I zipped up my bag and threw on a hoodie. I was comfortably dressed for the long flight home. Alone.
“I’ll call someone to take down your bag. The car will meet you in front of the hotel at six. And there’ll be someone to meet you at baggage claim when you land at LAX.”
“I don’t need anyone to take down my bag. I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself.” I wheeled the bag to the door, Drake trailing behind me.
Before I could crank the handle, he spun me around and pinned me against the wall. “Listen, Dee, I’m sorry. I can’t go back to LA without a toy deal. The Saxton deal is dependent on it.”
“Good luck,” I said, my tone as cold as dry ice. “Now, let go of me. I don’t want to miss my plane.”
He stepped away. Jerking the door open, I stormed out. As it closed behind me, I heard Drake bang it and curse under his breath.
Fuck him.
CHAPTER 37
Drake
A cocktail of guilt, remorse, and anxiety whipped through me as I sat in the back seat of the Town Car that was inching up Park Avenue in the stop-and-go rush hour traffic. I felt like a total shit for not flying back to LA with Dee for Tyson’s graduation. And Dee’s reaction only made feel like a bigger dick. Balls. I never thought her little girl would cry like that. I could lose them both; the possibility was very real. Maybe, just maybe, things would work out.
I had one more shot to score a major toy deal for Mighty Girl. My pitch to Sarah Greene-Golden. I inhaled a steeling breath as the car finally pulled up to her majestic apartment building on the corner of Park and Eighty-Fifth Street.
After I slid out, the doorman pointed the way to the elevator, which took me directly up to Sarah’s penthouse apartment. It was the epitome of Park Avenue elegance with spacious hi-ceiling rooms, Art-Deco furnishings, and sweeping views of the city.
“Thank you for letting me meet with you tonight instead of tomorrow,” I said as she ushered me into the antique-filled living room. The attractive, twenty-something rising star in the toy industry had just had a baby with her billionaire husband, Ari, who headed up a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company. She was on maternity leave from Ike’s Tikes, where she was Vice President of Development. Tall and lanky with a mane of long dark hair, it was hard to believe she’d recently given birth.
She laughed. “No, thank you. You’re saving me a trip downtown. I’m sorry I had to cancel our meeting today. I totally forgot that our nanny wasn’t available to watch the baby.”
I began to relax, taking a seat on a velvet armchair next to her. My laptop bag was on my lap. “Your place is amazing.”
“Thanks. We’re actually going to redecorate shortly to make it more kid-friendly. Antiques and toddlers don’t mix well.”
I chuckled, reminded of all the damage little-demon-me caused in my parents’ grandly furnished house. I shared this silly tidbit with her and then we chitchatted a little about the licensing show and the kids’ biz. It was time to get down to business, but as I unlatched my laptop bag, Sarah’s husband strode into the room. Tall, muscular, and casually dressed in khakis and a polo shirt, the movie-star handsome golden-haired man closely resembled Chris Hemsworth. I stood to shake his hand as Sarah introduced us.
“I’m about to pour myself a Scotch. Can I get you anything?”
I declined, content with the bottled water and hors d’oeuvres that Sarah had laid out on the coffee table. As I took a sip of my Evian, a child’s voice drifted into my ears.
“Daddy! Guess what!”
I looked up and racing toward us was a cute little boy wearing a karate gi. About the same age as Tyson, he was the spitting image of Ari with sandy hair and bright blue eyes. Beside him was a buxom Hispanic woman with sparkling dark eyes, who I assumed was the nanny.
“What, buddy?” asked Ari, lifting the boy into his arms. This must be Sarah and Ari’s son.
“I got my yellow belt!”
“Way to go!” Ari’s eyes flickered with pride and joy as they high-fived. Fatherhood. A twinge of envy zipped through me as Ari introduced me to his son, Ben. The youngster’s eyes lit up.
“Cool beans! You make the Danger Rangers cartoon? I watch that show all the time. It’s on in a few minutes.”
Still smiling, Ari affectionately ruffled his son’s unruly hair. “C’mon, let’s get you washed up, into your PJs, and we’ll watch it together so Mommy and Drake can do their work.”
