The Naked Truth(6)

“Sorry about that, but like I said, I wasn’t expecting you just yet.” She entered the living room. Her hair was now dry, a light layer of make-up coated her face, and she wore a tight white shirt with dark blue jeans. The picture of beauty.

“It’s all right. I was early. Please sit.”

“Don’t forget this is my home and I call the shots.” She took her seat.

Josh smiled. “I’m sorry for that as well. I forget I’m not the boss of everyone sometimes.”

“It’s okay. You’re a high-powered man. It happens.”

“I’m glad we’re finally talking. Have you thought about my offer?” She nodded, but before she could speak, he spoke again. “Good. I want to help you both in any way I can. I probably over-stepped my grounds, but I know your daughter’s father isn’t in the picture.”

Abigail tensed. “How much do you know about her father?”

“From what I can gather, he must be scum. How can someone have a child and not support them? It’s pathetic.”

“Maybe he didn’t know.” Her voice was soft and caring, which really irritated him.

“Nonsense. Don’t cover for him.”

Abigail wiggled in her seat. “So you don’t know who Hailey’s father is then?”

“Personally, I don’t care who it is. As I’ve said, I’d like to help. I never had kids of my own and you were special to me.”

Her cheeks turned a light shade of red. “We spent one night together.”

“One amazing night. We connected on many levels. I know you felt what I did. I’ve never believed in love at first meeting, but with you, I do.” Josh gazed at her, looking for any sign she might feel the same.

“Don’t think you can sweet talk your way into me forgiving you for getting me fired.”

“I can tell you’re one to hold a grudge.” He scooted closer to her on the couch. “Perhaps with a little persuasion, I can get you to forgive me.”

Josh leaned in, his lips close to hers. Her mouth parted and she sighed. Just as he was about to kiss her, her hands touched his chest, pushing him back. He stared into her eyes, hating the feeling of rejection.

“I invited you here to talk. After what I have to tell you, I’m almost positive you won’t want to kiss me.”

What could she possibly have to tell him that would cause that kind of reaction? “What?”

“It’s about Hailey’s father.”

“What about her father?”

Abigail’s eyes were wet and he could tell whatever she had to say, it was hard. A tear dropped slowly down her cheek and his heart ached at the sight. “Is he deceased?”

She shook her head.

“What? Tell me.”

“It’s you,” she said in an almost whisper.

“Me. What about me?” He was confused.

“You’re her father.”

Josh froze. He was Hailey’s father. The little girl in the photographs with his mother’s name was his. And in all these years, he was never told. As he stared at the woman in front of him, he couldn’t help but wonder why she’d kept this from him. “You never told me. Why?”

“I was going to, but I was worried at first you’d think I did it on purpose. Then I worried you wouldn’t believe me and you’d turn me away.”

His heart hurt to think she thought that badly of him. Had he come across as some sort of monster? “I never would’ve done either of those things. It pains me that you would think that.” He stood up and raked his hands through his hair. “In four years, you never thought to tell me.”

“As time passed, it got harder because of the time. Really, there is no excuse. All I can say is I’m sorry.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “Please don’t take her from me.”

Take her? My God, he’d never do that unless she was unfit. And that was one thing the woman in front of him wasn’t. She loved that little girl with everything in her if she was willing to work where she did so their daughter could go to one of the best private schools. He could tell by the photos that Hailey was happy.

“I’m not going to take her.”

“Do you hate me?”

Josh wasn’t quite sure what he was feeling at the moment, but hate wasn’t one of those emotions. He wanted to meet his daughter, but he knew he couldn’t just be her father right away. “How are we going to introduce me to her?”

“I don’t know.”

What a mess. He had a child and she didn’t know him. He couldn’t just waltz right in and tell her he was her daddy. The child would be confused and angry at both Abigail and him. “Maybe I can come around and be your friend? She can get to know me on that level before we tell her.”