The moment their hands break apart, I tell her, “He came by to drop off a DNA kit. We have a lab that handles everything with priority so this won’t take long.”
Archer eyes Lee’s bandaged ankle and gives her a tiny smile. “I’m going to make some coffee, you want one?”
She dismisses him and almost wants to get up when I take a step toward the hallway. “Where are you going?”
“I’m not going anywhere. I am however going to gently get a sample of my alleged daughter.”
Her eyes go wide at my words but I hold my hand up to silence her and add, “Don’t get your panties in a twist. It’s an easy swab. I can rub the inside of her cheek while she’s sound asleep. She won’t even know I’m there.”
That’s all the explanation I give her as I stalk out to do exactly as I said I’d do. When I’m finished, I stroll into the kitchen and open the other box with a swap and rub the inside of my cheek. When I’ve wrapped everything up, I hand the package to Archer and take the mug he’s holding out for me.
“You taking care of them? With her ankle hurt and all?” Archer questions.
I glance over my shoulder to see if Lee is still on the couch. Her eyes are staring at the TV across from her and yet she seems locked in her mind; miles away.
“I’m ninety-nine-point ninety-nine percent sure the kid is mine. I need the test results to make it an even hundred. So, yeah, they stay here. And I’m not about to let her walk away when her ankle is healed either,” I snap, somewhat agitated with myself and the whole situation.
Archer’s eyes slide to Lee. “Is she old lady material?”
I put the mug down and rub my neck. “I have no clue. She sparks something inside me when I see her, that’s for sure. And the kid sleeping down the hall should prove we have a connection. Man, I haven’t even mentioned half the stuff we did that night, almost four years ago.”
I have to push those hot memories away or I’ll end up with a major hard on with my president standing right in front of me.
“You have a lot to deal with, brother. But take it from me, if it feels right . . . you hold on to that shit and fight for it. Look at the mess I’m in. We’ve been sneaking around for a few weeks and it’s killing the both of us. Maybe I should knock her up, sure would simplify things if she’s carrying my kid. No way another MC will interfere then. Brilliant. Thanks, man. You just gave me a way to solve the issue I was having. Okay, I’m heading out and will drop this off at the lab. I’ll make sure they know to do a thorough rush job and have them text you the results.”
I grab his cut and draw him into a one arm hug as I slap him on the back. “Thanks, man. Appreciate it.”
“Always, brother,” he simply states. “Call if you need anything.”
Archer heads out the door and I make myself another cup of coffee before heading into the living room.
“Short visit.” Lee tries to say it as a statement but the curve of her voice lets me know it’s more of a question as to why he left so soon.
“He has some personal issues. His uncle’s the president of Areion Fury MC. Their VP’s daughter has had his heart since the moment he laid eyes on her. There are matters at hand that prevent them from being together.”
Her shoulders sag a look of sympathy washes over her face. “That’s just sad. Love should always win. I hope he doesn’t give up and finds a way to be with her.”
“Well, he just decided in the kitchen that it would be a good thing to knock her up. It would guarantee a claim, one Areion Fury MC has no other option but to accept if he wants to do right by her.” I spill these details just to see how she responds to it.
There’s nothing. No agreement, no judgement, no glare, no nothing.
She shifts uncomfortably and says, “I would love a cup of coffee if it’s not too much trouble.”
I have to blink a few times at the change in subject since I was still observing her to see what answer or judgment she would give me. “Yeah, sure.”
Just as I’m about to pass her she says in a very small voice, “I love my daughter, Kain. I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe I should have tried harder to reach you, though it doesn’t matter now since everything is in the past. I can only hope you won’t take her from me. I’ll fight you if you do, but I will never deny Denise her father.”
I can hear my own heartbeat in my ears. Did I hear her correctly? Did she really say my biological mother’s name?
I have to breathe deeply in and out before I have enough oxygen running through me to whisper, “Denise?”
She gives me a tiny smile and points at my chest where underneath my necklace is hidden.
“The angel wings hanging from your necklace. That night in Vegas after the second round of sex, I asked who those names belonged to. You mentioned they were your parents. I wanted to name her Athena, after my mother. But the moment I held her in my arms the name Denise popped into my head so I gave her both. Athena Denise. But when she started talking and could speak her own name it came out as Deni, that’s why I most times address her as Deni. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” I croak. “Fuck, you have no idea what this means to me.”
“I’m so sorry you missed the first few years of Deni’s life. I’m so—”
I cut her off because repeating excuses doesn’t help shit. “Can we just draw a line here and now, and leave everything that happened in the past? The little girl down the hall is what matters, and if we keep throwing shit back and forth it won’t change the fact where we’re standing now. You’re the mother, I’m the father. When I have it in black and white, we will raise her together.” Her eyes grow wide and I know the both of us aren’t ready for this discussion yet. “We are going to cross that bridge when we get there. First things first, meaning we’re going to spend time together and when we get those results, we will have the whole future plans talk. Deal?”
“Deal,” she grumbles and adds, “Can I have that coffee now?”
I can’t help but snort a laugh and head for the kitchen but I have to stop mid stride. “Cream? Sugar?”
“Four sugars, please.”
I raise an eyebrow and she just shrugs. I shake my head and stroll into the kitchen to make her cavity-inducing coffee. I’ll be sure to throw in some extra sugar since this woman strikes me as the type who will hold back some because others always judge. She’s not one of those skinny, model looking types who prance around with their perfect figure for all to see.
Nope, she seems the type to be aware of her every curve. Curves she must hate because of society’s picture-perfect image. While all I see is the softness of a real woman, a real woman where I won’t feel bones when I grab her hips and slam myself deep inside her over and over.
Great. And now I’m staring at the kitchen ceiling in an effort to calm my raging hard on. Releasing a deep breath, I head into the living room and hand her the mug. She wraps her hands around it and the corner of my mouth twitches when I see her smell it first.
Lee finally takes a sip and she releases a sigh of contentment before eagerly taking another sip. Just as I thought, she has a sweet tooth but chooses to diminish it. I make a mental note to take them both to Bertha’s Café for breakfast. They have the best pancakes, and coffee for that matter.