Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 29398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 147(@200wpm)___ 118(@250wpm)___ 98(@300wpm)
“You abandoned her.”
“No, I asked you to watch her for a short bit while I put my affairs in order.”
“And your affairs are now in order?”
She nods. “Right. I appreciate you watching over her, but it’s none of your concern now.”
“The baby is a McRae, so she stays with me. My lawyers are coming over with the parental termination papers. You will sign them and then leave, never to bother us again.”
“Don’t be like this, Carr. I’m sorry I named your cousin as the daddy. I thought he was, but…” She trails off with a shrug.
My heart thuds. I hadn’t considered that Megan had lied about the baby’s parentage. I’d forced Dex to get a paternity test, and then by the time the results came back, I’d already decided to keep Violet so I never looked at them. The results never mattered. Or hadn’t before.
She posts a bright smile. “The good news is I’m taking the tyke off your hands. I’m sure you’re relieved. Hope you didn’t try to sell her overseas.”
If I was prone to violence, my hands might be around Megan’s neck right now. “Gather up your things. You’re leaving.” When she doesn’t move, I stalk over to the wardrobe and toss the clothes onto the bed. Mentally I send an apology to Errol, who I’m sure hung all this stuff up. “Pack or I’ll toss the stuff in the trash. Either way, you’re gone. I don’t want to see you around when I come down for dinner.”
“The baby is mine, and you can’t keep her. It’s the law, Carr.”
“I’m the law here.” As I walk out, I text instructions to Errol and Ben. In the nursery, the baby is fussing. Addison is rubbing her face with a small cloth.
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s hot, but not so hot we need to go the hospital. I’m watching her temp. What’s going on with Violet’s mom?”
“That’s not her mom.”
“She gave birth to Violet.”
“And abandoned her here with me. Didn’t even fill out her name on the birth certificate. There must be money attached to the baby. She’s trying to say Dex isn’t the father.” I sit down on the glider chair and press my temple.
“Is that true?”
I make a face. “I never looked at the results because I was going to keep Violet regardless. I’ll have to run a new test.”
“How will you deal with Megan?”
“Burn the village, run away with you and Violet.”
“Do crimes?”
“ I don’t want to do crimes, but I never terminated Megan’s parental rights, so legally, she’s still the mother. I’m going to have to buy her off, but I need to know what I’m dealing with. You can’t walk into a deal without having all the dirt on your opponent.”
“Why not talk to your cousin? He’d probably be relieved to know he’s not on the hook for baby Violet and may be willing to help you.”
I cock my head. “Sexy and brilliant. You’re a deadly combination.”
She snorts. “You’re very easy to please.”
“Yes, actually, I am. All I need is you. And Violet.” I get up and cross to the crib. “I didn’t even know I wanted to be a dad, but here she is, and I’m not letting anyone take her from me.” I cup Addison’s head. “Not you either.”
“Go solve the Megan problem while I take care of Violet.”
“Are you sure she’s going to be okay?”
“Yes. I’m sure. Babies get fevers, and they go away just as fast as they come on. I’m monitoring it, and if it worsens, I’ll let you know, and we can go to the hospital.”
“Okay.” But I don’t move because Violet is so tiny, and her fitful cries make my heart hurt.
“Go on.” Addison gives me a push. Reluctantly, I leave and call Dex.
“It’s not my baby,” he says when he answers.
“You and Megan are on the same page.”
“You don’t believe me? What did the paternity test say?”
I stay silent a beat too long. Dex catches on. “You didn’t even read them because you want to keep the baby. Great. You’re welcome to the kid. I can’t be a dad. You know that.”
At least he’s honest. “If it’s not you, then whom?”
“Fuck me if I know. She was screwing a couple of guys when we were together. I think one of them was Remington.”
I resist the urge to growl. Of course it would be Remington. “I ran into that bastard in Japan trying to steal a contract from me. He was posing as a family man.”
“He doesn’t have a family, so he must have hired one.” Dex laughs. “Guess if he stayed in contact with Megan, he could have passed off a real one.”
“She named you as the father on the birth certificate.”
“Probably because everyone knows Remington is an asshole who wouldn’t accept the baby.”
“And you did?”
“No, but everyone didn’t know I was that kind of asshole.”