“I’ll get dinner prepared,” said the nanny in Spanish. “Señora Golden, will Señor Hanson be joining us?”
I politely declined and then pulled out my computer, setting it on the coffee table so Sarah could see the screen.
“What’s your new show about?” she asked as the others disappeared.
“The demo piece speaks for itself.”
Bending forward, I loaded up the CGI snippet our animation team had put together and hit play. My stomach knotted as Sarah watched it.
An animated little girl with a red cape and long pigtails flew onto the screen, morphing into different characters, one after another.
“I’m Mighty Girl and I can be anything I want when I wear my magic red cape. A fireman! A policeman! An astronaut! A superhero!”
She leapt into the air, her cape flying behind her. Whoosh! Our company logo appeared, and before the screen faded to black, I shut my laptop.
Sarah met my anxious gaze, folding her hands on her lap. “Drake, I’m going to cut to the chase.” My heart thudded. “I love this. It’s exactly what Ike and I have been looking for.”
YES! She was referring to her boss, Ike Abrams, the head of Ike’s Tikes. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins as she continued.
“An aspirational girls’ series skewing to girls 4-6. It’s so empowering. And the possibilities are endless. I totally see this. It’s the next Dora the Explorer. I want to be a partner. What inspired this?”
“A special little girl I know.” As the image of Tyson wearing her red cape flashed through my mind, Ari’s smooth voice sounded in my ears. He was ambling back into the living room, holding a small pink bundle in his arms.
“My princess, look who’s up!” he beamed, coming toward us.
Sarah stood up, her eyes twinkling. “Drake, meet our little angel, Rosie.”
Hesitantly, I rose, my eyes transfixed on the tiny, cocooned baby in Ari’s strapping arms. His expression oozed with paternal joy as he wooed her with funny little sounds and baby talk.
“She’s beautiful,” I said. Truly she was, with her ivory skin, chocolate brown eyes, and tuft of dark, silky hair. She already looked a lot like Sarah.
“Thanks,” said Ari, rocking her gently. “Do you have kids?”
A lump formed in my throat as my pulse quickened. How should I answer that question? Should I tell him this baby daddy had dozens? Hundreds?? Thousands? That maybe…
Sarah cut my thoughts short. “Drake, do you want to hold her?”
My stomach tightened. I hedged and hawed, but Sarah didn’t give me a chance. Taking the baby from Ari, she gently set her in my arms. “Here. Just be sure to hold her head up.”
“Hi,” I said softly, casting my gaze at her. She felt delicious. So amazing. Her sweet, intoxicating baby scent infected every one of my senses. To my astonishment, she stared up at me and curled her rosebud lips into a smile. I swear she had super powers—able to turn every bone in my body into liquid. As I held her with awe, Sarah planted a tender kiss on her silky scalp.
“This is my Mighty Girl. She can be anything she wants…even President of the United States.”
Back in the Town Car, I pumped a fist. Yes! We had a toy deal.
I made three quick calls.
One to my father to tell him the great news.
One to my licensing guy, asking him to handle my remaining meetings.
One to our travel department to book me a flight.
Three hours later I was on a Red Eye, heading back to LA.
CHAPTER 38
Dee
&n
bsp; It was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. Thirty-five little boys and girls, wearing royal blue caps and gowns, were seated on stage in two long rows. Tyson was seated in the middle of the front row, waiting to be called by her teacher, Mrs. Dunne, to come to the podium and receive her diploma. With her last name starting with “W,” she’d be the last one to be called up.
I was seated in the front row of the auditorium. My sister to the right of me, I kept my eyes focused on Ty, taking photos to avoid looking at the empty chair next to me. The one that had been reserved for Drake. I didn’t want to think about him. I wanted this to be a happy day for my daughter and me. Fuck him.
Mrs. Dunne was on the kids whose last names began with “T.” It would be Ty’s turn any minute. Suddenly, a loud pounding sounded on the doors to the auditorium. The pounding continued. In fact, it got louder. More relentless.
