Page 76 of Boss's Baby Surprise

“You remembered?” I found myself smiling more in Kyle’s presence than I had been in the previous weeks.

He glanced down at the table before locking his piercing blue gaze with mine. “I remember everything, Clarissa.”

He was so intense at that moment that I had to look away. I blinked, dashing away the sudden appearance of unexpected tears. If he remembered, why couldn’t he commit to staying around?

The moment only lasted like a lightning bolt, sudden, hot, and gone with only an after image burned into my mind.

“I thought it was good for kids to eat the same foods their parents eat,” he said as if he hadn’t just driven a nail into my soul.

“It is, however, his palette isn’t overly sophisticated or developed yet. It’s going to take him some time before he’s ready to venture into all the amazing food that is out there for him.”

Kyle looked down at a grumpy Leo. “Did you have a good nap?”

Leo whined and shifted in his seat, turning his back to Kyle.

“Somebody,” I said with a heavy sigh, “didn’t have much of a nap today. He woke up about halfway home.”

Kyle nodded in understanding. At least I hope he understood. After a brief moment of severe cranky attitude where I reminded Leo that we would go home if he didn’t calm down, he immediately fell asleep with his hand in his food.

Kyle chuckled. “I should let you take him home,” he said.

“There’s no rush. He’s already asleep,” I pointed out before taking another bite of dinner. “He’ll be fine.” I reached out and cleaned Leo's hand before adjusting his position so that he would be more comfortable and not accidentally flop into his food. “We can finish dinner.”

“That’s good. I haven’t had good company like yours in a long time. I appreciate your staying.”

I tried not to blush, but I was very aware that I'd failed miserably.

Kyle reached out across the table. His fingers brushed the back of my hand.

My insides did that thing I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was desire. I still wanted Kyle, even after all the pain he had caused me. And from his hooded gaze, I was pretty certain he wanted me. He wasn’t sticking around simply to be a father to Leo.

I knew that’s what he was trying to prove to me, that he could be a father to our son and that he wanted to. But it was nice to know that I was wanted as well.

The restaurant had bright lighting and could not be described as romantic, but at that moment, we might as well have been sitting in a secluded corner of a dimly lit, high-end, exclusive fine dining establishment. I had tunnel vision. All I saw was Kyle, and all I felt was the way he was stroking my hand.

“We should do this again,” Kyle suddenly suggested with a clearing of his throat.

“I would like that,” I admitted. I liked seeing him and Leo together. I thought it was good for both of them. But I also liked those moments of lightning between us. Would they come back?

“Here, let me get him,” Kyle said, picking up the sleeping child. “Do you need me to get you a car? You aren’t planning on walking, are you?”

I already had my phone out and was requesting a car through the app on my phone. I held it up to show Kyle. “I’m good. Would you like to go to the zoo with us next weekend?”

The smile he gave me was all the answer I needed.

36

KYLE

“Steve?” I heard Clarissa’s voice.

“Oh, hi, Clarissa. What the hell are you doing here? Who’s the kid?” Steve responded.

“Kyle asked us to meet him here for lunch. Um…”

“I’m back here,” I called out as I shifted a stack of boxes.

She had Leo by the hand and looked a little confused when she walked toward the back of the new office space.

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