The Cowboy's Baby(16)

What a way to get cold feet though – leaving the man you love completely alone to deal with the coming birth of a baby by himself. Esme could think of few things crueler. In that moment, she looked down to where Daniel’s hand covered her own, the intimacy of the gesture making her flush slightly. The man’s palm was warm and rough – it was almost as if her knuckles could pick up every ridge and callous.

What would those hands feel like sliding over her skin…cupping her to the heat of his mouth? Heat slammed through the young woman, even as Daniel realized the forwardness of his gesture and removed his hand somewhat sheepishly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I just want to reassure you that we’re still going to the doctor Friday, still taking on all of this…that is, if you’re still on board.”

There was a clause in Esme’s contract that stated that, if at any time she should feel that the baby was in danger of being placed in a potentially unstable household, she could report it to the clinic. It meant, of course, potentially removing the child from its’ biological parents’ care – but even though Esme wouldn’t be the child’s mother, she still felt enough responsibility towards the baby that she would blow that whistle without hesitation, if needed.

She didn’t think such measures were called for now.

In her heart, she knew Daniel would be devastated to lose his baby. He’d already potentially lost his partner. When Esme looked closely at his face, she could see the dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. Though the man looked far from his actual age, fatigue and stress were slowly taking their toll.

Far be it from her to add to the man’s list of issues.

There wasn’t a doubt in Esme’s mind that Daniel would be a good father – and she wanted nothing more than to reassure him that she was aware of the fact.

“I’m definitely still on board.” She sipped at her coffee, allowing the caffeine to seep into her senses as she calmed her nerves. This was just a minor setback. It was more than likely that Alyssa would be back in a few weeks, max, and everything would be back to normal. “As long as you are.”

Daniel’s brilliant smile was akin to the sun piercing the clouds after a rainstorm. His brow immediately cleared, his full mouth curving upward in a gesture that made Esme’s knees weak and her heart race. Her overly hormonal body immediately began to ache in almost painful longing and she had to take a deep breath to center herself. “Wonderful, Esme. Thank you so much. I know this can’t be the easiest for you and I don’t mean to make things harder. I just want to be honest. Honesty is important to me.” The man’s eyes suddenly darkened as he lost himself in a memory beyond Esme’s reckoning. “So I just want to make sure I maintain transparency.”

“It’s your baby.” Esme provided, her own lips curving slightly as she took a bite of one of the croissants from the basket provided to them. The flavor was absolutely heavenly, and she suppressed a moan of delight.

“It’s your body. Which is why I also have a few other things I’d like to discuss with you…involving certain matters over the course of your pregnancy.”

Esme arched a brow as Daniel signaled to the waiter. When he asked if he could order for her, she let him, impressed with his choices of crème brulee brioche French toast and Maryland crab cake eggs benedict. It was easy to forget that the man was filthy rich upon merely talking to him. He seemed incredibly down to earth. Once their breakfast was ordered, Daniel poured them another round of coffee before speaking once more. “Esme, you live on the east side of Enid, correct?”

She nodded, buttering another decadent croissant. “That’s about two hours away from my estate in the foothills, and almost an hour and a half away from the clinic for you?” The young woman repeated the gesture. It was the only downside to being involved in the surrogacy program so far. Every time she managed to make it out to the clinic and back home, it cost her an entire tank of gas. Of course, that was no problem now, with her stipend.

“You’ve also said you work now,” the beef baron continued, taking up a croissant of his own to spread with strawberry jelly before popping a bite into his sumptuous mouth. “May I ask where?”

Esme was immediately embarrassed. It was always difficult to talk to anyone about her attempts at a career. She was nowhere near the place she wanted to be, and until she was, she’d always feel like she’d fallen a little short.

“Oh…just a Brazilian restaurant downtown. The new place.”

“I see.” She tried not to create disapproval in the man’s gaze that wasn’t there, looking away as shame curdled in her gut. “Well, Esme, what I want to ask is: how you would feel about coming to live on the estate for the course of your pregnancy?”