“Someone, open up!” I heard a muffled voice shout out.
A parent in the back row rose to open the doors. All eyes, including mine, turned to the drop-dead gorgeous man standing in the back. His eyes darted around the auditorium before landing on me, and then he dashed down an aisle. My heart leapt into my throat. Oh my God!
“Drake,” squealed my daughter as her name was called. “YAY! You’re here!”
“Hi, Mighty!” he shouted back as he took the empty seat next to me, breathless.
With a smile that lit up the room, my little girl bounced up from her seat and ran up to the podium where her teacher shook her hand and handed her the diploma.
“Now, let’s have a big shout-out for all our kindergarten graduates,” Mrs. Dunne thundered. “One, two, three.”
On her count, all the smiling children flipped the gold tassels on their caps to the left and then tossed the caps into the air. As they went flying, applause and cheers erupted. Drake let out a deafening wolf whistle. Our focus on Tyson and her classmates, we still hadn’t made eye contact. My heart, however, was doing somersaults. I couldn’t believe he was here.
Mrs. Dunne signaled for the audience to calm down. “And now, the conclusion of our ceremony. Please join us as Tyson Walker leads us in “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
Tyson skipped up to the mike that was placed in the middle of the stage. At the top of her lungs, she began to sing the song, her classmates and the audience joining in.
I couldn’t clap loud enough…I couldn’t shout “Hooray” loud enough. Nor could Drake. As the song came to an end, the cheering audience gave the children a standing ovation. As they all took a bow, Drake spun me around so I was facing him and then dipped me before smacking my lips with his. If all eyes were on us, I wouldn’t know.
He’d come back for me. Come back for us. I’d never been so happy in my entire life.
CHAPTER 39
Drake
It was the perfect night for a celebration. Tyson was celebrating her kindergarten graduation with a pizza party at her friend Chandra’s house. Gunther Saxton, who was still in LA, had called for one to toast my toy deal and the imminent acquisition of Hanson Entertainment—now a handshake away.
Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard was the oldest restaurant in Tinseltown. Opened in 1919, the iconic eatery still retained its original character with its high ceilings, wood paneling, and red leather booths. The classic steakhouse menu was also basically the same…except for the prices. As you walked into the restaurant from the parking lot through the back entrance, the restaurant’s original menu was framed on a wall. You couldn’t miss it. In 1929, the price of a filet mignon was a dollar. Today the same steak cost fifty. Times had indeed changed.
The maître-d’ led Dee and me to a table in the larger of the two dining rooms. We walked hand in hand, Dee’s soft and warm. My father and mother were already seated along with Gunther and his wife. She was what I expected—blond and buxom with a toothy smile and a Botox-filled face as taut as a tightrope. Unlike my mother who whispered wealth with her understated beauty and style, this woman screamed money with her blinding bling everywhere.
“Hi everyone,” I said enthusiastically, as Dee and I took our places, facing each other at the end of the table. My father was seated at one end, Gunther at the other, close to Dee and me. There was one empty chair. I wondered if it was reserved for Karl Vanderberg, my father’s financial advisor.
My parents welcomed us, and after shaking my hand, Gunther introduced us to his wife. Ingrid. I, in turn, introduced her to Dee. Gunther’s lecherous eyes stayed on my girl, lingering on her hint of cleavage. I wanted to rip his eyeballs out of their sockets. My gut still told me Mr. Family Man was not to be trusted.
“So lovely to finally meet you,” gushed Ingrid. Her voice was breathy, accented, and affected.
“The same,” replied Dee, demurely.
“Gunther told me you’re a single mother.”
“Y-yes. My husband passed away several years ago.”
“You’re so young to have endured that tragedy.”
Dee took in a shaky breath and agreed.
My mother chimed in. “She has the most delightful little girl.”
A nervous Dee twitched a small smile and thanked my mother for the compliment before she continued.
“Ingrid, you have to meet her.”
“I would love to.”
My turn. I inhaled a deep breath to fortify myself. “Everyone, we have some exciting news to share with you tonight.”
