Carrying the Lost Heir's Child(38)

                                      Nine

                Nash couldn’t let his mind drift to the conversation he had with Lily about her career and he sure as hell couldn’t think about how his emotions regarding her were tying him up in knots. He was here for one reason and one reason only—to figure out what Damon Barrington would do with the paternity bomb Nash was about to drop.

                “Well, we’re all here.” Damon smiled, crossing an ankle over his knee in his wingback leather chair in the living room as though he hadn’t a care in the world. “I’m anxious to hear what you have to say.”

                Cassie and Tessa sat on the sofa, their matching bright blue eyes locked on his. Didn’t they see it? Hadn’t they noticed how they all had the exact same shade of cobalt-blue eyes? He’d purposely not worn contacts when he’d come to the estate, perhaps in hopes that someone would mention his eye color.

                Nash sat next to Lily on the other sofa across from Tessa and Cassie. A rich mahogany coffee table sat between them, adorned with a perfect arrangement of summer flowers. The Barrington home was just as lavish and beautiful as his own...a home he was itching to get back to. A home he wanted to show Lily.

                The Barrington clan had been surprised to see Lily, but had bought the friend story...or at least they hadn’t questioned any further.

                Even though Lily wasn’t touching him, just her presence beside him was all the support he needed. Lily was his rock right now.

                “I’ve really enjoyed my time working here,” he began, fighting off the nerves that threatened to consume him. “I’ve gotten to know all of you and was able to witness history firsthand when Tessa won the Triple Crown. I celebrated even though I was here and not at the race. Being on the ranch during filming was pretty amazing, too.”

                “You sure you’re not quitting?” Damon chimed in. “This sounds like a lead into a resignation.”

                Nash shook his head and offered a smile. “I assure you, I’m not quitting.”

                “Is everything okay?” Cassie asked, her brows drawn in.

                The two women on the opposite couch were so similar, yet so different. Both had long, crimson hair and those striking blue eyes, but where Tessa was lean and athletic, Cassie was curvy and softer. Both were beautiful, dynamic women and he realized just how much he wanted to be part of their lives.

                Damn it. He’d never let himself be vulnerable before. Business had always ruled his life and in that aspect he kept control gripped in a tight fist. His mother was the only person he’d ever let affect him emotionally. But, in a sense, he was also here for her. It was time the secret came out. She deserved to be free of any guilt or residual turmoil and he deserved to know where he stood in his father’s life.

                “Everything is fine,” Nash assured them. Unable to stay seated another minute, he came to his feet and paced behind the couch. “This is harder than I thought.”

                Along the mantel sat photos in pewter frames, some pictures were of the girls as children, some of Damon’s late wife, Rose, but they all depicted the family and the love they shared.

                He’d missed out on all of that. But he couldn’t blame his mother. She’d made the choices she thought best under the circumstances. Besides, what’s done was done and now he just had to figure out the best way to deal with the facts he had...and still get all he wanted in the end.

                “I need to start at the beginning.” He turned to face them, rested his hands on his hips. “My mother used to work on this estate years ago. She actually worked here as a trainer before I was born.”