaky legs. Connor sat down beside her, but he left some distance between them, as if he were afraid she might haul off and smack him at any moment (which was extremely tempting).

Cam perched on a chair opposite them and bounced Ava on her knee. Julia was bursting with questions, but they were all stuck in her throat. All she could do was stare at the beautiful baby in Cam’s arms and allow the reality to sink in. Connor was this child’s father, and according to him, he’d just recently found out. If Julia was reeling, how must he be feeling? She vacillated between being pissed at him for not telling her sooner and feeling sorry for him. And then she glared at Cam, wondering why the woman had kept Ava a secret.

“In all fairness, I just sprang this on him a few weeks ago,” Cam said evenly.

“How can you be sure—” Julia started to say.

“That Ava’s his? Can’t you tell by looking at her?” Cam said.

Julia had seen the resemblance right away, but what about Cam’s boss? Couldn’t Ava be his baby instead?

“Connor was the only man I didn’t use protection with, and a few weeks after we broke up, I found out I was pregnant,” Cam explained, almost as if she’d read Julia’s mind.

Great! And now I’ve been gifted with an image of Connor and Cam having unprotected sex.

Clearing his throat noisily, Connor said, “That was a mistake.”

Julia gaped at him. She understood what he meant, but how could he say that about the beautiful child he’d created?

“I meant…”

“She knows what you meant, Connor,” Cam said with a frown.

“So, why come forward now?” Julia blurted out. Ava had to have been at least three months old, or maybe even older. Why had Cam waited so long to tell him?

Inhaling deeply, Cam resumed her explanation. “I didn’t want to believe it at first, but after the doctor confirmed it, I realized I had some decisions to make.”