A Baby, Quick! (Baby Surprises Book 3)

by Layla Valentine

  A strange look crossed her face, and she glanced away for a brief moment.

  “Um, busy this afternoon,” she said. “I’m meeting a friend for lunch.”

  I got the distinct impression that she wasn’t being entirely truthful with me; that there were some details she was leaving out.

  Nothing wrong with that. As much as I liked Heather, we’d only known each other for a little while. She was under no obligation to tell me everything about her life.

  “Then we have the morning together,” I said.

  “That we do,” she said with a smile, her finger tracing the outline of my chest.

  “And I’ve got some ideas how we can spend it.”

  “Something tells me we’re thinking the same thing,” she said.

  I pulled her in for another long, slow kiss. My member twitched to life below, but as it did, a low growl rumbled from my stomach.

  Heather took her lips from mine and raised her eyebrows.

  “Someone’s ready for breakfast,” she said.

  I was hungry—no doubt about that.

  “How about this,” I said. “Since you were nice enough to do the hosting, let me make breakfast. I’m not the most amazing cook there is, but I can do a mean French omelet. Then, when we’re good and full, we can burn off some of those calories.”

  “Mmm,” she said, the tip of her finger moving down my chest, over the lines of my abs. “I can’t think of a better way to start the day.”

  “Then let’s get to it,” I said.

  Before I could make a single move, however, a look of something like panic flashed on Heather’s face.

  “Hold on,” she said. “Let me, um, make sure the place doesn’t look like crap.”

  “Didn’t you already clean it last night?” I asked.

  “Yeah, but it’s daytime now—I might’ve missed some stuff.”

  I was about to tell her not to worry about it, but before I got a chance, Heather had thrown on a robe and rushed out of the bedroom, the door closing behind her.

  That was weird. Sure, I’d been over to enough girls’ places to know that women could be self-conscious about their apartments, but there was something more to the way Heather was behaving. It was almost as though there was something that she was hiding, something she didn’t want me to see.

  And as much as I wanted to give her privacy, I couldn’t help but be curious. I scanned the bedroom, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Nothing caught my eye. It seemed like the average apartment of a busy girl in her late twenties, a pile of clean, unfolded clothes and all.

  Five minutes later, she opened the door and stuck her head in.

  “Okay,” she said. “Come on out.”

  Her head disappeared, and I couldn’t help but smirk. Something strange was up, but I did my best to put it out of my head.

  I rolled off the bed and threw on my clothes. I hated to be dressed with a girl like Heather around, but I figured I’d be back out of them soon enough.

  I stepped out into the hallway, the smell of brewing coffee greeting me. The hallway turned to the living room, and I took a quick glance around. It was a little messy, but otherwise a very standard, small-but-cozy Brooklyn apartment. The living room was bright and sunny, the window looking out over the bustling street outside. Heather was seated at a small kitchen table, a pair of empty coffee mugs in front of her.

  “Thanks for waiting,” she said. “I just haven’t had a chance to clean in a while.”

  “Trust me,” I said. “I’ve seen much worse.”

  I realized as soon as I said the words that this wasn’t the best thing to say—it suggested that Heather was one girl among many. Sure, I’d done the one-night stand thing plenty of times, but it was bad form to say it like that.

  Besides, there was something about Heather, something that made me think she might be more than a one-night stand. I couldn’t put my finger on why, exactly, but I already knew I wanted to see her again. And again and again.

  “Okay,” I said, taking a look over her small kitchen. “Ready for some slightly better-than-decent eggs?”

  She smiled. “Well, when you sell them like that,” she said.

  I stepped over to the fridge and pulled it open. I grabbed some eggs, a small package of bacon, and then went for the milk.

  But when I took the milk, I noticed a small can of something strange, an odd-looking can with a plastic covering on it. My eyes lingered on it as I titled my head to get a look at the label.

  “Having trouble finding something?” asked Heather.

