Page 23 of The Boss's Triplet Surprise

“Don’t be. Really.” Dan squeezed her hand. “Remember, Leah, money isn’t an issue. Even if it takes a few cycles for an embryo to stick, we can do that. And you’re an amazing scientist. I’m sure if there’s a problem, you can just whip something up in the lab to fix it.” He winked to show that he was joking, and Leah laughed. She felt lighter.

“Thank you, Dan. For your kind words and for coming with me to the appointment.”

“Hey. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. And I’m not planning to miss any other appointments, either, so please tell me when they are so I don’t have to stalk your calendar like a creep.”

“You’re not a creep.” Leah squeezed his hand. “And of course I’ll tell you about all the upcoming appointments. You’re more than welcome.”

As the moment came to an end, Leah realized with a sudden flash that she was standing in the street, very close to Dan, holding his hand. Worse than that, they were talking about particularly tender topics, which made Leah feel all soft and pleasant.

She needed to get past this, fast. Dan was nothing more than her partner in a strange deal. There was no need to be exchanging reassurances or savoring how wonderful it felt to have her hand wrapped in Dan’s large one. And certainly there was no need to remember how magical their night together had been.

Leah quickly released his hand and stepped back to a respectable distance.

“Anyway, are you heading back to the office?”

Dan nodded. “Yes. And you?”

“I am, too. But we’d better get moving. I have a lunchtime meeting and it’s almost that time.”

“Make sure not to work through lunch. You need to take good care of yourself so that you’ll be ready for pregnancy.”

It was the kind of comment that Leah might have usually found annoying — obviously she knew she needed to take good care of herself — but the look of concern in Dan’s eyes was enough to hold back any snarky remark she might have made.

“I’ll take an extra break after lunch and go for a walk.” She smiled at him. “Don’t worry.”

They walked back to the office together. Leah took care to keep the conversation light and easy, mainly focused on their shared work and a few colleagues they both knew. When they reached the office, they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

Leah knew she needed to be strong, but it was difficult not to find her thoughts wandering during her lunch meeting. She thought of the baby she might well have this time next year — Moira seemed confident, and Dan’s words had helped Leah feel confident, too. She imagined nights spent rocking a sleepy infant, slowly wearing a hole in her living room floor as she walked him to sleep. She imagined a pair of big eyes looking up at her from the crook of her arm and the adorable babble of baby talk. She imagined pushing a stroller on her runs with her baby inside. She imagined coming home and finding Dan?—

You’re getting ahead of yourself, Adams.

She didn’t have a baby yet. She needed to be careful not to get her hopes up. And more than that, she needed to keep Dan firmly out of her imagination about her future. He had no place in her daydreams, no more than he had a place in her life — that one magical night and the fact that they were having a child, and a fake relationship, aside.

CHAPTER 10

DAN

Dan wanted badly to sleep in on Saturday morning, but when he received a call from his mother asking him to join them for Saturday brunch, he wasn’t about to refuse. He hadn’t found the time to visit his parents since that fateful conversation weeks ago. He wanted to talk to them — and he knew that making time for them would help prove to Richard that his son really was a family man.

With all that in mind, Dan arrived at his parents’ house early that Saturday morning. Richard and Jane were in the kitchen, dancing as they made pancakes, bacon, and eggs. It was a scene Dan had seen many times throughout his childhood. He paused at the entry to the kitchen for a moment just to watch them together. It really was inspirational how his parents remained so much in love, forty years and two kids later. The way they smiled at each other made it clear how much they cared about one another.

Dan cleared his throat, and his parents turned, their smiles growing.

“Dan!” Jane pulled him into a tight hug. “It’s nice to see you.”

Dan felt a stab of guilt. His parents didn’t live all that far away. He should really make time to see them a little more often.

“How are you doing, Son?” Richard clapped him on the back.

“I’m well, thanks, Dad. How are you?”

“Doing well, doing well.” Richard gestured to the kitchen table, which had already been set with plates and cups. “Have a seat. We’re just finishing up here.”

“I have to admit,” Jane said as she flipped a pancake onto a serving platter and set the platter on the table, “part of me was hoping that you’d bring this mysterious Leah around.”

“Ever since we saw that picture, we’ve been looking forward to meeting her even more.” Richard smiled. “She’s beautiful, Son. And you look so happy together.”

The plan was working. Dan nodded. “We are happy.”

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