Page 2 of Accidental Baby Daddy

“What do you mean, you’ll take care of me?”

He frowned, concern shadowing his brown eyes.“Of course I’ll take care of you, Alexandra. You’ll stay at home and keep up the house, and then, when the children come?—”

“Children?”

My mouth went dry. I didn’t know why I’d never thought about it, whether Dick would want kids, but I couldn’t imagine him being a father. He was so... cold. Robotic, almost.

“Two or three, at least,”he said, smiling, but I didn’t smile back.

That wasn’t the first time I’d been unsure about Dick, but it certainly gave me pause. Over the past few months, he’d grown more and more controlling. I’d gone out with coworkers a few times and he’d nearly lost his mind, calling me over and over for hours while I was out. Not only that, but when he thought it was time for me to come home, he’d lock the credit card that he’d given me to use. Luckily, I had some of my own money to cover the bill but the way he controlled everything else...

When I arrived home, he acted as if nothing happened. He was as sweet and attentive as always.

But it was another red flag.

I guess the real straw that broke the camel’s back was when he talked about kids. I suddenly realized that although I’d always wanted children, I didn’t want children with him. I didn’t want them to be controlled the way I was controlled.

I was running out of steam when I heard the squealing of tires in the distance. Assuming it was Dick, I panicked, jumping into some nearby bushes behind a building. I hid there, panting, until I heard the car drive past, the calls of my name fading away.

I’d always preferred my nickname, Lexie, but Dick insisted on calling me by my full name, Alexandra. I used to think it was endearing but now I find it annoying and another way he uses to control me.

I slowly climbed out of the bushes, pretty sure that there were sticks and small branches stuck in my dark hair, which was braided and piled on the top of my head.

I looked at the long stretch of highway before me. I didn’t know if I was going the right way because I didn’t know New York City the way I knew Wagontown. I only remember seeing the airport outside the limo window when we drove from this direction to the church.

A semi honked as I stumbled out onto the road, and I yelped and jumped backwards, falling into the ditch as my heels buckled.

The next thing I knew, someone was standing over me, their shadow blocking the bright June sun. The person was tall, and for a moment, fear tightened my throat.

“Honey, you look like you’ve had aday,” the woman said, and I was relieved to hear an obvious Texan accent.

“I really have,” I replied, and the woman reached out her hand to help me up.

“I’m Lily. Short for Lillain, but don’t tell anyone.”

“Lexie,” I greeted her with a small smile, brushing off my dress as I stood. “Short for Alexandra, but don’t tell anyone.”

Lily chuckled, jerking her head toward the semi which was parked on the shoulder of the other side of the highway. “Looks like you might need a ride.”

She looked me up and down. It was obvious that I was a runaway bride—my hair and makeup done to the nines, broken heels, wearing a ridiculously expensive dress, now sullied with dirt and twigs.

“Yes, please,” I breathed, relieved. “I can pay you for gas?—”

“Absolutely not,” she cut me off, frowning and leading me across the empty highway. “I was planning on going past the airport, anyway.” She paused. “I assume you want to get the hell out of here?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“That accent...” she trailed off. “Oklahoma?”

“Texas,” I said, and she broke into a huge smile that made her look ten years younger.

“My old stomping grounds. I miss it. New York is quite the culture shock for us country girls.”

“You’re telling me,” I muttered as she opened the passenger door and helped me up into the cab.

She started up the truck and instantly cold air blew into my face. It felt so good I almost moaned. It was a particularly hot day for June, and I’d probably have one hell of a sunburn once I finally got to where I was going.

Thing was, I wasn’t sure where that was. I hadn’t talked to my parents in probably three years.

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