A Baby for the Billionaire(69)

A curious lightness filled him when Walker stepped across the threshold into his home. Everything was finally falling into place. Work had been so hectic he’d barely had a chance to check on Hunter, but the day was done. Now he could focus on what mattered.

Clara.

Tossing his keys on the table, he strode through his condo determined to check on his son first before going after his friend.

But what he found in the baby’s room stopped him. It wasn’t a tousled brunette head leaning over Hunter but a blonde one.

“Welcome home,” Veronica said as she straightened. “He’s sleeping soundly. I couldn’t stop watching him. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” he said, moving to her side. “I’ve done that often enough. I’m in no place to judge.”

She smiled before turning back to the baby. “I can’t believe we created him,” she said. “When I found out I was pregnant I was horrified, but look at this little boy. He’s the best of us both.”

“Yes.” His voice was soft with sincerity. “Yes, he is. I don’t want to think of what my life would be like without him.”

“Me, neither,” she whispered. “We’ll make this work, won’t we? Neither of us can lose him.”

“We’ll make it work,” he promised, staring down at the sleeping baby for a long moment. “But we should talk.”

“Yes,” she agreed with obvious regret. “Yes, we should let him rest.” Her hand hovered over the child as if she wanted to stroke his cheek, but she withdrew and led the way from his room.

Back in the living room, Walker ran a hand through his hair. He’d wanted to talk to Clara, but maybe this was a conversation he needed to have first. Then he could go to her with all the facts about how Veronica would fit into their lives.

God, what if she didn’t want to have anything to do with Hunter’s mother? He’d never seen Clara hurt a fly, but there was a child she loved involved now. He had no doubt she could be a fierce protector when it came to those she considered hers.

Veronica sat on the couch and patted the space beside her. “I know a lot has happened in a very short amount of time,” she began.

“How was your day with the baby?”

A slow smile curved her lips. “Wonderful. As good as I’ve been imagining since I left him. Thank you for taking such good care of him when I couldn’t.”

“It was overwhelming. I would have been a wreck, too, without Clara.”

“Yes.” She looked away. “Clara.”

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She chewed her expertly lined lip for a moment before confessing, “She came over today.”

“Is she here?” He started rising to his feet when a hand on his arm stopped him.

“We had a chat this afternoon,” she said. “But she’s not here any longer.”

The words sounded far more final than he was prepared for. “What happened?”

“Nothing bad. We had a very civilized conversation, one woman to another.”

“And?”

Veronica twisted her hands together. “And she left with a suitcase.”

Walker was off the couch in a heartbeat, tearing his way across the room. He practically flew to Clara’s guest room and wrenched the door open.

Only to see it was back to its immaculate state. No clothes tossed over far-too-expensive chairs. No bobby pins scattered across the vanity. Nothing to suggest Clara had ever lived in this room except for a letter lying on the white pillows.

“I didn’t read it,” Veronica said from behind him.

“Why would she go?”

“Why would she stay?”

He turned to see his former lover waiting uncertainly in the doorway. “I know I messed up,” she started. “I will spend the rest of my life making that up to you. But you must remember how it was with us before I left. We had chemistry. A real connection. And now we’re bound in a way far more permanent than any relationship could ever tie us. Clara knew that. She saw the chance we had and she stepped out of the way.”

“What chance?”

Veronica took a deep breath. “To be a family. A real one. Think about it. Hunter could be raised by his mom and dad. Together.”

“You’re not his mom.”

“But I am.” She moved forward, closing the distance between them. “I always will be. And I could be more, to you. If you’d give me another chance. I’d like to try again. Really I would.”

“What?”

“I know we can’t just pick up where we left off. All I ask is that you think about it. Clara left because she was putting Hunter first. Don’t let her sacrifice be in vain.” She nodded to the letter. “I’ll be waiting downstairs when you’re ready to talk more.”