by Tiana Cole
She shook her head, a big smug smile on her face. “Nope. But it doesn’t matter anyway. She’s gone.”
He blinked once. Then again. The word ricocheting through his mind like a pinball. “Gone. She’s gone. Gone where?”
“I don’t know actually. She never said exactly where, probably on purpose is my guess. Maybe she has a job interview or she’s checking out schools, I don’t know. Maybe she’s on vacation.”
“Was she going alone?”
Sarah shook her head and gave him a you poor bastard smile. “She’s a single mom, she is rarely ever alone.”
Another jab at him. “Still, you can give me an address. She won’t be gone forever.”
“She might. Her plan is to transfer and finish her degree at a four-year school and then start living her life.” Without you hung in the air silently.
“I just need to talk to her.” And make her understand that he couldn’t be a father. Wasn’t father material. About the only thing he could offer to any kid of his—and he wasn’t entirely convinced it was his—was money. Material things. “I won’t make things worse. I promise.”
Sarah scoffed. “You couldn’t possibly promise that. I can see it in your eyes, you still think she’s lying. You think she wants money, or should I say more money?”
He nodded, feeling vindicated because at least he had the good sense to feel some guilt over that. “If what you say is true, she still lied about the baby. We went on dates. Talked for hours. Never once did she mention a kid or that it was mine!” His anger was taking over again.
“She needed to feel you out first. You know, kind of like you used to do with my dates until, oh, I don’t know, about eighteen months ago. Making sure you weren’t cruel, abusive, or stupid, before letting you in her life and her child’s life.”
He understood that, yet still. “And if I hadn’t passed the test, would I have lived the rest of my life without knowing I had a child?”
“She told you, or at least she tried to, but you didn’t listen. If you had, you would have known she’d decided you deserved to know No matter what.”
Convenient now that everything was shot all to hell. “Sure.”
“If that’s what you believe, I’m doing you a favor. Eventually you’ll forget about her. About them. And you’ll marry someone like Bonnie Mason and pop out a few douchebags whom I will try to love as much as…well, never mind.” She stood and walked around her desk, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I love you, David, but no. Get your shit together and fix it, or leave them alone. Don’t do this halfway. In or out.”
Without saying a word, David rose, glared at his sister and silently walked out of her office. Out of his office building and into the midday sun. One thing his sister was right about was his need for contemplation. Reflection. He was so twisted up over Ebony and how he’d allowed himself to be manipulated that he hadn’t really stopped to think about what he’d do when he saw Ebony again. Would she want to talk to him or would she walk right by like he didn’t matter? Would she ever give him one of those sweet, desire heavy smiles again? He didn’t think so.
None of it made sense. If money was her end game, she hadn’t made her next move. And if it wasn’t…then he had made a terrible mistake. One he might not be able to fix.
~
Ebony returned from Berkeley feeling refreshed and renewed. Determined to live her life without worrying about all the things she couldn’t control. There were so many things she could focus on like spending time with Kim. Finishing school and entering the real workforce, not just the ones that required uniforms, bustiers, aprons or Lucite heels. Being away from the club had given her a new perspective, but being away from the city and all the drama in her life was life changing.
For the first time Ebony could see the life she was meant to lead. Far away from the old neighborhood, she could finally breathe and smile, think about the future in pleasant terms. She would move into a place and make some friends, set up play dates for Kim, work and build a whole new life. On the drive back she’d come to a decision. Even if she didn’t get into Berkeley’s transfer program, and there was still a small chance she wouldn’t, Ebony and Kim would move anyway and she would enroll in community college in the area. “Either way we’re moving, baby girl.”
Kim had laughed and kicked her feet at her mother’s voice.
When they’d first gotten back, Ebony found it difficult to go back to the more stringent routine. The days had been more relaxed and their schedule had been more flexible than it usually was. After a couple days, both females quickly settled into the new summer routine. She worked five hours during the late morning and early afternoon for a former professor working on his first book. It was a great item for her resume and the seven thousand dollar stipend would help. The hours were perfect to spend more time with Kim and her mama. There wouldn’t be very many afternoons she could spend talking to her mother, and there would be considerably fewer Sunday dinners when they moved. She would make sure they all enjoyed every last minute.
Ebony had already begun to look for apartments and houses to rent in the area and contacted a broker to sell her house. It was that step that made Ebony smile because it was a clear sign that she was moving on with her life. Moving beyond the disappointments and failures, humiliation and despair. Even moving beyond the hope. Her childish dreams were set aside in favor of more realistic goals, easier to achieve goals, and goals that would ensure she and her daughter would always be taken care of.
She was done with men. For now. Eventually she would want a man in her life, by her side, in her bed. When that time came she would look for someone kind and decent, funny and smart. Maybe he’d be sexy too. Ebony shook off those thoughts because as satisfying as the sex with David had been, the rest of it had been hell. She didn’t need to worry about any of that right now because she needed to pack up her bags. Mommy & Me Yoga was over for the day and they had plans. “We have a lunch date with Grandma.” she smiled down at Kim in her carrier. Her daughter’s curls were tight and unruly, a shining cinnamon halo over her beautiful head.
