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“No, definitely not planned,” she murmured and looked away from him, as if she was still coming to terms with how this child would change her life—without him in the picture. “But you’ve made your views on relationships clear, and I want you to know that I respect that. I’ll figure it out and make whatever changes I need to, because I’m keeping the baby.”
He exhaled a deep breath and told himself to remain calm, despite how she’d already written him off. He understood how devastating this unexpected pregnancy had to be for her, but it was equally overwhelming for him.
She still wasn’t looking at him, and he framed her face in his hands and redirected her gaze back to his. A sheen of tears glimmered in her eyes, and he felt as though someone had just kicked him in the stomach, because he could see her fear and distress.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered in a soft, aching voice.
She was apologizing as though it was her fault, and that gutted him. “Listen to me,” he said gently, using his thumb to swipe away a single tear that fell from the corner of one of her eyes, her body still tense. “Am I shocked about you being pregnant? Yes, just like you no doubt are. But you’ve also had some time to digest the news, and I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. So please don’t jump to any conclusions about me and what I will or won’t do. And don’t mistake my shock for any kind of denial or rejection, because no matter what, I’m going to take care of my kid, and it won’t be out of fucking obligation. It will be because I want to be a part of their life. I’m not going to be like my asshole father and turn my back on my child. Ever.”
“Okay.” Her voice was quiet, but there was no mistaking the tentative look etching her expression. As though he was saying all the right things . . . but she was having a difficult time believing him.
Fair enough, he thought, trying to be rational when her emotions were probably all over the place right now. Saying the words was one thing, but showing her would take time, and he was willing to put in the work to convince her. Because this baby was his, just as much as it was hers.
After a long moment, she brushed away the remaining moisture from her cheek, looking exhausted again, emotionally and physically. “I think I’ve given you enough to think about tonight. I should go.”
He shook his head, because he didn’t want her to be alone for the rest of the evening. And truthfully, he didn’t want to be alone, either, after finding out he was going to be a dad . . . something he’d never imagined would ever happen to him.
“Stay with me tonight.”
Chapter Eight
Aiden’s request to stay the night startled Daisy, because she wasn’t certain how he meant the invitation.
“As a friend,” he said, quick to amend his overture when she hesitated. “You look tired, and I think we both deserve the chance to get used to the idea of having a baby together while just hanging out tonight. No sense you going home when we both won’t be able to think about much but you being pregnant.”
He had a point. Tonight would undoubtedly be a repeat of last night, where she’d stared up at the ceiling and wondered and worried and thought about all the changes in her life coming up, all of which were going to happen whether she was prepared for them or not.
Yet spending the night with Aiden . . . that was just pure temptation all the way around. “I really shouldn’t.”
“Unless you can give me a valid reason why not, I really think you should.” And just for good measure, he flashed her a playful, charming dimple.
She groaned, because he so did not play fair. “Lord help me if our baby inherits your dimple.”
He laughed, the warm sound curling through Daisy, relaxing her for the first time since arriving. “Chances are, he or she will have one or both, since they run in the family.”
“Oh, that’s right,” she said, remembering his brother’s distinct dimple at the presentation. “Dylan has one, too.”
“I was hoping you didn’t notice,” he said on what sounded like an annoyed growl.
She blinked at him in surprise. Was Aiden . . . jealous? No, that couldn’t be right. The past three months since their night together, he’d been nothing but a friend and a gentleman, even if she’d felt that occasional awareness between them that neither of them acted on. Then again, Dylan’s teasing attempts a few days ago had been the first time a man had openly flirted with her in front of Aiden.
He reached up and gently brushed a strand of her hair that had fallen out of her loose braid away from her cheek, the tender, intimate caress bringing her attention back to him. “Stay? Please?” he implored softly. “I know it’s probably selfish of me, but now that the reality of the situation is sinking in, I’m suddenly feeling protective of the fact that you’re carrying my baby. Give me tonight to get used to the idea of having a child with you, because this baby, well, it changes everything for me, too, when having a kid was never part of my life plans.”
Yes, it changed everything for the both of them . . . except for the two of them being together. No, that wasn’t the plan at all. Having his baby altered Aiden’s plans to never be a dad and now he had to adjust to that sudden idea. It changed the dynamics of their relationship to co-parents, and they’d eventually have to handle custody of their son or daughter. If Aiden was going to be a part of the baby’s life, her being his baby momma would be the new norm, despite them not being a couple. And if this was going to be his only child, why wouldn’t he want to experience the process and milestones like most married fathers would?
Most single guys who’d discovered they were going to have a baby probably didn’t care to be a part of the gestation period, and she couldn’t bring herself to deny Aiden what she, herself, would want if the situation were reversed. She just had to be careful and protect her heart, because he wasn’t making her any guarantees or promises, and she didn’t expect him to.
“Okay,” she said, and smiled. “I’ll stay.”
Relief eased across his features. “Good.”
He grabbed her hand and led her out of the kitchen and down an adjoining hall. She didn’t bother to ask where he was taking her or what he had planned, because she was honestly too tired to argue. They walked into a large master bedroom with dark wood furniture and a big king-sized bed covered in a masculine comforter. After releasing her hand, he drew down the covers and fluffed some of the pillows up against the headboard, then turned toward her.
“I’m going to go and do the dinner dishes and put the leftovers away, and you’re going to make yourself comfortable in my bed and find something for us to watch on TV. I have cable or Netflix, whichever you prefer.” Despite his boss
y orders, he smiled as he handed her the remote. “Think you can handle that?”
She nodded, the thought of curling up in his bed appealing to her more than it should. With those instructions, he left her alone and she slipped out of her sandals. Fully clothed, she climbed up on the big bed, her aching body rejoicing at the soft mattress that greeted her, instead of the stiff one on her Murphy bed that felt as though she was sleeping on a sheet of plywood.
