A Baby for the Billionaire(48)

“I’m a gem. Now really, go enjoy your weekend. Your assignment is in and I’ve got the rest covered. Enjoy your time off with your new family.”

“They’re not mine yet.”

Diane snorted. “That man’s been yours since you were too young to figure out what to do with him properly. Just relax and enjoy the honeymoon period.”

“Oh, I intend to. Cross my heart.”

Because now that nothing stood in her way, she had years of illicit dreams to make up for.





Chapter Fifteen


“Thank you for staying late tonight, Emily.”

The nanny turned with a smile. “Not a problem. Enjoy your evening with Clara.”

“We made it through one date incredibly well. I thought I’d surprise her tonight with another,” Walker said, perched on one of the new chairs in the room he and Emily had declared Hunter’s. It wasn’t as if they were short on guest rooms, and with how things had developed with Clara he’d decided to turn the bedroom next to his into a nursery. There were still a few pieces missing, but Emily had outdone herself getting the room set up.

Though eyeing the newly positioned crib, Walker wasn’t sure how he felt about Hunter sleeping away from him. Even if it was just the next room.

How fast things change.

A week ago, a baby in his bedroom was the last thing he’d have wanted, but even though it had only been a few days, Hunter had wormed his way into his heart. He doubted it would be a temporary affliction.

Emily changed the baby with deft fingers before bringing him over to place in his arms.

“Where are you two going to go?”

“I figured I’d take her back to somewhere from our past. It was the first place I ever really noticed Clara in a way that went beyond the bounds of friendship.”

Emily grinned. “That’s too cute.”

“What every man wants to hear. Our next date obviously needs to include beer and monster trucks.”

“Sorry,” she said. “I meant it sounds like a great place to take this next step in your relationship. Honestly, I thought you two were a couple when I first started.”

“We get that a lot,” he agreed.

She shook her head as she folded the fresh laundry. “Maybe they were onto something.”

“So it would seem. For two smart people, we were the last to know.”

“She should be home any minute. Do you need to do anything to get ready? I can watch Hunter if you do.”

He danced a stuffed toy in front of his son’s eyes, enjoying the miniature smile that erupted on the baby’s face.

“I should get changed but…”

“But this little guy is a charmer,” she said, smiling down at her charge with a fondness that eased some of the tension in Walker’s chest.

“That he is. Must get it from his mother.”

Whoever she is.

Not for the first time, he cursed his wandering eye. If he’d been more careful, made better choices, none of them would be in this mess.

Then again, he wouldn’t have Hunter. He would never have asked Clara to move in, and then they’d never have stolen that first illicit kiss.

Would he trade all that in for the simpler life he would have had if he’d just stayed in a year ago instead of blazing through a few months of foolish pleasure?

I don’t regret him. Even if he wished Hunter had been conceived the right way. In a loving relationship with two parents who wanted him.

With a mother with curly brown hair and chocolate eyes.

That sounds a lot more serious than you told Clara you were ready for.

Kissing the baby’s forehead, he handed him back to Emily. “I should get changed,” he said. “Can you take him for a few minutes?”

“No problem,” she replied, accepting the armful.

The baby followed Walker with his eyes as he left the room, a trait he’d taken to doing this week. Each time the tiny head turned to search the room for his father, Walker’s heart squeezed. If his mother had never sent him here, he’d have never known this feeling could exist.

Maybe someday I’ll thank her.

If their paths ever crossed again. He’d considered the women who could potentially be Hunter’s mother and none of them were anywhere close. A couple were abroad, and the one had moved down south to open a bakery. None showed any signs of coming back into his life any time soon. He knew he’d eventually have to reach out to them all to figure out who he shared a child with, but he wanted the DNA results first. Besides, clearly Hunter’s mother was not interested in being found.

That’s fine with me. Let her stay away for a while so Clara and I can sort everything out.

There was only so much drama one month could hold, after all.