  “Just looking for the butter,” I said, coming up with a quick save.

  “It’s on the door shelf.”

  I couldn’t resist. I reached in and turned the can to see what the label was. And when I did, my eyes went wide.

  Baby formula.

  It hit me. That was it. That was why she was being so strange about her place, and why she wanted to make sure she tidied up before I came in—she was hiding any sign that she had a kid.

  I took the ingredients out of the fridge, all of it coming together in my mind. Now it made sense why a girl like her hadn’t gone out in so long—she was busy with a kid.

  Panic took hold of my gut as I set the ingredients on the counter. All I could think about was getting away. I liked Heather a lot, but being with a single mother was…too much for me to handle. I needed to make a quick break before I got even a moment more involved with her.

  So, I shot my hand to my pocket, pretending like I was getting a text. I slipped my phone out and made a surprised expression.

  “Shit,” I said, looking over the blank screen.

  “What is it?” asked Heather.

  “I just got a text from one of my business partners,” I lied. “One of my extra high-maintenance clients came into town without notice and wants me to show them around the city.”

  “Oh, really?” asked Heather. “Does that mean…”

  “Yeah,” I said, putting my phone back into my pocket. “I need to get going. Sorry to do this, but this is a major client and he’s kind of a pain in the ass.”

  A look that was unmistakably disappointment appeared on her face.

  “No, that’s fine,” she said. “I get it. But you don’t even have time for coffee?”

  I shook my head. “Sorry. He’s with my partner right now.”

  “Sure, sure,” she said, nodding and looking away.

  I rushed to the bedroom for the rest of my clothes and on the way there, I stopped in front of the door that Heather had hurriedly shut last night. Out of sight, my curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the door and peeked inside.

  Sure enough, it was a small, brightly colored room with a crib in the center. Heather was a mom, all right, and a recent one at that.

  I shut the door carefully before rushing to the bedroom to put on my shoes and get the rest of my things. Heather was still seated at the table when I came back in, that same look of disappointment on her face.

  I felt bad, but I knew what I had to do.

  “Okay,” I said. “I better be going.”

  I wasn’t sure what to do. Leaving without making some tentative plans seemed rude as hell, but at the same time, I didn’t want to give her the wrong impression.

  “I’ll...see you around,” I said, leaning in and giving her a quick peck on the forehead before starting toward the door.

  “Yeah. See you around,” she said. Her tone made it clear that she knew I wasn’t going to be seeing her around anytime soon.

  Closing the front door behind me, I rushed down the stairs and out of her apartment building, making a hurried walk down the street to a corner coffee shop. As soon as I was inside, I ordered a drink and thought the matter over as the barista prepared it.

  What I’d done wasn’t the most honorable thing in the world, sure. But what else could I do? Heather was a single mom, which meant that she was undoubtedly looking for something more serious than a one-night stand. And I had enough goin
g on with my own life, too much to even have a girlfriend, let alone someone else’s kid to worry about.

  No, I did the right thing. It wasn’t easy, and Heather was probably going to be hurt, but it had to be done. And the quicker, the better—no leading her on.

  The barista called out my name and I took my drink. But as I sat down, I realized my heart was pounding in my chest. And there was something more—touching my fingertips to my forehead, I realized that I was sweating.

  What on earth was going on with me?

  Chapter 7

  Heather

  So, he found out. I wasn’t sure how he did it, but somehow Justin put it together that I was a mom. He didn’t say anything, sure, but there wasn’t any other reason why he’d turn on a dime like that, going from totally into me to all but jumping out of the window trying to make a getaway.

  I was angry and disappointed in equal measure, and I didn’t know whether I wanted to tell him off or try to talk him into giving me a chance. Then again he didn’t leave his number, so it’s not like I’d have the chance.

  Once I felt up to it, I got up and stepped over to the fridge and opened it up. I scanned the inside, my eyes landing on the culprit—a tin of baby formula.

