He nodded at her, his lips in a flat line, and squeezed her hand still clasped in his to his chest. “Whatever it is, it can’t be worse than what I’m imagining. Just tell me.”
Or maybe it is worse.
“I don’t know who Whit’s father is.”
As his eyes widened and his head tilted forward on his neck as understanding struck him, she realized that this was news she probably should’ve shared with both of them and she said as much. He stroked her hand with his thumb as she explained the circumstances surrounding Whit’s conception. When she finally ran out of steam, pain crept into her heart as she realized the callousness of her confession taking place only moments after he confessed that he loved her. This wasn’t fair for him to find out what kind of person she was after he’d shared his heart.
“Do you love him?” he asked, his eyelids lowered so she couldn’t gauge his reaction.
“No. How could I after one night?” That was the only answer she could give him that made sense, even though many deeper emotions clouded the issue. Whit’s father had never hurt her, and because of him Whit was a part of her life. She did feel a kind of love for him but not the same as she felt for Kendry and his brother.
“But you said you regretted not telling him your name.”
She nodded, the truth searing her heart. “I do regret it. A father should know about his kids.”
“And if you see him again?”
Presley Ann shook her head. “He wasn’t from this area, he told me that much.”
Kendry looked up at her and murmured, “But we both know that if he did see you again, he would want you.”
Presley Ann shook her head. “I don’t know that. For all I know he might be angry. I told him I was on the pill. Just another one of my epic failures.” She searched his eyes for traces of anger, disappointment, or judgment.
He let out a breath and then crowded close to her and reached out to stroke her jaw. “If it was me in his shoes, I’d want to know, and I’d want you both. But understand something, kitten. I love you, and the fact that you made a mistake that resulted in your little boy coming into the world doesn’t change that. I love him, too.” He let out a slow exhalation and she could see that he was keeping at least some his thoughts to himself. She didn’t blame him.
“I’m sorry. I was scared that if you knew it would change the way you look at me.”
A smile slowly curved his lips as he stroked her furrowed brow and he leaned down to kiss her, his touch reassuring. Even the pounding of his heart against the back of her hand that he still clasped to him had slowed. “You wouldn’t hold me accountable for past mistakes I’ve made, or Jared, for that matter. I was curious about Whit’s father from the very beginning, and knew there had to be a story there.”
“I was too embarrassed to tell you.”
“We all have embarrassing stuff in our lives.”
“You? No. Not likely.”
“Yes, I was a bed-wetter,” he said, grinning at her until she burst into giggles. “And I was chubby in school until I went out for track in middle school. And I once split my pants in front of the entire school cafeteria. And I got an erection during a high school play I was performing in.”
With each statement, her giggles grew louder until she was finally snorting with laughter. “Oh no.”
His eyes twinkled as he said, “It popped up because I was nervous and wouldn’t go away. I was known as ‘boner’ for the rest of my high school career. See? We all have embarrassing stuff in our pasts. And before you say it, I count the adorable evidence of your past mistake as something to be thankful for instead of embarrassed about.”
Her laughter died down, to be replaced by a fuzzy warmth filling her chest and she reached up to stroke his bearded chin. “I’m lucky and blessed that you feel that way. Not many men would.”
“I’d claim him—and you—as mine any day of the week. Now, you need your rest since we have special plans for you tomorrow night.”
“You do?” she asked as she yawned.
“Yes, since Christmas Eve is going to be at your dad’s house, we’re taking you and Whit out tomorrow night.”
“I’ll be off by six.”
“Good.” He spooned up behind her. “Get some rest because I’m not done with you yet.”
Even his erotic threat didn’t keep her from conking out as she rested her head on his biceps.
Chapter Fifteen
Jared chuckled, unable to deny the warmth that grew in his chest as Whit grinned up at him from his car seat. Despite being so tiny, Whit knew him, and that connection really got to Jared as he unlatched the safety harness and gathered the baby against his chest. The boy even smelled good, he thought, as he pressed his nose and lips against the crown of his head.