The Ten-Day Baby Takeover(2)

Anna shook her head. “Please don’t apologize. This is the highlight of my day. He’s adorable.” She reached for Oliver’s pudgy hand and smiled. He responded by gripping her finger, his head resting on Sarah’s shoulder. “I’m Anna Langford, by the way.”

“I’m Sarah. Daltrey. This is Oliver.” Sarah watched as Oliver smiled shyly at Anna. He was such a sweet and trusting boy. Saying goodbye to him was going to be heartbreaking, especially after three weeks of caring for him all on her own, but that was her charge and there was nothing to be done about that. She was done with being a nanny, and caring for a child that wasn’t her own, regardless of the circumstances, felt far too much like her old life.

Anna’s eyes didn’t stray from Oliver. “Nice to meet you both. I’m due to have my own little one in about six weeks. Middle of June. I have baby fever right now, big time.” She studied the baby’s face. “Your son’s eyes are incredible. Such a brilliant shade of blue.”

And exactly like your brother’s.

Sarah cleared her throat. “He’s not mine, technically. I’m his legal guardian. I’m in the process of connecting him with his father. That’s why I’m here.”

Confusion crossed Anna’s face. “At LangTel. The father works here?”

Sarah had committed herself to discretion for the sake of everyone, especially Oliver, but this might be her one real chance to get to Aiden. She was getting nowhere with his assistant. “I came to see Aiden Langford. He’s your brother, right? I need to speak to him about Oliver, but he won’t take my phone calls.”

“Oh.” A flicker of surprise crossed Anna’s face as her eyes darted between Oliver and Sarah. “Oh. Wow.” She kneaded her temple with the tips of her fingers. “The lobby doesn’t seem like a good place to talk about this. Maybe you should come upstairs with me.”

* * *

Aiden’s assistant buzzed his extension. “Mr. Langford? Your sister is here to see you. She’s brought a visitor.”

Visitor? “Sure. Send them in.” Aiden set aside the LangTel global marketing report he’d been skimming, easily the driest thing he’d ever read, which was saying a lot. With more than a dozen years in business under his belt, he’d digested his fair share of dull financial projections and legal briefs. He preferred to rely on his gut when making decisions. Billions later, the strategy had served him well.

In walked Anna with a blonde woman he didn’t know. To say the stranger was eye catching would’ve been dismissive. With full pink lips and big blue eyes, wearing a black sundress, she was natural femininity embodied. Their gazes connected and he noticed the faintest of freckles dotting her cheeks. His tastes in women were wide and varied, but this woman ticked off more of his “yes” boxes than he cared to admit. Unfortunately, one thing about her made her absolutely not his type—the baby asleep in her arms. As a skilled avoider of emotional entanglements, moms were not on his list of women suitable for dating.

“Aiden, I want you to meet Sarah Daltrey,” Anna said softly.

That name ended all thought of sexy sundresses and freckles. “You’re the woman who keeps calling. You just called from the lobby. How in the world did you get to my sister?”

Anna shushed him. “The baby. He’s sleeping.”

The baby. His brain whirred into overdrive. He’d read Sarah’s email. Well, one of them at least. That was enough to help him decide he shouldn’t speak to her. He’d had false paternity accusations thrown at him before. When you have a vast fortune and come from a family well-known for success, you might as well have a target on your back. “This isn’t right.” His gut told him this was all wrong. “I don’t know what Ms. Daltrey is after, but I’m calling security.” He reached for the phone, but Anna clapped her hand over his.

“Aiden. Don’t. Just listen. Please. It’s important.”

“I don’t know what she’s told you, but it’s all lies.” His pulse throbbed in his ears.

“Five minutes is all I ask, Mr. Langford.” Sarah’s voice suggested nothing less than calm professionalism. Not exactly the approach of someone unbalanced. But a baby? Oh, no. “If you don’t believe me and what I came to tell you, you won’t need to call security. I’ll leave on my own.”

Anna eyed her brother, asking his opinion with an arch of her eyebrows.

With pleas from two women who were obviously not going to give up, what choice did he have? “If it will put an end to this, then fine. Five minutes.”