Page 2 of The Fake Family Deal

Oh. So not better than the nothing I’ve thought of, then.

But I promised I’d hear her out, so I bite my tongue and glare at her to continue.

She takes a steadying breath and keeps talking. “Currently, your image is… well, to be blunt, it’s less than favorable on a personal level. Beautiful Fitness is working really well and everyone’s still very happy with it, but Beautiful Babyis going to need a softer approach if it’s going to work.

“We’re trying to appeal to parents here, to mothers and their newborns, and to fathers who want the world for their family. And what they’re getting right now is a collection of really great features, but with absolutely no personality. We think that if we can prove to everyone that you are actually a family man, then we can triple our sales overnight.”

I scoff loudly in disbelief. “Whoever paid you for this prank, they didn’t give you enough.”

Priscilla shakes her head evenly. “No prank. This is the line we’re going with. We want to make you appeal to people.”

“Seriously?” I say witheringly. “A reality show? Me? On TV? Do yourself a favor and just get out of here.”

She doesn’t have to be told twice.

I don’t have to be told at all to know that she’s thinking, “Well,at least think it through,” but I’m not listening to the Priscilla in my head right now. I’m trying not to get very, very angry.

Whoever pitched that idea must be insane. My reputation isn’t being some cuddly little hippie, happy, baby-loving, soft-hearted guy. I built my fortune with sheer determination and not a single smile. I’ll be damned if they’re going to talk me into this one.

I’ve never liked babies anyway. Too messy, emotionally and physically. They can be cute, but I wouldn’t want one. I wouldn’thave the first idea where tobeginlooking after a baby, let alone pretending to be its dad.

Dads aren’t exactly something I know that much about.

Then again, I’ll be damned if we can’t think of anything better for Beautiful Baby.

Maybe my career really is about to go down the drain.

CHAPTER 2

MARINA

“Ilove you,” I whisper, kissing my daughter’s gorgeous little head. “I love you so much. Please be good for these nice people, okay?”

Lila stares up at me with her huge brown eyes, giving me that dump smile that makes my heart want to burst. She’s only nine months old, so I’m not sure how much she can really understand about the world, but it still breaks my heart to think about leaving.

I kiss her once more on the head, then stand up and reluctantly hand her to Susan. She’s the woman in charge of the daycare, and she will be looking after my daughter. She has been kind, her own smile warm and friendly, almost so much so that I can believe this will be okay.

Plus, for the cost, this was the highest-rated daycare I could find. I’m sure they don’t get ratings like that for nothing. It doesn’t make this any less hard, though.

For nine whole months, it’s just been me and Lila, alone together, facing the world with her tiny hand in mine. But tokeep facing the world, I’m going to need a job, and to get a job I’m going to have to leave her here for a few hours.

The fact is, shortly after Lila was born, I basically got told not to come back from maternity leave. My former employers were generous enough to pay me the full two months of it, at least, but my savings are only going to stretch so far, and having a new baby isn’t cheap, especially when you’re by yourself.

It’s just another thing that breaks my heart about my daughter. She will never know her father. It’s not like I really knew him either. He was a mistake. Butshenever could be.

She means the entire world to me, and that’s why I have to leave her here.

“We’ll take good care of her,” says Susan, her smile warm and unwavering. She’s an older woman, but the years have been kind to her. Her eyes are a bright green, and her smile lines give her the impression of someone caring and approachable.

I have no doubt that I can trust her. But I keep imagining Lila with the other kids, hating every second of it, crying and making a fuss. That, or hiding from them all, terrified to go out because all she really knows is me, and I won’t be there.

Maybe I should have brought some of her toys. Or a blanket?

I might be her mother, and I might love her more than anything in the universe, but that doesn’t mean I always know what I’m doing. As far as parents go, I’m pretty clueless. It doesn’t help with the guilt when I have to search for how to do everything, or to figure out what’s a normal thing for a baby to do at a certain age.

“I’m sure you will.” I wish I didn’t sound so doubtful, but I can’t help it.

“This is your first time, isn’t it?” Susan asks kindly. I nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “The first time is always the hardest, and the second and the third. But it gets easier, I promise. Never easy, exactly. But easier.”

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