Page 39 of An Heir For Her Enemy

“Delaney—”

But Delaney wasn’t listening anymore. She grabbed her headphones from her small carry-on bag, which sat next to her seat, and put them in her ears. She turned on the first playlist that popped up, which turned out to be a completely incongruent mix of heavy metal, and turned away from Logan towards the window. If he tried to talk to her anymore, she didn’t hear it.

Delaney wasn’t sure what she’d expected from Logan. Maybe, at the very least, she’d wanted him to acknowledge that there was something between them, even if it wasn’t something they could act on right now. She’d wanted him to tell her that she was special. She wanted him to act like it was a hard decision to step away from her and their baby.

Of course, though, Logan had reacted like he always did. It was eerily familiar to the no-nonsense, businesslike way he’d walked out after the night they’d spent together. His distance made Delaney’s heart ache all the more. Had she imagined that there was something between them? Had that kiss the night before been an attempt to sleep with her again, not an expression of any deeper feeling?

Delaney hazarded a look at Logan and saw that he had his laptop out and was typing away as though nothing was wrong. Perhaps, for him, nothing was.

But then she remembered how he’d looked at her the night before, in the seconds before he’d leaned in to kiss her. She remembered his expression when they’d sat at the restaurant and laughed together. Logan might not be willing to admit it now, but the time they’d spent together had meant something to him, too.

It was a cold comfort, but it was a comfort nonetheless. At least she’d be able to tell her baby that its parents had cared for each other.

Delaney didn’t think she’d be able to sleep, but she woke with a start to the plane bumping down on the runway in New York. Little sleep last night, the stress of the morning, and the exhaustion of early pregnancy must have caught up with her. She rubbed her eyes and took out her earbuds, which were stillplaying the heavy metal playlist. She did her best not to groan. It wasn’t her favorite kind of music and her head hurt now.

In the seat across from her, Logan had put away his laptop and was already gathering his things. The moment the plane rolled to a stop, he got to his feet and made his way to the door. Delaney felt a stab of panic — after everything, was he still going to walk away without saying goodbye? — but at the door he paused and looked back at her.

“I wish you well, Delaney. Expect the first of your child-support checks by tomorrow.” He hesitated. “You’re going to make an amazing mother. I wish that I could be around to see it.”

Delaney wanted to remind him that it was his choice not to be around, but she didn’t. She just nodded.

“Thank you. Goodbye, Logan.”

“Goodbye, Delaney. There’s a driver outside who will take you home.”

Then he walked down the steps and disappeared. Delaney sat for another moment, then slowly got to her feet and gathered her bag. This was it. Her time with Logan was over. Her heart squeezed with sadness, but she forced herself to be calm. She shouldn’t have expected anything different.

Just as Logan had promised, a driver was waiting for her outside the plane. He hurried to help Delaney with her bags.

“How ya doing, ma’am?” he asked as he loaded her bag into the trunk. Delaney smiled despite herself at his American twang, as familiar and comfortable as her favorite children’s books or the ice cream she always chose.

“Not too bad, thanks.”

“Glad to hear it. Do I have your destination right?” He read off Delaney’s address, and she nodded.

“That’s the one.”

As they drove through the countryside around the private airport, then into the hustle and bustle of New York City, Delaney stared out the window. Everything looked so different from the scenery in Rome, yet it still reminded her of Logan. The families walking with their children, the gleaming buildings, even the businessmen in suits brought back memories of time she’d spent with Logan.

They arrived at her apartment and Delaney leaned forward between the seats with a tip for the driver.

“Oh, no need, ma’am. Your boyfriend already paid.”

“My boyfriend?”

“Oh. Was he not your boyfriend?” The driver’s ears turned slightly red. “Apologies — I assumed.”

“That’s all right. Thank you for the drive.” She pressed the tip into the man’s hand, then climbed the stairs to her apartment. The studio felt small and dark after the beautiful suite in Rome, but it was home.

Delaney dropped her bag and sank onto her bed. How was she going to raise a child in this tiny place? Logan had offered to help, but she wasn’t sure her pride would let her take money from him. Yet there wasn’t even space in here for a crib, much less whatever else babies needed.

It felt strange to be home. It was as though Logan and the trip to Rome had never happened. Yet there was indelible proof that they had — the baby Delaney was carrying. She rested a handon her stomach. Despite how badly everything had turned out, she couldn’t regret a second of it, because it had brought her this baby. Delaney would be the best parent she could be. She would play the role of mother and father to this child, and hopefully, it would be enough.

Despite her nap on the plane, Delaney was exhausted. She drank some water, then lay down and, before she knew it, she was asleep again.

CHAPTER 17

LOGAN

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