  A frustrated sigh left my mouth as I snatched up the blue-and-white can and looked it over. There it had been, sitting in plain sight. Justin had taken one look at it, pieced together the implication, and begun planning his escape right away.

  Most annoying was the fact that I didn’t even use formula. I breastfed almost exclusively, and the formula was only there from a weekend a couple of months ago when I was feeling under the weather—which is why checking for it didn’t even occur to me.

  “Jerk,” I said as I slammed the refrigerator door.

  Fine. If that’s how he was going to be, then better I find out now then down the road. The jackass couldn’t even be bothered to have a cup of coffee with me. God forbid he spent a single second longer with a single mother than he absolutely had to.

  The coffee was done, and I poured myself a cup. I was so steamed that I’d entirely lost my appetite, and I began putting the ingredients for the breakfast we never had back in the fridge.

  “Asshole,” I said, tossing the cheese back in.

  But once everything had been put away, I thought back to last night. As much of a scumbag as he’d shown himself to be this morning, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a blast with Justin. The drinks and the dancing and the conversation—everything had been exactly what I’d needed. I loved being a mom, but a little break like that let me recharge my batteries. I felt refreshed and couldn’t wait to see my baby again.

  So, it wasn’t all bad. Sure, Justin wasn’t going to be anything serious. But I’d accomplished what I’d needed last night.

  And the sex…that was the cherry on top. Justin was a good-looking man, no doubt about that. Those blue eyes, that dark hair, that absolutely delicious body—he was something else. It made sense that he’d feel so comfortable ditching me like that. A man like him probably had a line of girls waiting to get with him. No problems finding someone new for his next night out.

  But there was something between us. It was a connection that seemed like something more than simply two people being into each other physically for one night.

  The more I thought about it, however, the more I convinced myself it was only wishful thinking. What would a guy like him—impossibly handsome, obviously wealthy, and surely successful—want with a single mom like me?

  No—it was a fun night, but a night was all it was. I told myself that the sooner I figured that out, the better.

  I wrapped my hands around my cup of coffee, taking a long, slow sip. Right as I swallowed it down, I heard my phone from the other room. Setting down my mug, I went to the bedroom and plucked my phone off the bed.

  It was a text from Julia.

  Hey! You mind if we move lunch up a bit? I’m freaking starving!

  I smiled and sent a reply.

  Sure, but you’re picking out the place ; )

  A few seconds later, another text came through, one with directions to a nearby café.

  Done. See you there in an hour and a half?

  Works for me!

  I was glad for the change in plans. Last night was fun, but now I was ready to get back to being a mommy. I still had the rest of the weekend ahead of me, and if I played my cards right, I could still get in some errand-running and even some relaxing. Spending the night at home with Faye, curled up on the couch with my little lady while we watched a movie, sounded perfect. I drank the rest of my coffee and tidied up the place until the time for meeting Julia arrived.

  I took a quick shower and threw on some shorts and a T-shirt, ready for the warm July day outside. Sure enough, it was still summer when I stepped out. The last week had been pretty mild, but today actually felt like the season. I didn’t mind—I’d take the heat over the snow any day.

  The little café where we’d agreed to meet was a few blocks south near Williamsburg, and the walk in the fresh air—at least, as fresh as it gets in New York—was exactly what I needed. By the time I arrived, the last traces of my little hangover were gone, and I was ready for some food.

  “Hey!” called out Julia as I entered the place.

  She was seated at a half-booth, Melanie and Faye in separate high chairs across from her. Both of the girls turned around to see me, Faye’s face lighting up when she realized her mommy had arrived.

  “Hey!” I said, approaching the table.

  I scooped Faye out of her chair and brought her close. She gurgled and cooed with happiness, and my heart felt like it was about to burst. It’d only been a night since I’d seen her, but it felt like forever.

  “How was my little angel?” I asked, covering Faye’s chubby face in kisses.

