Page 30 of Her Baby His Gift

“I know how to behave around an important client, Carter. Your date on the other hand seems to have been raised by wolves.”

Carter released a small laugh.

“I don’t know what’s so funny. Couldn’t you have found someone more suitable?”

He shrugged. “It was a last minute change.”

“You might as well have asked the hostess that you exchanged numbers with.”

“My name is Carter Owens and not Damian Fox. You don’t need to worry about things like that.”

Harlem couldn’t fathom being in a relationship with Carter. “Thank God.” The man was a pig.

“You need to learn to go with the flow and stop being so uptight all the time. Damn!”And take the stick out ya ass.

Harlem spoke through a pasted-on smile. “Because I’m a loving girlfriend, I’m going to go back to the table andgo with the flowbefore your date insults the client’s wife and ruins this entire thing.” Harlem started to strut off, then turned back to Carter. She narrowed her judgmental eyes at him. “Next time, do better.”

There was one thing that Carter and Harlem could agree on. He could not under any circumstances imagine dating a woman like her. She would drive him batshit crazy.

*****

Harlem was quiet on the drive home.

“A hundred dollars for your thoughts?” Damian joked. “I can afford it now that your man closed the deal.”

She smiled at him. “Only a hundred? You’re cheap. And was there ever any doubt?”

“Nope.” He couldn’t help but laugh. “I thought you were going to put an MMA move on Joy.”

“God, she was annoying.”

Damian glanced away from the road to look at her. “I don’t think she meant any real harm. She is just young and didn’t know what to do or say at the grown folks' table.” He used his thumb to caress the diamond ring on her left finger that he’d given her a year ago. “Back to my original question. What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”

She was hesitant. “I guess I’m just nervous.” The closer they came to their high-rise condo, the more butterflies in her stomach became more intense.

“There’s no need for that. We already know what’s up. My baby is having a baby.”

He looked so confident, but Harlem wasn’t so sure. They’d had more than a few false alarms over the last year.

Damian pulled up into their parking garage and whipped his car into his designated spot. “I’ve been counting down the minutes to this moment. This time is the real deal. I know it.”

He sounded so excited and sure. Harlem didn’t share his confidence and wasn’t nearly as excited.

Chapter 16

Harlem stood in front of the mirror in her spacious bathroom and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, then began to silently pray that this time would be different. That she would see those elusive two lines.Please, God. I can’t disappoint him again.

Initially, Harlem had wanted to wait, but Damian was right. They weren’t getting any younger. If she had taken the promotion at work, it would have been almost impossible to balance being a new mother and that role. Something would have suffered. Once she made the decision, Harlem was all in and had done everything in her power to conceive. Not only had they used an ovulation kit, but they made love in all the right angles and positions. They consulted the best doctors in Western and Chinese medicine. They had even resorted to using a fortune teller. Tonight, Harlem prayed all of their careful planning worked.

At the sound of the alarm on her cell phone, Harlem’s eyes popped open. Without looking, she picked up the test and nervously walked out of the bathroom.

Damian’s back was turned away from her, but he could hear as she approached. He pivoted to find Harlem standing in the middle of their bedroom just an arm’s reach away. Damian searched her lovely eyes for any signs. He hoped to see that special sparkle they always have when she’s excited. Maybe even see that smile that Harlem reserved only for him, but neither were anywhere to be found. Instead, his baby, the love of his life, looked wide-eyed and nervous.

Harlem was a wreck. Her palms were a hot, sweaty mess. Her hands shook so badly that she thought she might drop the little white stick on the floor. “Dame, I can’t read it.”

He took the few short steps to close the gap between them.

“You do it.” She extended her arm and handed him the test.

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