Page 44 of The Boss's Triplet Surprise

They both looked down at Leah’s stomach just in time to see a tiny limb press against her abdomen.

“Looks like someone wants to say hello.” Mike had been quiet until now, but when he spoke, Leah could hear the love in his voice.

“Hello.” Leah smiled at the small bump on her stomach.

“And, sweetheart, give Dan a little time. Some guys freak out about becoming fathers.”

“I don’t think I can do that, Dad.” Leah shook her head. “Even if Dan wanted to be with me and be a father, which he doesn’t seem to, I don’t know if I could trust him not to run off again when things get tough.”

“That’s fair, too. Either way, your mother and I are here for you.”

“I know. Thank you.”

“Now, how about we put on some lunch?” Sharon got to her feet. “And by the way, young lady, just because you’re hurting and an adult doesn’t mean I’m not going to scold you for pretending to be in a relationship.” She raised her eyebrows, and Leah could see a flash of the teacher she used to be. “That wasn’t a good move. You need to set a good example for your children.”

Leah looked down. “I know. I just got caught up in it.”

“Don’t worry.” Mike smiled at Leah. “You’re still a good kid.”

“I’m thirty-five!”

“You’ll always be my kid.”

Together, they walked into the dining room for lunch. Leah leaned on her father’s arm — walking anywhere was becoming tougher. She couldn’t imagine how she was going to put up with two more months of this.

At least her parents would support her every step of the way.

After Mike got her settled at the dining-room table, both Leah’s parents disappeared into the kitchen. Leah took the opportunity to check her messages, which she had managed not to do all morning. There was a text from her friend Brandy, asking how the trip to Madison was going and when she’d be back. Someone in Leah’s team had a question about an advertising mock-up. Leah scrolled past the messages, planning to answer them later. Then, her eyes widened. There was one more message, from the very last person she’d expected to hear from. Dan.

The only part of the message Leah could see in the preview was Hi, Leah. I ne— It could be anything. Perhaps Dan had finally come to his senses and wanted to talk to her. He must want to be a part of his children’s lives, after all, even if he didn’t want to be with her. Or maybe it was just an issue with the checks or a question about work. Leah shouldn’t get her hopes up.

Her heart in her throat, Leah clicked on the message.

Hi, Leah. I need to ask you a favor. My parents insist on having us both over for Thanksgiving dinner before the baby comes. I tried making excuses, but they weren’t having any of it.

I’m sorry. I know I have no right to ask this of you — and you have every right to say no.

Dan

Leah read the message several times. Hormones, disappointment, and sadness made her almost teary. Some tiny part of her heart had still hoped that Dan would reach out, at the very least so that he could be a father to his triplets. Now he had reached out, but it was only about business. He wanted — needed — her to hold up her end of the deal.

Well, Leah would do it. She wasn’t the kind of person who backed down from an agreement she’d made. Especially not when she could feel her babies moving inside her, clear proof that Dan had done what he’d said he would.

I’ll come. Name the time.

She wrote the words quickly and sent them before she could overthink anything. Dan was ready to be cordial and businesslike. Leah could be, too.

“Leah?” Sharon poked her head around the door from the kitchen. “Everything all right?”

“I’m fine.” Leah smiled. And in that moment, she realized that she was fine. Heartbroken, yes. Worried about the future, definitely. But also, fine. She could be a mother, alone. She could go to dinner with Dan and his parents and pretend to be his girlfriend for one more night. She could do anything and everything she had to in order to make a good life for her children.

She was a mother now. That changed things. Even if fatherhood hadn’t changed Dan at all.

CHAPTER 18

DAN

I’ll come. Name the time.

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