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“I’m pregnant, and I’m terrified of telling Daddy when I don’t even know which of you is the father.” Her palms cover the radiant blush pooling in her cheeks.
For a moment, I don’t know what to say.There’s a possibility that I could be the father?Of course there is. Though none of us finished inside her, we weren’t particularly careful throughout. I feel terrible—for her.
She can’t possibly have hoped to get pregnant so quickly out of college, and certainly not without a boyfriend to call her own. She must be terrified, lost, feeling entirely too alone. And from the worry in her eyes, I’m confident she would rather at least know who to say is the father when she tells Mike.
I would happily step up to the plate. Mia’s father might not like knowing I got his little girl pregnant, but I’m confident he would prefer to see me, his business partner and a well-established, dependable man, by her side than the deadbeat party boys she’s brought home in the past. But when it comes down to it, she has three viable men who could be the father—and maybe she hopes one of the other two will want to step up to the task.
“Have you told Zach or Cilian?”
“Zach,” she confesses, and the name sends a surprising barb of disappointment through my chest.
It hurts to think she would go to him first when I’ve been a far bigger part of her life. I can see why she might—seeing as he’s already a father and has a soft-spoken kind of confidence. But she hardly knows Zach because he’s spent the majority of the last ten years in an ugly divorce with his wife.
Taking a slow breath, I push aside my own feelings because there are more important matters to consider right now. Like how Mia can possibly make a good decision about what she wants to do when she doesn’t even know where I stand on the matter.
“Mia, I know you haven’t asked, and maybe that’s because you’ve already made up your mind, but I can’t let you go further down your path without making sure you consider all your options.”
“What… do you mean?” she asks, her expression growing more guarded.
“I’m crazy about you. And I think you should know that before you go choosing Zach as your best option. I hadn’t intended to pursue my feelings for you out of respect for your father—and because I hadn’t dreamed you would be attracted to a man my age. But that all changed after Halloween. And as long as Zach’s throwing his hat in the ring to be the father, I would like to as well.”
Mia stares at me in astonishment, her lips slightly parted in her disbelief.
Before she can object, I plow forward, intent on arguing my case before she tells me no. “I may not be who first comes to mind when you consider the optimal father, but that doesn’t mean I’m not more than capable—of not just caring for our child, but you as well. And I wouldn’t just consider it my responsibility to take care of you both—regardless of the paternity—I think you and I could have a real chance at a happy life together. If you’re interested.”
Her breaths are shallower now, almost ragged, as her breasts swell against my chest. And I know I’ve gotten through to her. Daring to hope, I lean slowly in as I brush my knuckles across her rosy cheek.
I kiss her boldly, pouring into it all the desire and love I feel for her.
To my delight, she doesn’t pull away.
I cradle the back of her head, combing my fingers into her golden hair as I deepen the kiss. And when my tongue strokes between her teeth, hers meets mine in a tantalizing dance.
Christ, this girl is sexy.
Not only is she beautiful, intelligent, and charming, but she’s also even more enticing in her vulnerability. She makes me want to protect her, to keep her safe from harm—even the emotional kind that comes with having to tell hard truths.
And if she’ll let me, I would gladly take the bullet and stand with her to tell Mike about the family we’re starting.
When I finally break our kiss, we’re both breathless, and I peer into her sky-blue eyes with new hope because she’s looking at me with a genuine love that lights my soul up like a Christmas tree.
“You don’t have to make up your mind right now,” I murmur, knowing she has big decisions on her plate. “But think about it and get back to me, okay?”
Mia nods, the deep appreciation washing across her features and softening them in her relief.
The door swings open with an audible groan, and Mia tenses once more in my arms at the unexpected intrusion. I can’t imagine she would like it if the kitchen staff found out about us before she told her father.
But as we both turn to look at the man standing in the doorway, I know things are about to get far more complicated.
Zach eyes us with a blazing intensity.
His expression masks the emotion behind his dark gaze.
7
MIA
Instinctually, I push away from Luke, my gut twisting at the pain in Zach’s eyes. I know I couldn’t possibly have handled this worse than I have. Confused by the turn of events, I don’t know which way to turn.
