The Rock Star's Baby Bargain - Lili Valente Page 0,60
mother. I could be trusted to arrive on time, keep my word, use my inside voice, and refrain from getting wasted and vomiting in inappropriate places. While I was still too young to understand the concept of “class,” I wanted to be classy. I wanted people to think good things about me, say nice things behind my back, and look at me as an example of kindness and consideration.
As an adult, I’ve learned to exclude certain people from the consideration bubble—creepy men like Chip, for example—but no matter how much I’d love to encourage him to find another room to occupy while I work, he’s Zack’s manager and important to his career and future. No matter how uncomfortable he makes me, I feel obligated to extend him at least basic hospitality.
“Oh, no. I don’t want to distract you.” Chip swaggers over to the island to claim the bottle of sparkling water I opened while he was gone. He takes a swig (without saying thank you, I notice) and swipes his forearm across his lips. “Looks like this is going to be quite a culinary masterpiece.”
“Not really.” I shrug as I pull out two small limes and some heavenly smelling dill and mint, grateful for the local grocery’s excellent produce section. “The dishes are labor-intensive but not all that complicated.”
“More about dedication than skill?” Chip grins, showcasing his blinding white teeth, making me wonder what lengths he has to go to in order to get them that particular, not-occurring-in-nature shade.
I nod. “Absolutely.”
“Well, I think that’s admirable. Hard work is as important as talent.” He takes another sip of his water as he claims a stool on the opposite side of the island, watching me across the sea of ingredients as I pull a cutting board from under the sink. “But Zack… Well, Zack has both, I think.”
“He does,” I agree. “He’s been working hard. This is the first day he’s taken off since we arrived. And that’s only because he knows I’m leaving soon.”
Chip chuckles. “I think it’s more of a ‘fuck you’ to me after our conversation this morning, but we’ll go with your explanation. It’s kinder to everyone.” He props his full cheek on his fist with a thoughtful expression. “You seem like a kind woman, Colette. I hope it’s not presumptuous of me to say that.”
I shake my head with a soft laugh. “Not at all. I try my best to be kind.”
“I can see that. It was obvious the moment I met you,” he says wistfully. “Some people are just that way. They show you who they are from the very beginning. I admire that.”
“Thank you,” I say, my jaw tightening. He’s saying nice things, which I suspect means he’s about to drop the hammer. Sure enough, Chip adds in a harder tone, “But sadly, there isn’t a place for women like you in a business like Zack’s. The entertainment industry eats girls like you for breakfast, doll, and is picking their teeth with your bones by lunchtime.”
I arch a brow. “Good thing I’m not in the entertainment business, then.”
“But you will be. If you have a baby with Zack,” he says, making me feel exposed. Zack mentioned that he’d spoken to his manager about our plan to try to get pregnant. It hadn’t bothered me at the time, but that was before I’d met Chip.
This sleaze isn’t the type of person I want knowing anything about my personal life, let alone one of the most intimate parts of it. I don’t discuss my sex life with anyone but my closest girlfriends.
“Especially if you two get knocked up outside of any kind of official relationship,” Chip continues, unfazed by the fact I haven’t responded to his previous comment or offered any encouragement to continue down this conversational avenue. “God knows, you don’t have to be married in this day and age, but the expectation is at least ‘boyfriend and girlfriend.’ Two people who barely know each other deciding to have a baby without any romantic involvement is just…kind of weird, you know?” He laughs. “I mean, no offense, I’m weird, too, so I get it, but most people won’t.”
I chew the inside of my bottom lip as I zest the lime, wanting to defend myself and my decision but unable to find the words.
Probably because a part of me agrees with this jerk.
It is kind of weird to try for a baby with someone you barely know, and I freely admit I’ve been baby crazy and not