His Hush-Hush Baby - Holly Rayner Page 0,57
it felt intimate nonetheless.
“Eat,” he urged.
Diane picked up the toast and took a bite, but hungry as she knew she was, she still couldn’t stomach it. Putting the food down, she picked up the tea instead.
“Kai, I have to tell you something before we talk about anything else.”
“Is it that you’re pregnant?”
“What?” The cup shook in her hands, some warm liquid spilling onto her lap. “Shoot!”
“I have it.” He grabbed the cloth napkin on the tray and dabbed at her jeans. “Are you okay? Did it burn you?”
“How do you know I’m pregnant?” She put the tea on the table before there was another accident.
“After you left my office the other day, I found an ultrasound picture on the floor. It must have fallen out of your purse. I checked out the dates on it, and, well…”
He swallowed several times. It was the most nervous she had ever seen him.
“It’s mine, right?” he asked.
Diane took a deep breath. “Yes. It’s yours.”
He nodded, and they sat there looking at each other.
“I found out while you were on that trip,” she whispered hoarsely, “and I planned on telling you as soon as you got back, but then I found those emails in your office. I was only in there because I saw them on the floor and was going to put them on your desk, but I read them and I thought—I shouldn’t have assumed, but—”
He stopped her with a touch on her arm. “Hey. It’s okay. I get it.”
“I would still like to fully explain myself.”
He drew his hand back. “All right. I’m listening.”
“I won’t lie and say turning the evidence in to the police didn’t cross my mind, but I couldn’t do that. I was heartbroken, and I wanted to step away from the whole situation. I couldn’t do that completely, though.”
She paused, gauged his reaction, decided he was genuinely and carefully listening, and continued.
“I needed the money from your mural.” She spread her hands. “Or at least I told myself that I did. I could have gotten by without it, really. I would have had enough for Florida.”
That last part had slipped out.
“Florida?” he asked.
“Yes.” Her voice shook with unexpected emotion. “My parents are moving to Florida, and I’ve made plans to go with them.”
Kai’s eyes flashed, and then he looked down at his clasped hands. “Okay.”
She cleared her throat. Shoot. This was hard.
“Anyway,” she said, “that’s why I didn’t disappear completely.”
“I’m glad you didn’t disappear completely.” His eyes searched hers.
“I don’t want to sit here and offer you excuses for why I did what I did.”
“And you don’t need to, Diane. I get it. You thought I was a bad guy, and you were looking out for yourself and your baby. Your family.”
She noticed he said “your baby,” not putting himself in the sentence at all.
“Right,” she rasped.
“Are you still moving to Florida?”
She opened her mouth but found the answer wasn’t there.
“I know how important your parents are to you.” He looked down at his lap. “You’re a good daughter.”
“They need me.”
He looked up right in time for her to catch him wincing. “And you feel Florida is best for the baby?”
“I…I made that decision before, but…family is what’s best.”
“I agree,” he said softly. “That’s why I hope you’ll allow me to be part of the baby’s family. To be his or her real dad.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “You want that?”
“Of course I do.”
Tears burned her eyes. “I would like that.”
Kai scooted a little closer and brushed away the one tear that fell on her cheek.
“What is it?” he whispered, so tenderly, so sweetly that it pulverized her heart.
“There’s a lot going on,” she lied.
The truth was that she wanted to be with him, but that was over. They’d been through too much in such a short amount of time. Relationships didn’t survive that kind of chaos.
“I know. It’s okay, though.” He cupped her face. “I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere…unless you want me to.”
She blinked the last of her tears away. Did he mean…?
“I don’t want you to,” she said.
He ducked his head so that they were at perfect eye level. His fingers slid along her face and into her hair, his touch electric.
“I love you, Diane. I understand if you want to go to Florida. All that I ask is that you let me be a part of your life and the baby’s life. I want to be the best father possible, and anything you need or want, I’ll give it to you.