Outside, the sun had fallen behind the clouds, making the world look a dark amber color through her sunglasses. She walked toward her car while Kim babbled in her baby chatter. Her little girl loved being outside, and she always became a tiny chatterbox when the sun hit her face. “Okay, baby, we have time for you to get a bit more sun.” She took a seat on one of the benches that separated the parking lot from the park and looked out at the couples and families enjoying time together.
This place had been her home since she was born and Ebony knew she would miss it when she was gone. But she was ready. “We’re ready, Kimmy, aren’t we?” She kicked again, this time clapping her hands until her mom picked her up. Holding her daughter was the best feeling ever and Ebony pulled her close, sucking in that sweet baby scent. “Look at the world, baby girl. It’s beautiful.” She pointed out all kinds of flowers and animals, knowing the little girl couldn’t understand her. They both had a giddy laugh when a butterfly landed on the little girl’s nose and Ebony tried to get a few shots of the moment, certain they were all out of focus. “Okay, my little adventurer, let’s go before Grandma lectures us both on the importance of being on time.”
Arms laden with gym bags, diaper bags, a carrier and a baby, Ebony started towards the car. She stopped when she saw a man leaning against her car. A gasp escaped when she realized who it was. David.
His smile was friendly but wary. “Hey.” She said nothing but he didn’t seem worried about that. “We need to talk.”
She got her daughter settled into her car seat, stored their bags and cracked the window before she turned to face David again. “We said everything the last time we talked.” She took long, deep breaths to keep her heart from leaping from her chest, making sure they were as slow as possible so he wouldn’t notice the impact his presence had on her. When he said nothing she walked around the car and him and opened the driver’s side door.
> “We need to talk.” His deep voice was angry and impatient this time.
She kept the door open so she could hear Kim and turned. “What is it you think we need to talk about?”
Mouth hanging open and those beautiful green-gold eyes widened in shock, David stood motionless for nearly a minute. “You don’t want to talk?”
Ebony took one more breath to strengthen her resolve and shook her head. “I have nothing to say. I have no interest in rehashing old problems that have no solutions. Is that all?” Say no and leave. Forget about me and forget about Kim. Just go away.
He frowned again, causing his blond brows to dip low in the center. “So you were lying abut everything?”
Of course that’s exactly what he would think. Every second she spent in his presence was another second Ebony realized how foolish she had been. He wasn’t a kind man who hid under a veneer of arrogance and heartlessness. He was just a cold bastard who used us his money to keep anyone from getting too close. It helped knowing she was just plain wrong, because it meant she wouldn’t ever fall under those delusions again. “I think it doesn’t matter what I say, David. Your mind is made up.” She stared at him for a long moment, waiting for him to respond.
David glared at her and spat out, “Right.” He turned and stomped off.
Ebony shook her head and slid into her sensible dark blue Volvo. She took a moment after she started the engine to turn on the heat, check on Kim and calm down. The last thing she wanted was another run-in with David. She kept her gaze on him, noting when he stopped and turned that he was on his way back. Ebony watched in weird fascination as he stood towering over her car with his hands on his hips. Finally, he knocked, and she rolled down the window. “What?”
“We need to talk.”
She laughed bitterly. “You mean you need to talk,” she clarified in the icily polite voice she’d perfected after her night with him. “Tomorrow at one. Parkfront Beach.”
He crossed his arms over his massive chest. “Now would be better.”
Ebony shrugged and gave him her best bored look. “For you maybe, but not for me or my child who needs food and a nap.” He said nothing and she sighed. “Tomorrow at one, David.” She pulled off before hearing his flustered and defeated, “Okay. Bye.”
~
David waited for Ebony at the beach thirty minutes early, thinking about his odd meeting with her yesterday. She had been standoffish, cold and barely polite. She couldn’t wait to get rid of him. It was the first time a woman other than Sarah hadn’t been happy to see him, and honestly it left him flummoxed. If she wanted money, and David was sure she did, then she was going about it all wrong. Unless her plan was to appear uninterested to make me more interested. Satisfied he now clearly understood the situation, he ordered a smoothie and took a table.
“Hey,” she said fifteen minutes later, and dropped down across from him.
David smiled. “Hello, Ebony.” She’d shown up and she looked good. His smile widened. She was ready to play. “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me.”
“No problem,” she said. Sunglasses shielded her face so that he couldn’t see her eyes, her emotions.
He tried to wait her out but it seemed Ebony was content to stare out at the ocean. Quietly. So damned silently. “Are we going to talk?” he asked angrily.
She looked at him, calm as you please. “Sure. You go first.”
“Fine.” He was used to being the one in charge and her emotional detachment was confusing him. Women were emotional creatures—naturally or manipulatively—and he knew how to handle that. He’d excelled at navigating the thin line between typical female emotions and insanity. “I apologize for how things went down in the park last time.”
She spoke immediately. “Apology accepted.” Moments later her head began to swivel towards the ocean and then she pivoted her entire body towards the water. Arms and legs crossed casually, her breathing was normal and she didn’t appear agitated.
“That’s it?” His tone was irrational but he couldn’t help it.
