Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“This is why you called me, right? You wanted to tell me you’d made an appointment?”
She nodded. “I was going to ask if you wanted to come along, but… you were busy.”
He inclined his head. “Watching auditions.” And the rest they would discuss another time. Right now, he needed to be succinct. “I’m here now, and this is how things are going to be. You. Me. Co-parenting this baby.”
She visibly swallowed hard. “I can’t—we can’t—be an obligation.”
There was obviously a lot of emotional baggage behind that word, and he’d need to unpack it if they were going to make this work. They had time to do that, but for now, they needed to be in agreement.
“Winter, I don’t want to do this the hard way or take extreme measures to be a part of my baby’s life. I want to make this work with you. Will you let me?”
Her lower lip trembled as she obviously thought about his words. “I want my baby to have what I never did. If you want to be a steady presence, if you aren’t going to be someone who pops in and out of my child’s life, then okay. We can do this. Together.”
Relief washed over him, and he nodded. A part of him wanted to pull her into his arms and promise her everything would be okay, but she was stiff and didn’t seem as if she’d be receptive to his comfort. Not when he was the one pushing her.
“How about we go for lunch after the appointment and talk? I have some things I want to explain to you. Things that I hope will make me easier for you to understand.” Instead of a hug, he took her cold hand in his. “Are you free?”
After a brief hesitation, she nodded. “I am.”
“Good. I’ll step out so you can get dressed. We’ll talk to the doctor and then you can pick your favorite food or restaurant.”
“I want mac and cheese.”
He couldn’t help but grin. “You got it.”
Then he needed to set her straight about what had happened in LA.
* * *
After her doctor’s appointment, Winter found herself at Harrison’s brother’s bar. The Back Door was a small neighborhood pub in the Flatiron District near Union Square in Midtown Manhattan. Harrison had mentioned he called Zach and told him he wanted a back booth and privacy, instructing him to clear out anyone near their table.
She figured it was nice to get what you wanted and needed at any moment in time.
When they walked into the bar, she’d noticed that although the bar decor was old-looking by design with scarred, dark wooden tables and chairs, there was no big screen television on the wall to distract from conversation.
Well, then. She was obviously in for that talk he wanted to have, and she needed to hear what he had to say. She could admit that much.
She still couldn’t believe he’d shown up at her appointment and announced his intention to be there for everything involving the baby. If he meant it, her child would have a father in his or her life. Everything Winter had never had. And her baby deserved the world. Especially a father who loved her and she needed to trust Harrison would get there. Eventually.
Settled into the booth, he pushed aside the menus.
A pretty brunette caught his action and walked over to the table. “Hi, Harrison. Good to see you.” The woman’s gaze slid to Winter, and she smiled. “What can I get you to drink, hon?”
Since she was friendly to Winter, this server wasn’t the type of woman Harrison told her about during their interview talks. She wasn’t a fan girl who was jealous of Harrison’s female companion.
“Winter, this is Raven, Zach’s best server. Raven, meet Winter,” Harrison said.
She smiled. “Nice to meet you. And I’d love a club soda with lots of ice. In a huge glass. I’m so thirsty.”
“Of course,” Raven said. “Harrison?”
“Diet Coke. Winter will have mac and cheese.” He glanced at her. “Sloppy joes? Roasted broccoli?”
“Both.” She laughed as she answered, suddenly very hungry, too.
A relieved expression crossed Harrison’s face. “I’ll have the same thing.”
Raven nodded, scooped up the menus, and walked toward the bar and kitchen.
“Is your brother here?” Winter glanced around, not seeing a familiar face. She’d met Zach a few times but didn’t know him well.
Harrison shook his head. “Zach said he had things to do today. I knew Raven would help me out, and they really do have the best mac and cheese. Not to mention all the privacy we need.”
She grinned. “I’m not sure if I should say it’s good to be famous, or in this case, good to be a Dare.” Turning to him, she studied his face.
It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen him up close before. When he was deep inside her body, she’d looked into those indigo-blue eyes, seen the creases on the sides and the dimple in his cheek before his full lips had come down on hers. In the moment, she hadn’t been thinking she was with Harrison Dare, the world-famous actor or hottest playboy. He’d just been the man who affected her more than any other.