Page 85 of Boss's Baby Surprise

CLARISSA

Afew weeks later

“Ready to go see Daddy?” I asked Leo as I picked him up from daycare.

“Can we?” He launched to his feet and ran to get his jacket and backpack that were all lined up by the door and ready to go.

Kyle was officially “Daddy” now. I had been nervous letting Leo know, but no more nervous than letting Kyle back into my heart. And Kyle was doing everything right these days. Even when it made him grouchy. He had been moody for almost a month over this Hong Kong trip. Why did it always come back to Hong Kong?

Steve was on the phone and waved as we walked past. And as I suspected, once he saw Kyle and Leo, our past was no longer a secret. But now that we were officially a couple, everyone back in Chicago knew Kyle and I obviously had a history and that we were back together.

I let go of Leo’s hand so he could run to his father, like he did every time we saw Kyle. It was becoming a bit of a routine. Afterwork, I picked up Leo, we would walk the few blocks to Kyle’s office two or three times a week, and on Fridays, Kyle came home with us for a big spaghetti dinner and a movie.

I saw Kyle waving at Leo before I noticed he was on the phone. My gut tightened as I anticipated the growl, the tears, a scene that I had seen in movies where the kid didn’t know, and the parent yelled and was mean. I was prepared to sweep in and rescue my son.

But none of that happened.

Kyle put his index finger over his lips to quiet Leo down before pulling him up on his lap. As he kept talking, he placed paper and a pen in front of our son, ruffled Leo’s hair, and kissed his head.

Leo was perfectly content to just be with his father, even though Kyle’s attention was elsewhere. My heart clenched and grew, and I had to blink away tears. Kyle Love had always been a magnetic force, and I had always been swept away with him like being dragged along in a current. But this version of him constantly surprised and amazed me.

On the day we agreed to tell Leo, Kyle had shown up with matching T-shirts wrapped in a gift box.

“So we can match the next time we go to the zoo!” he announced.

I cried that day too.

He hung the phone up with an annoyed growl.

Leo flinched.

“Sorry, Son,” he said, giving Leo a quick hug.

“You look like you’re going to be working late,” I said.

Kyle nodded. “The client is getting pushier about my being present for the ground breaking.”

I didn’t want Kyle to leave for the very traumatizing reason that I didn’t know whether he would come back. But we both had to compromise to make this work.

“Why don’t you go?” I asked.

“Clarissa, I’ve told you. I’m not going to leave you and Leo.”

“I know that,” I said with a heavy sigh.

Kyle’s brows lifted and he pointed at me. “I saw that. Your words say one thing, but your heart doesn’t really believe that. I have to heal your hurt so your heart will know I will always come back to you. Until then, I’m here.”

Leo held up his drawing. “Look, a lion!”

“Oh, that’s beautiful,” I said, grateful for a moment of distraction. “Why don’t you go show that to Mr. Steve? I’m going to talk to Daddy for a minute.”

Leo squirmed off Kyle’s lap. He held his masterpiece in front of him as he ran out of the office.

Kyle was grinning as he watched Leo run off.

“What?” I asked.

“I love that. I never knew that having him call me Daddy would fill me with such emotion. Every time. Please tell me it doesn’t get old.”

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