Call Her Mine (Harmony Pointe #1)- Melissa Foster Page 0,23
his time, wanting to find out the paternity results first, because if B wasn’t his, then social services could deal with tracking down her mother.
His chest constricted at that thought, which confused him even more. How could he feel so much for her so fast? He touched the baby’s head.
It’s just you and me, B.
Baby Ben. Who called a baby something like that? Thinking of how easily Aurelia had come up with the name brought a smile. She hadn’t harassed him for possibly having a child. She’d gone into organized-and-efficient Aurelia mode and made a list of possible mothers.
Ben stood up and snagged the list from his desk, reading the names she’d given the women he’d slept with—Hotel Hookup/Malibu Barbie, Big Apple Fuck Buddy, and Pretzel Girl. She was a much better person than he was, because if the tables were turned he’d have called the men she’d slept with something like Dick Weed, Asshole, or Dead Meat. Like that little prick who had sent her running back to Sweetwater in the first place. Kent, the on-again, off-again boyfriend she’d dated when she’d lived in New York City. Hell, he should probably thank the guy, but he had a feeling if he ever came face-to-face with the asshole, he’d make him pay for hurting her.
He pulled out his phone to send her another text, but he’d already sent one apologizing for the situation he was in and thanking her for sticking with him as long as she had. What else could he say? She had a life to live, a business she was setting up, and a new apartment. She had her fresh start, and she’d made it pretty clear she didn’t want it to include him and the baby. And damn, that pissed him off, because he’d never abandon her in her time of need. He would suck up his jealousy, hurt, and anger and make sure she was okay.
Aw, hell.
He sank into his chair as understanding dawned on him. Maybe that’s why it was easier for her to leave—because she wasn’t jealous, hurt, or angry. She didn’t have those feelings toward him. She just wasn’t willing to mess up her fresh start by being his copilot while he navigated this new, potentially life-altering terrain.
He pulled out his phone and mumbled, “The hell with that,” as he thumbed out another text. His phone rang, and Aiden’s name flashed on the screen. Damn it. He glanced at the clock and realized it was time for their conference call. Leaving the text to Aurelia unsent, he answered the call.
“Hi, Aiden,” he said distractedly.
“How’s it going?”
Ben eyed the baby. “A bit crazy, but we’re—I’m—good.”
“What’s going on, man? You sure you’re okay?”
He sat back, gazing out the window and wrestling with lying to his business partner. What am I thinking? Like all the relationships that meant something to Ben, his relationship with Aiden was built on trust, and he wasn’t about to mess that up.
“I have a situation I’m dealing with right now, but it’s fine.”
“Situation? Ben, we’re on the verge of the biggest takeover of our lives. Talk to me. We can’t afford for something to go awry.”
Ben stood and paced, picturing his partner’s serious eyes. Aiden had a few years on Ben and a lifetime of experience raising his much younger sister, Remi. If Ben could confide in anyone, it was Aiden.
“It’s complicated, but I might have a kid. An infant. A daughter.” Ben glanced at B and felt himself smiling again.
“A baby? What do you mean might? Is there some question? Should you call your attorney?”
“Already did. First thing.”
“Christ, Ben. A baby? You couldn’t have told me this a few months ago, before we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars preparing for this takeover?”
“I had no idea then.” Ben explained what had happened, and then he said, “I should have the results of the paternity test soon, but don’t worry. It’s not going to have an impact on business either way.”
Aiden scoffed, and then what sounded like an incredulous laugh came through the phone. “Dude, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Remi was twelve when our parents died. Twelve. She could feed and bathe herself, put herself to bed, and she sure as hell didn’t need diapers. I had to table everything in my life except the bare essentials needed to run my business. How are you going to travel with a baby? Maybe we should think about letting Garth take over for a while.”