  “She was awesome,” said Julia. “She and Melanie had tons of fun.”

  “Good, good,” I said, setting Faye back down in her chair and giving her one more kiss on the top of her head.

  I took a seat next to Julia and poured myself a cup of coffee from the pot on the table.

  “But now I’m curious what you got up to last night,” she said. “How was the party?”

  “I...kind of didn’t go.”

  Julia’s face took on an expression of “are you freaking kidding me?”

  “Lady,” she said. “I know you’re a big girl and can spend your evening off however you want, but please don’t tell me you stayed home and drank wine on the couch and watched some cheesy romance movie.”

  “Nope,” I said. “You’ll be happy to know that I went out with a real life, actual guy.”

  Julia raised her eyebrows. “This is an unexpected turn of events,” she said. “Now—tell me all about it. And I want all the details, especially the scandalous ones.”

  “Well, it started when I went down to buy a bottle of wine for the night…”

  I told her the full story—meeting Justin at the wine store, going out for drinks at some celebrity-packed place, then dancing at one of the coolest clubs in the city. And sure, I let her know that we got up to some more fun afterward, but I made sure to keep that good and PG.

  “And then what happened?” she asked. “I mean, I would’ve kept Faye a little longer if you wanted to, you know…”

  The disappointment that I’d felt before returned, with a dash of the anger. “No-go,” I said. “I didn’t want him to know I was a mom, but he found a can of formula in the fridge this morning. Once he saw that, he was out so fast I could’ve sworn he left one of those cartoon smoke outlines of his body in my apartment.”

  “Are you freaking kidding me? What an ass!” Julia’s hands shot to her mouth as she realized what she’d said in front of the girls. “I mean, what a stinker!”

  I shook my head. “It sucks,” I said. “I know that not every guy’s going to be crazy about dating a single mom, but do they have to be so obvious about it?”

  “To be fair,” said Julia
, “this was only one guy.”

  “True, true,” I said. “But I’ve got a feeling that this is what I’m going to have to get used to, you know?”

  “Put that crap out of your head right now,” said Julia. “There are plenty of men out there who aren’t scared of stepping up. Sure, you might have to work a little harder to sift through the losers and users, but in the end, it’ll be worth it. I’ll bet you anything.”

  I wanted to be hopeful, but it was hard. I felt hopeless, totally unlovable.

  The waitress came and took our orders. I was eager to get off the subject of Justin, so I spent the rest of the lunch asking Julia about all the details of her night with the girls. I didn’t want to miss a minute of Faye growing up, even if I had to hear about it second-hand.

  When lunch was over, I said goodbye to Julia and Melanie and headed off, Faye in my arms. When I got back to my apartment, I decided to make the most of the nice weather and take Faye out for a walk through the park. I loaded her up in her stroller, grabbed my tablet to get a little reading done, and headed out.

  The day was a bit warmer when we left, but still lovely. I strolled Faye down to McCarran Park, took a seat on an open bench, and plopped Faye onto my lap.

  I’d intended to do some reading, but once I was seated with my tablet in hands, I decided to do a little time-wasting on the internet. I went through a few gossip sites, skimming the articles and clicking random links here and there.

  An article about baby clothes caught my eye, and I clicked the link. As I read the first paragraph, a name caught my eye.

  Justin Donovan.

  The article was about a billionaire businessman whose clothing company had just released its first line of baby clothes.

  But it couldn’t be the same guy as last night. Justin Donovan was one of those names you hear every now and then in passing, like those guys in charge of those tech companies.

  My heart beat faster as I scanned the article. I swiped down and saw the picture that went with it.

  It was him, all right.

  Justin was dressed in a well-cut suit and seated in a high-backed leather chair in a sleek, modern office. His hands were clasped together as he leaned forward, an expression of focused intensity on his handsome face. The tall windows behind him looked out onto Manhattan at daytime, the city seeming to stretch out forever.