“Am I”—I turn to look at Lang—“his dad?”
My stomach is tied into knots. I can barely move. The fear of losing someone important creeps in. I want to tell him I don’t care who the father is, that I’ll raise him as mine.
He is mine.
Can I just keep him? Probably not.
“Lay it on me,” I say, fearful.
“He’s yours. According to the document, he’s ninety-nine point nine percent a little Hannigan.”
I sigh with relief. Lang smiles.
“Congratulations!” Grace rushes to hug me. “You’re going to be an awesome dad.”
“You have too much faith in me,” I mumble, releasing her.
Grace has been this supportive since we met at the tender age of four. They say it only takes one person to believe that you’re capable. In my case, it was Grace and her parents. She brushes away her purple curls and stares at me with those penetrating gray eyes. “You’re one of the most caring, loving people I know. I have faith in you. Maybe it’s time to forget the past and start a new future.”
Easy for her to say. Forget what you did, but now, here’s another life you can fuck up. “What if I fail?”
She kisses my cheek. “What if you become the best dad in the world?”
“I’m a dad,” I mumble.
Beacon hugs me. “Congrats, man. We’re here for you.”
“Well, the cavalry's here, and it’s time for me to go.” Nat stands up, handing the baby to Grace.
As she’s heading to the foyer, I catch up with her, lift her by the waist, and drag her upstairs.
“This is a little too neanderthal even for you, Fisher.”
“Probably, but we need to talk.”
“I have work to do, and you don’t need me anymore,” she says, but I hear it—the sadness in her voice.
She thinks I don’t need her. That she’s only here because I needed a babysitter for my son. If that had been the case, I would’ve dismissed her after he was fine. There’s a completely different reason why I don’t want her to leave. If I want a chance with her, I have to be honest.
We step into the master suite, and I close the door. “Listen, I’m not good at this shit.”
“Kidnapping people when they say goodbye?” She crosses her arms. “I noticed. You have a lot of witnesses.”
“I know why you’re leaving.”
“Because I have other things to do?”
“No. You’re leaving because you’re intimidated by them. You feel like I don’t need you, so you might as well run before they kick you out.”
She hugs herself and looks away. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m busy.”
“I know it because that’s how I act. I know you because you’re a lot like me. I’d rather run away before someone tells me that I’ve overstayed my welcome. I never feel like I’ll be enough, so I don’t bother to convince anyone that I could be. Unlike you. I feel like you stay and become whatever they want you to be so they’ll accept you and love you.”
She huffs. “What’s your point?”
“Listen, I don’t play games. I say things straightforwardly. I like you a lot, Dr. Hottie. I can’t say that I’m madly in love with you because we just met. But I’d like to explore where this will—”
“You don’t do relationships,” she interrupts me. “I just broke up with someone…well, someone like you. I’m not willing to go through that again.”
“Like me? A famous musician with a shitty reputation? Do tell, maybe I know him.”
She smiles. “I can’t take your sarcasm seriously. And not exactly like you. He’s a wealthy playboy who doesn’t respect others’ feelings.”
I arch an eyebrow. Is that why she’s here? Some asshole hurt her, and she’s running away from him. I should find the fucker and kill him. No. I’ll torture him until he dies, and then I’ll dispose of him.
“He didn’t hurt me, but he made me realize that I want a different life.”
“See, I’m not like him. All that shit you read in the tabloids about me is a bunch of lies. I don’t like emotional entanglements. For years, I had an on-and-off-only-sex relationship with the mother of my child. It was an open thing, and most of the times we were together, we weren’t alone.”
“Like, you were in orgies?”
I nod. “All I want is to explore what’s happening between us. I know it’s hard because I have a newborn, a shitty past, and you just moved into town, but…can you give me a chance?”
“You’re not my type.”
“Tall, dark, and delicious? That’s anyone’s type,” I say the last three words imitating Amber’s voice. Every time she’s on the phone with her friends I tease her and at times eavesdrop because I know they’re talking about me. Nat is so obvious.
Her eyes open wide. “Did you listen to my conversation with Amber? How?”
I tap my ear. “I have excellent hearing. If I close my eyes and concentrate, I can hear the discussion that’s happening downstairs.”
“Okay, so you’re attractive. I’m not blind.”
“Nat.” I step closer to her. I’m so close our feet touch. I look down and stare into her brown eyes. “I’ve never asked this of anyone. Could you please give me the chance to fall in love with you?”
She gasps, her eyes open wide. “I…”
“It’s sudden but we can make it happen. Now, I’m going to kiss you,” I mumble, putting my arms around her.
I press her body against mine.
I set a soft kiss on her forehead.
Dusting small kisses around her face, my mouth finds her soft lips.
The world stops spinning.
There’s silence in my head and as she lets my tongue inside her mouth, I hear it. A melody. It’s a tune made from the rhythm of her heart and mine. It’s a connection, a song that was meant to be played.
It’s two souls connected by one eternal sound.
I deepen the kiss.
She doesn’t back off. She takes as much as she gives.
We’re consuming each other.
Surrendering to the moment—to each other. Until someone slams an open palm against the door.
I ignore it.
There’s a second round of knocks. “Sorry to interrupt, but it seems like the baby needs food. We can’t find the formula.”
I groan as I pull myself away from Nathalie.
She looks all flushed and beautiful. “We should…”
“So, was that a yes?”
“It’s an I’ll think about it,” she answers, opening the door.
San is behind it. “You didn’t have to stop.”
“Don’t embarrass her,” I order.
San grins. “Aw, we’re a little sensitive.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Fisher
Grace, Beacon, and San leave right after we were interrupted.
While Nat and I care for the little demon, Lang nags me about the name. “There’s still a matter of registering him. I still can’t figure out how she got away without doing so. Even when the baby wasn’t born in a hospital, she was required to do it. It’s the law in the state of New York.”