But he hasn’t stopped pacing since the birth.
“That’s not going to happen.” He huffs, but he also doesn’t glance my way. Adding to my annoyance, his phone hasn’t stopped ringing. Like literally hasn’t stopped.
It’s driving me up the wall.
He is driving me up the wall.
I am tired and need some rest.
“Having a baby is meant to be exciting, but you are making it the total exact opposite. Stop pacing and turn off your goddamn phone or fucking leave.”
Keir stops, looks to me and the baby, then shakes his head. “You kept this from me.” His words slice straight through me, particularly the way they left his mouth full of venom.
“How do you know it’s yours?” I ask, my brow raised in challenge.
“Don’t play with me, Sailor.”
Oh, wow! Now that’s a rarity. He used my actual name. Keir scratches his head as he thinks about who knows what.
I let him be because at least now his stupid phone is off, and he isn’t pacing anymore.
My eyes gaze down at the cute tiny bundle of joy in my arms and wonder how you can compare any other love to this. This right here is the meaning of love.
“It’s a girl.” His voice is quiet and oddly subdued for him.
“I know. You can go now,” I whisper, too caught up in watching her. I don’t give him any more attention to see if he leaves, focusing my eyes solely on her perfect face as she makes cute little noises and starts to fuss. She’s currently lying on my naked chest—skin to skin as they suggested—and I move her to the side, positioning her to my breast to start feeding her. The midwife steps in to help, and as soon as my beautiful girl is latched, she leaves.
When I peek up again, Keir hasn’t moved, but now he’s watching us both with eager eyes.
“You don’t have to stay. I’m sure you have people to kill and lives to destroy,” I say, smirking at him.
He says nothing, just stays where he is, watching us. I look back down to my baby and smile as I run my hand through her hair. She has a lot of it, not unlike her father. When I glance back up, he has stepped closer.
“She looks like Dillan, right?” I say with false confidence I’m not proud of. And I know it’s wrong when it leaves my mouth, but I just want Keir to go.
“No, she looks exactly like I did as a baby.”
I bite my lip and tear my gaze away.
Goddammit! He never falls for my bullshit.
“Why are you still here? It’s not a boy, you are good to go…”
He runs his hand down his face, which now that I really look at him, appears pale and completely exasperated. “That’s my child.” I hear the certainty in his tone, and my chest tightens at the reality of the situation unfolding in front of me—of my baby being his daughter.
My blood fights to boil or run cold, I’m so sick with resentment.
“No, you’re wrong. She’s mine,” I say, smiling. “Her name is Wren. Wren, why don’t you say hello to Keir before he leaves.” She finishes suckling, and I lift her up onto my chest to burp her. Keir’s dark eyes are locked on me, and they’re unmoving.
“I’m not leaving.”
“Yes. You. Are. We don’t need you. Just be glad that I’m not after anything from you.”
“You never did want anything from me.”
“And I never will,” I add, steadying my breath. Kissing Wren’s head, I change boobs and she latches on right away to which I smile before I glance back to Keir.
“I’m not her. That woman was chosen for you. I don’t want nor need you. Please leave and let us be.”
“I’m not leaving. Are you deaf?” That last part slides over his tongue with venom.
“Now you’re throwing insults. That’s just great. No, I am not deaf, but I want to sleep. I’m exhausted.” Wren starts to fall asleep on my breast, so I lift and burp her again before lying her in the crib next to the bed. I turn away from Keir and face my beautiful little girl, and it isn’t long before my eyes become too heavy to keep open any longer.
It’s his voice that wakes me, but it’s not his usual voice.
He’s singing. Who knew he could sing?
When I open my eyes, Keir has Wren in his arms, rocking her back and forth as he sings to her. If I didn’t just have a baby and didn’t know what a dick he really is, it would make me want another.
But I do know who he is. Maybe not all of him, but enough, and none of it is good. Well, apart from the sex, that is more than good.
But look where that led me.
“Keir.” He stops singing, and some part of me wishes I didn’t speak. Though, the better part of me knows better. “Give me my baby.”
He regards her once more, and it’s the first real smile I have seen him pull. He steps closer but makes no move to hand her over. “She’s beautiful,” he whispers.
“She is.” I don’t disagree because she is the perfect blend of the two of us. And let’s get our facts straight—Keir is a beautiful man. Very much so. “Give her to me,” I repeat, stronger this time. I sit up and reach for her, and for just a short breath of a moment, I wonder if he will take her from me and that sets panic racing through my veins.
“I’m leaving.” Keir hands Wren back, and the instant rush of relief I get does not go unmissed by him. “A driver will take you back to your house tomorrow.” Then he finally leaves, without another word.
And I’m left to wonder what the hell just happened.
The driver Keir sends is Joey, who has a black eye and a broken wrist.
“Hi,” I say as he steps into my room. His eyes lift then they fall to Wren in my arms before they find mine. “Not to sound rude, but why are you here?” I ask.
“I’m your driver.”
“I realize that! Is this your punishment?” I ask.
He ambles in, grabs a bag, and lifts it with his good arm. “Is this all?” He ignores my question, then stares at me expectantly when I don’t answer.
“That bag over there too.” I nod to the bag behind me, and he hefts that one up too.
“Is this your punishment? I’m guessing you told him since he turned up and stalked me,” I push again while standing. I asked him not to tell Keir I was pregnant, at the time though, I had believed I could not carry. And that was the case, until Wren.
“Yes,” he finally answers. “Can we go now?” Joey makes a move to the door, and I follow closely behind him.
“Did he do that to you?” I ask when we reach the elevator.
He harrumphs in reply but doesn’t say anything more as he enters the elevator and pushes the lobby button.
“When did you tell him?” I keep pushing because I want to know.
As soon as the doors open, he marches straight out the exit to a waiting car. Opening the back door, there’s a car seat already installed as he heads to the trunk to put our bags inside.
“Do you need help securing her?”
“Have you ever put a baby in a car seat before?” I ask.
“Once, but she wasn’t that small.” Joey nods to Wren.
“Her name is Wren.” I smile at him. “It’s okay, I took lessons so I should be fine.” I place her in the seat, and it isn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Thankfully. When she’s safely buckled in tight, I shut the door.