Dee shot me a puzzled look as a red-jacketed waiter brought a bottle of champagne to our table. He poured us each a glass.
I curled my fingers around the stem of the saucer-shaped glass and raised it. “Here’s something to toast to. Something I believe will seal the deal between my father and Saxton Enterprises.” All eyes were on me. “Dee and I are getting married.”
Shouts of congratulations and applause drowned out Dee’s gasp. I gave her a kick under the table for her to go with the flow. Yes, I’d acted impulsively and recklessly, but behind the façade was sincerity and passion. I hadn’t yet figured out how to make Dee my wife, but right now this was what was needed to make my father’s billion-dollar dream come true. And to let Gunther Saxton know that Dee was mine.
“Wonderful news! And can we expect some more little Hansons in the near future?” asked Gunther, reaching for his champagne glass.
Dee still couldn’t get her mouth to close. I answered for the both of us. “Yes. We plan to have a big family. Lots of little Hansons.” In addition to all the unknown ones running around out there, I added silently, still never able to forget my sperm donor past.
A massive smile exploded on Gunther’s face as he lifted his glass. “Then, let’s toast. First, to the impending nuptials of Drake and his lovely fiancée, Dee…and second, to my future CEO—”
“Am I missing something?” came a familiar shrill voice that cut Gunther short. “Sorry I’m late. The sudden downpour brought traffic to a standstill.”
Dressed to the nines in a blood-red mini dress, Krizia strutted over to our table in her six-inch high designer heels, holding a matching monster bag along with an umbrella. My father rose.
“Actually, Krizia, you’re just in time to hear the exciting news.”
My blood froze before Krizia could sit down in the vacant chair. Why didn’t my father tell me he’d invited her to this celebratory dinner? My heart squeezed as he continued.
“I’ll want a press release issued immediately.”
“Of course,” replied Krizia, flashing a smug grin.
“It’s official. Saxton Enterprises is acquiring Hanson Entertainment for an undisclosed sum rumored to be close to two billion dollars, and I will be retiring at the end of the year…leaving the day-to-day operations in the hands of my capable son.” With a proud smile, he looked my way.
I quirked a nervous smile and then glanced at Dee. She looked much like she did that day at The Pier when she stepped off the roller coaster…like she was going to be sick.
Krizia’s grin widened. “That’s wonde
rful, Orson. I’ll get on it right away.”
“Orson, darling,” chirped my mother. “Why don’t you share the other splendid news with Krizia since she’ll be helping me plan the big event.”
Suddenly, I felt as sick as Dee looked. My chest tightened as my stomach knotted with deep-seated apprehension.
“Ah, yes, my dear.” My father again looked my way and I struggled to meet his gaze. Then his eyes shifted back to Krizia. “Krizia, we just found out that Drake is engaged to Dee and will be marrying her in the very near future.”
Krizia’s mouth dropped open and her eyes bugged out. “What? He’s marrying that slut?”
My father’s eyes narrowed into razor-sharp blades. “Krizia, you are totally out of line. Both my wife and I are very fond of her…and her adorable daughter.”
A fiery bolt of lightening shot through me; I felt my cheeks flaring. It might be pouring outside, but a major shit storm was in the making here in the restaurant.
Krizia’s shock and rage gave way to a wicked smirk. “Well, Orson, perhaps you don’t really know who Drake is marrying.”
My father stared at her harshly. “What are you talking about?”
Krizia snickered. “Should I start off and say that your future daughter-in-law is pure trailer trash? Her mother was a drunken whore, and she doesn’t even know who her father is.”
My father’s bushy brows arched up. “What!?”
Having my father’s ear, and I suppose everyone’s, Krizia continued with an insidious mixture of confidence and contempt. “That’s just for starters. Did Drake mention that ‘our lovely widow’ is still married?”
Swallowing past the giant lump in my throat, I gave Dee another quick look. Every drop of color had left her face.
“And that her ‘late’ husband is still alive? And…”
My heart hammered against my chest so hard I thought it would jump out onto the table. The inevitable was coming.
Baby Daddy: A Sexy STANDALONE Romantic Comedy Page 21