Ebony cleared her throat and set her glasses on the table in front of her. Her honey brown gaze rested on his face. “Is there something else I’m supposed to say?”
Yes, dammit! “Do you feel there’s anything else to say?”
“Nope. I think we’ve covered all that.” Her gaze went past him and she had a serene gaze on her beautiful face. “If that’s all we needed to talk about, I think I’ll enjoy a walk before going home.” A quick glance and she grabbed her bag and turned away from him.
“Wait.” Why wasn’t she acting the way she was supposed to be acting? Why wasn’t she crying or trying to get more money from him? David looked up at her and winced at the mix of hurt and anger written on her face. “We need to talk.”
He turned to him and sighed in frustration. “You say that, yet you haven’t said anything. I’ve accepted your apology, what else is there?”
“Money, dammit!” He smacked the table hard and stood. “What is wrong with you?”
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
His anger was rising. Too fast. Taking two steps back, he fell back into the plastic chair. “You said your baby is my baby.” He would just start at the beginning and work his way from there. That was how he got things done in business and that was what would happen now.
“I did.”
Her arms were crossed defensively and David knew if he became too aggressive, she would shut down or bolt. Maybe both. “Is that true?”
“Does it matter?” Her brown stare questioned him sincerely.
He had to admit that it wouldn’t. He still did not believe her. “No.”
“Right,” she answered coldly. “You find a place, if you want, to do a paternity test and I’ll bring the baby in. Then you can get whatever you need to off your chest.”
Why was she being so damn reasonable? “And you’re willing to wait because it’ll mean a bigger payday.”
“We don’t have to do the test at all. You can simply go away and forget us. No one will ever have to know.”
His eyes narrowed at her suspiciously. “Except my sister will know, won’t she?”
Ebony shrugged and rolled her eyes. “It’s not my fault she tracked me down to find out about the baby you told her about. I’m a filthy lying whore, why would you believe me enough to tell anyone, especially your family?”
He was grinding his teeth into dust under the weight of trying to stay silent. To let her skewer him without responding. “I never said anything disparaging about you.” He’d heavily implied it though.
“I don’t care, David. Do you want the test or don’t you?”
“What do you want from me?” There. He’d laid it out and she could flat out tell him she wanted cash.
“That depends on you.” She leaned back against the balcony and looked down at him. “If you want to be involved, I’d expect you to contribute. If you don’t, I don’t want anything.”
“Seriously?”
He could tell she wanted to say something else but all she said was, “Yep. You still have my number. Text me if you decide you want to do the test. If not, have a nice life.”
David watched her walk away, her hips swaying in the sexy sweet summer dress that hugged her curves. She was giving him a choice. Be involved or walk away. It was a daunting decision and he had a lot to think about.
~
“I want to meet her.” It had taken a while but David was finally ready to admit he had a daughter and he was eager to meet her. “I got the test results and I’d like to meet my daughter.”
“Yeah, I got the results too. Last week.” She sighed into the phone but it was the only emotion he got from her.
He’d gotten them last week too, but after three days spent inside a ninety-thousand-dollar bottle of scotch he realized he had a decision to make. Be a father or be the man who walked away from his kid. His responsibility. “I know. I had a lot to think about.”
Silence.
After another long silence she spoke. “Fine. We’ll meet you Saturday at the park. Eleven o’clock.”
“Don’t sound so excited about it,” he joked. Now that he’d come to terms with being a father, things were looking up.
“So, eleven?”
“Sure.” He sighed in resignation. There was no reason she should be happy that he’d finally decided to man up and take responsibility for a child that he had no reason to deny. He needed to make things right with Ebony but he didn’t know how.
But he could impress his daughter with a few gifts when he met her for the first time. He bellowed for his executive assistant. “I’m leaving early today. Reschedule my meeting with Tyne Industries.” He stood and strode out the door to do something he’d never done before—shopped for a baby.
By the time Saturday rolled around David felt good. Light. He’d had his butler, Charles, pack all the toys for his kid—he still didn’t know her name—inside his shiny black, child friendly SUV. He pulled up to the park and found a spot on the street. Scanning the park, he spotted burgundy curls bent over a stroller and made the walk over. His palms were moist and he slowed his pace, taking his time before his world was changed forever. “Hello, ladies.” He towered over them both, blocking out the sun.
Ebony looked up at him, one hand shielding her from the sun and the other reaching for a tiny pair of…baby sunglasses? “Hello.” She stood and dusted off the back of her jeans before she picked up her daughter. “David, this is Kim. Kimmy, this is David.”
“Your father,” he added hastily.
“She’s young and doesn’t understand. Don’t tell her that unless you’ve already decided to stay.” Her eyes were fierce and she held her daughter close.
“I have,” he told her, never taking his eyes off the little girl. Her hair was the color of a penny with corkscrew curls like her mother. But her eyes, they were pure Henderson. Mostly green but shot through with ribbons of gold. She had his same mouth, pink and puckered like Cupid’s arrow, and her mother’s nose. “She’s perfect,” he whispered reverently. Holding one finger out, David smiled when one tiny brown hand wrapped around it. And promptly brought it to her mouth. He laughed, “And hungry.”
