The Cowboy's Baby(14)

Her moment of Zen was interrupted by her phone buzzing in her pocket. Esme jumped, scrambling to extract the device from where it vibrated against her thigh. “Hello?”

There was a moment of hesitation before a very familiar Texan drawl answered her. “Esme?”

A jolt of immediate arousal shot down her spine, making the young woman sit up ramrod straight as her eyes widened. Of course, she knew that Daniel had her number, and that they were bound to be in contact throughout her pregnancy – but to get a call from him at eleven thirty on a Tuesday night – she hadn’t been expecting it at all.

“Mr. Hartsford!” The words escaped her in a shocked rush before she managed to compose herself, clearing her throat. “Mr. Hartsford, hello. Hi. Yes, this is Esme.”

“How are you?”

At least he was kind enough not to skip the pleasantries. “Fine.” A bundle of raging hormones and crazy cravings, but other than that, she was about as well as could be expected. “Great. Yourself?”

There was another pause – this time long enough to cause her genuine discomfort. “Esme, I actually called you to talk about something fairly important. I’m sorry to contact you so late. I hope I haven’t woken you.”

The young woman arched a brow in surprise. Something important? Did the business mogul have some specific nutrition plan he wanted to go over with her before the doctor’s appointment on Thursday? A supplement he might want to discuss? It struck her as a bit late for that but she supposed a concerned father was a concerned father.

“You haven’t woken me at all. I was just getting off work, actually.”

“Were you?” The man’s voice came back registering slight surprise, and for a moment Esme thought he might be intrigued enough to actually ask her where she worked. Of course, she was disappointed. “Esme, I know it’s a bit late notice, but would you be available to meet for breakfast tomorrow morning? Around nine?”

“Um…sure? I’m alright with that. Is there…some kind of emergency?”

“No emergency. Just something we have to discuss.”

We? ‘We’ as in he and she alone?

The moment the thought crossed Esme’s mind, guilt suffused her. Why on earth would she think that Daniel wanted to see her alone? Of course Alyssa would be coming along. This meeting was probably something of her contriving. The woman certainly seemed demanding enough to bother her beau at close to midnight.

“Ok. No problem.” What else could she say? She certainly couldn’t deny the man – not when his voice sounded like hot, succulent caramel dripping from a spoon.

“How’s Reginald’s Tavern? Off 471?”

One of the most expensive English breakfasts in town. Esme had always wanted to go but had never been able to afford it. Now, Hartsford’s generous stipend gave her more than enough to pay the restaurant a visit. Several, if she chose. “Sounds good to me.” Her hungry belly growled at the fact, and her lips curved as she remembered she was eating for two now.

“See you tomorrow, then, Esme. Goodnight.” When she hung up with the phone with the man, Esme couldn’t help feeling somewhat unsettled. He had sounded off – as if the thought of their meeting caused him just as much apprehension as it did hers. Esme could only hope that Alyssa would be somewhat more cordial – if for no other reason than to take some of the pressure from Daniel. The man was tense around her – almost as if he expected the Hispanic beauty to explode at any moment.

Her discomfort followed her home and she slept fitfully, neglecting even a modest dinner although she was starving. When the next morning came, she made a quick smoothie, which she sipped at as she contemplated what to wear to breakfast.

Esme tried to tell herself to throw on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. She was pregnant now. Who was she trying to impress? According to Alyssa, her body was going to be ruined anyway, so why try? The thought made the young woman smirk as she shook her head.

In that moment, she wanted nothing more than to spite the woman who had disrespected her. She was well aware of how childish the impulse was, and how it would be better to just throw on whatever was clean and go. However…it wouldn’t hurt to make herself presentable. If she was going to be the surrogate of a billionaire, she might as well dress the part – even if it was just for a day.

Esme went through her closet critically. There wasn’t a whole lot to choose from that wasn’t chef’s coats and regulation black pants. She had a few pairs of jeans and tops for interviews, a lonely black pencil skirt, and the black sheath she’d been wearing when she met Daniel and Alyssa. She supposed she could wear it again, but she wanted something with a bit more oomph. Digging deeper, she managed to unearth a burgundy peplum number a friend had convinced her to splurge on years ago.