“I have a secret and I want to tell you.”
“Okay.” How deep of a secret could a four-year old have?
“I want you to be my dad.”
That’s pretty deep. Could I tell her my secret? No, are you stupid? She wouldn’t understand. She doesn’t want me to be her dad because I am her dad. I’m the closest thing she has to a father figure. That’s why she wants me to be her dad. Isn’t that what John would say? Why am I paying him? I’m doing fine all on my own.
“X.” She pointed out the window. “Look at the birds.”
“I see them, Z.”
Kara
I tugged the covers higher as I rolled over. Why is it so cold in here? Trying to get comfortable was impossible. Had I fallen asleep? The cough medication was making it hard to stay focused. I didn’t know if I was coming or going.
“Are you okay?” A familiar, comforting voice called to me as he placed his hand on my forehead. “You’re burning up.”
“I feel terrible.”
“Maybe you should call your doctor?”
“No,” I groaned. “It’s just a virus.” I sat up as he propped the pillows behind me. “You shouldn’t be here. I’m probably contagious.”
“I’ll take my chances.” Risks were my specialty.
“How was Zoey?”
“Her usual amazing self.”
When he smiled, I couldn’t help but fall for him a little more.
“She talked my ear off in the car.” He sat on the edge of the bed, handing me a glass of juice. “Drink this.”
“Thank you.” I sipped from the straw, feeling like a kid. “My mother is visiting her sister in Florida. When she called this morning, she wanted to get on the next flight home. I told her you were taking Zoey to school and shopping for me. She said she loves you.”
“The feeling is mutual.” He grinned. “Lila is making homemade soup for you and dinner for Zoey. I’ll swing by my place and grab it before I pick Zoey up from school.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
“I can do that from here.”
“I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“You’re not.” He took the glass from me. “Are you hungry?”
I shook my head.
“I’ll make you something in a bit. You should try to eat.”
“You’re taking such good care of me and Zoey.”
These past few weeks had become effortless between us. We’d fallen into a routine but not a boring, senseless one. He still managed to surprise Zoey and me on a regular basis. Flowers, milkshakes, ice skating, and even a weekend at a hotel in the city so Zoey could see her first Broadway show. The biggest surprise of all was him. I never expected for any of this to turn out the way it had that day we met him in the park. Not many men would be so attentive to a child he had no ties to.
“We did have a little mishap on the way into school,” he said.
“Did Zoey jump in a puddle?” I laughed because it wouldn’t be the first time.
“No, apparently there is a new student at the school.”
“Ah, yes, her mother was a famous runway model.”
“Yes, actually I saw her walk the runway in Paris.”
“Of course you did.” His life was so intriguing that sometimes I wondered what he was doing with ordinary me. “I forgot to tell you about the reporters who have been camped out at the entrance all week.”
“I’m having that taken care of as we speak. I’ve called the mayor and I’ll get the governor involved if the media doesn’t move away from the doors where the children have to enter. I spoke to the director about the issue. You’re paying far too much money to not have a safe place for her to enter.”
“Actually, you’re paying far too much money.”
“You know what I mean. I won’t have it.”
“Aren’t you fierce?”
“I might have let it slide if they didn’t start taking pictures of Zoey and me. They were searching for a story.”
“The billionaire taking the kid to school?”
“Something like that.” His jaw tightened when he spoke. “I got her into the building as Alec spoke to them about our privacy. I can’t control where the pictures will show up or how they’ll spin the story. I didn’t give them any comments and I informed the school that if Zoey’s name was leaked to the press in conjunction with those pictures, I’d sue them.”
“Oh, boy.”
“I value my privacy and Zoey shouldn’t have to deal with the media because I’m her… well, because of who I am.”
“The sexiest, most eligible bachelor in the city? Successful, smart, rich, kind, and protective of my kid? That’s who you are.”
“I’ll agree with all of that except for one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m hardly eligible.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek. “I’m all yours. Don’t forget it.”
“I like the sound of that.” I pushed at his chest. “Don’t get too close to me.”
“I’m not afraid of your germs.”
“Don’t feel bad about the media. I’m sure Zoey didn’t even know what was going on.”
“She asked me if I was more famous than the model.”
“To her you are.” I reached for his hand. “To me you are.”
“There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for either one of you.”
“And you think you’re too good to be true.”
“That again.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve just found the right woman to focus all of my time and energy on. “
When his phone buzzed from my nightstand, he glanced at the screen. “Do you mind if I take that even after I said I’m focusing all of my attention on you?”
“No.” It was already so kind of him to look after me. I didn’t want him to neglect his work.
“Hello.” He answered the call. “What did you find out?”
There was a long pause as he listened to the person on the other end. “That’s, ah, unfortunate. I’m sorry to hear that.” He stood from the bed and began pacing the floor. “Yes, well, at least now we know why Stan has been so distracted.”
He stayed silent again as he listened intently, stopping to gaze out the window. He appeared lost in thought. Judging from the way he looked, the news wasn’t good.
“I want to renege on my bid.” He shook his head. “I know it’s a lucrative deal. One that would benefit me in many ways but that doesn’t seem to matter in the big picture, does it?”
He continued to stare outside. His demeanor had changed. Why would he back out of a deal that could be so beneficial for him?
“I’m quite certain that I’m handing it to him. Start the paperwork this afternoon. Have it on my desk tomorrow morning and I’ll sign it. Keep it quiet until then.”
After he ended the call, he didn’t move from the window. He stood there, brooding and I wondered what would make him back out of a deal that could be so important to him.