Page 39 of Secret Baby for the Bad Boy

“Is it now?” I feign ignorance, scanning our surroundings. “Maybe you need to walk around it, see if you can find another clue.”

His face lights up with the thrill of the hunt, like a miniature explorer ready to conquer new lands. He’s quick to circle the rock, then pulls a folded bit of paper from a crack in the car-sized boulder. As he unfolds the paper, I see him look up into his mother’s face for answers.

“X marks the spot, little man,” she says.

“Like a pirate map?” He sounds excited and she nods.

He darts off and I follow at a much slower pace, inhaling the breeze, committing every detail of this day to memory. I think about the look on his face when she’d told him I’m his dad. I don’t know what I expected, but he just stood up, walked over to me, and wrapped me in a hug. And from there on out, he’s called me dad and we get along like a house on fire.

“Find it yet?” I call out, still walking at my own pace as she hangs back with me.

“Still looking!” he shouts without slowing down, his small legs racing across the soft grass.

With the final clue before him, I take Lara’s hand. I want him to have this achievement all on his own, and she seems to understand. We keep a close eye on him as he searches for where the X on the map leads. The trees overhead bend and sway, their branches shivering in the wind.

Beyond the park, some sounds of the city reach us. An occasional honk of a passing car. A dog barking. A chopper somewhere overhead.

Uncertainty gnaws at me as he comes very close to the final surprise—will he appreciate what’s waiting for him at the end? Lara pulls away, closing the gap between herself and our son, no doubt not liking how far away he’s getting.

“I think I got it,” he says, his tone mingling triumph and uncertainty.

I freeze, anticipation winding up tight within me. Lara pivots on her heel, her gaze meeting mine across the distance. It's a silent conversation, and I can’t quite read the look in her eyes.

Did I overstep? Would she tell me if I did? Does he like the gift?

Then, the world explodes into sound. His delighted squeal shatters my fears about him enjoying the present. I walk over, my heart leaping with each step. He's there, perched in the driver’s seat of a miniature luxury car—a pint-sized Bentley crafted just for him.

“Vroom, vroom!” he exclaims, steering wheel gripped in eager hands.

“Push the button,” I say, and he does so. The engine comes alive, and he instinctively presses the gas. As he moves forward, his giggle is a sound I’ll never forget. A sound of pure excitement, joy, and happiness.

“Do you like it?” I ask, already pretty sure I know the answer.

“I love it!” he shouts the words, his grin so wide it nearly cracks his face in half as he turns the wheel, the tires flattening the grass here and there. The blades are quick to spring back up, and I turn to look at Lara.

But she’s focused on our son. “Can I ride with you?” she asks in a teasing tone, bending down beside him.

“You’re too big, Mom.” He sounds so adult and serious I can’t help but chuckle.

“Guess it's just for super cool drivers then,” she says, throwing me a glance that's both thankful and amused.

“Only the coolest,” I say, relief washing over me. The gift is a hit. And just maybe, so am I.

I close the distance between us, my steps light. “I hope that was okay,” I say softly to Lara as we watch Win driving around, making crazy turns back and forth while making loud engine noises with his mouth.

Her eyes meet mine, a softness there surprising me.

“It can always be a toy that stays at my place...” My voice trails off as I try to read her.

She watches our son, his laughter ringing out across the grass. “He loves it, so I love it,” she says, turning back to me with a smile. “Thank you.”

I reach out, my fingers brushing hers. A shiver passes through her and she inhales, making a tiny sound that instantly has my body hyper-aware of her. She laces her fingers with mine and I squeeze gently.

“There's one more thing,” I say, the words catching slightly in my throat. My other hand slips into my pocket, pulling out the little box that has been on my mind nearly the whole time we’ve been here. I was hoping for a perfect moment, and this feels like the perfect moment.

It's now or never.

She tilts her head, curiosity crossing her features. I press the box into her hand, then plant a quick kiss on her forehead. “This is for you.”

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