Page 42 of The Boss's Triplet Surprise

“Sorry. It’s just been a long day.”

“It’s only midday.” Richard smiled kindly, though there was a bit of worry behind his eyes. “Is everything all right?” He leaned forward slightly. “Is everything okay with Leah?”

An urge to confide in his father rose up in Dan. He remembered going to his father as a teenager, heartbroken by an unrequited crush or disappointed by a bad test score. Richard had always listened as though Dan’s teenage problems were the most important thing on his mind. Then he’d offer advice — always good advice. Even as a slightly rebellious teen, Dan had believed in his father’s wisdom and had almost always followed it.

Now, two decades later, Dan wanted nothing more than to confide in Richard again. He wanted to tell his father the whole story, from the deal to the pregnancy to the fake relationship. He wanted to explain that, somewhere along the way, he’d developed undeniable feelings for Leah.

But Dan knew that he couldn’t say any of that. Not only would it ruin his chances of inheriting the company — ever — but he already knew what Richard would say. His dad would say what he always had: people are more important than profit. If Dan loved Leah, he should win her over. And no matter what happened with Leah, Richard would tell him that he needed to be a part of his children’s lives.

Then Richard would probably chastise him for lying about his relationship in the first place.

So, Dan didn’t confide in his father. He just nodded.

“Yes. Everything’s fine with me and Leah.”

“I remember when your mother was pregnant with you.” Richard leaned back in his chair. “She was hormonal, and I started getting stressed about becoming a father. It was probably the most difficult time in our relationship.”

“You were stressed about being a father?” Dan asked. Richard had always spoken so highly about his children and about the importance of being a family. Dan had never suspected that he hadn’t always felt that way.

“Of course. Every man is, I think. What’s important is that you do the best you can — and know that once your baby is in your arms, everything will be different.”

The best Dan could do was support the babies, and Leah, financially. He knew that. Nothing else mattered. And the part about holding his baby in his arms… well, maybe that just didn’t apply to him.

“Thanks, Dad. That helps.”

“Anytime. Now, eat your food. It’s getting cold.”

Dan kept his father’s words with him throughout the next weeks. Each time he saw Leah in the office, her stomach growing steadily to accommodate their triplets, he reminded himself that he needed to do the best he could: support them financially. Every time he saw a child running down the street, every time he walked home alone, each time Leah walked past him in the hallway without saying a word, Dan reminded himself of the same thing.

He expected that it would get easier to keep his distance as time went by, but it didn’t. When he saw the next ultrasound pop up on their shared calendar, it almost broke his heart not to go. Dan wasn’t ready to be a father to triplets or a real partner to Leah. But he still wished that things were different. He wanted to be the kind of guy who could be by her side through every moment of pregnancy and parenthood.

Late summer turned to fall. The leaves turned a myriad of reds and oranges and yellows, then drifted to the ground. Dark clouds rolled over the city, turning the lake into a steely mirror. Cold wind swept the city.

Dan worked.

He focused all his attention on his job, working later and longer and harder than ever. RMA Pharmaceuticals was thriving under his leadership. Forenal was selling even better than expected and the early results were very positive. It seemed Leah wasn’t the only person who’d gotten pregnant much faster than expected while taking the drug.

The revenue numbers were higher than ever. Usually, that would have filled Dan with pride and purpose, but now he just felt empty. Nothing meant as much to him anymore without Leah in his life. Time and time again, he wanted to reach out to her, but time and time again, he held himself back. He wasn’t good for her. He wasn’t good for their babies. The best thing he could do was ensure that none of them would ever want for anything.

The end of October arrived. Pumpkins lined the stoops in Dan’s neighborhood, and kids in costumes began their yearly circuit of the city. In his penthouse, Dan never got any trick-or-treaters, but this year he found himself outside in a nearby park, watching a line of tiny ghosts and princesses and pirates race past with baskets full of candy. In a few years, those would be his children.

Dan knew he’d made the right choice. Yet the thought of his children growing up without him hurt. Even more painful was the thought of Leah. She would find someone else eventually, someone who could support her in ways he couldn’t. That was for the best.

If only he could believe that.

CHAPTER 17

LEAH

“Apple. Definitely apple.” Leah’s mom made a face and put down the spoon. “Terrible, terrible apple.”

The room erupted into laughter.

Today was the day of Leah’s baby shower. She was officially seven months pregnant and the size of a house — and not a small house, either. A duplex, probably. To celebrate, Leah had gone home to her parents’ place, where the three of them were now, playing baby-shower games, drinking alcohol-free mocktails, and giggling.

Leah was unbelievably grateful. She knew she’d neglected her parents a little in the past few months, so it meant a lot to her that they’d still put together this baby shower. It meant even more to her that they hadn’t mentioned Dan, not even once. Nor did they mention the fact that this was Leah’s first visit since she’d gotten pregnant.

Sharon had wanted to put on a bigger celebration with more guests, but Leah had insisted on keeping things small. She still felt heartbroken about what had happened with Dan and didn’t want a house full of snoopy guests who might ask her questions about him. Instead, she was having this celebration with her parents in Madison, as well as a smaller dinner with her close friends in Chicago.

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