Page 33 of Her Baby His Gift

Carter couldn’t imagine. “I dream about making money, not settling down.At all.My parents are both on their third marriages. Each trying to outdo the other. And kids? Why would anyone put children in the middle of that shit? No, thank you to all of it. Like I said, I’ll leave marriage and kids to you and the guys.”

“I agree that most marriages end in disaster. Solid relationships don’t. Harlem finally understands where I’m coming from when it comes to that. I just wish her mom would quit guilt trippin’ her aboutliving in sinevery time we go for a visit. Mrs. Thomas is great, but I hate that she always brings up Harlem’s childhood wedding plans. It almost feels like she owes her mom a wedding. Seriously, if Harlem wants a party with a pretty dress, we can do that.”

Like that promise ring,Carter thought. He still wasn’t sure how Damian pulled that one-off. “Every woman wants marriage, financial security, a man who can wear em’ out and put them to sleep.” Carter laughed. “I’m only willing to give one out of the four.”

Damian chuckled. “That’s why your ass is still single. Harlem has her own money. She doesn’t need mine, but if anything were to ever happen to me, I’ve got that covered. She is the beneficiary on all of my assets, and I’m the beneficiary on all of hers.”

“All of them?” Carter asked.

“Well, all of them except for my business. Shares in Fox, Johnson, and Steele Investments will be divided between Spencer and Nate, but they’ll have to pay Harlem market value for them. Otherwise, everything else goes to her.”

“I don’t know, bro. That sounds a lot like marriage to me.”

“Exactly! I am committed. It took some time for her to trust that, but once she realized it, all the superficial talk of weddings stopped.”

“Interesting.” Carter didn’t believe Harlem was over the wedding thing. He figured she just accepted Damian’s terms for the relationship.

Damian ran a tired hand across his face. He checked his watch, then pulled Carter’s investment portfolio out of his bag and passed it over to him. “We better get to it since this is the reason we are here. I’ve got another appointment, and I don’t want to be late.”

“How can you be late? You’re the boss.”

Damian lowered his voice. “I uh . . . have a follow-up appointment with a specialist this morning.”

Carter was surprised. “Follow-up? Is everything okay?”

“I saw him the day after the negative test result. He . . . um . . . said there might be an issue. I’m going today to get the results.”

Carter raised a brow. Concerned, he asked. “What’s the bottom line?”

A pained expression appeared on Damian’s face. “I might be dealing with a worst-case scenario.”

“That means exactly what?”

“Harlem’s body is working fine. There is no reason why she can’t get pregnant. The problem seems to rest squarely on my shoulders.”

Carter took a sip of his coffee. “Is Harlem going with you?”

Damian looked guilty. “Not this time.”

Carter slowly lowered his cup. “In other words, she doesn’t know.”

“I don’t want her to worry.”

“I don’t know much about relationships, but isn’t this one of those things you’re supposed to tackle together?”

Damian said a little more forcefully. “I’ve got this.”

Carter ignored him. “I’m sure you do, but I also know that Harlem would want to be there.”

“When did you become her cheerleader?”

He wasn’t. “I just call it like I see it.”

“Let me repeat it more clearly. I don’t want to worry Harlem.”

Carter sat up, placed his elbows on the table, and laced his fingers together. “I’ve known you a long time, since freshman year of college, and you gave my ass a kidney a few years ago, so I consider us practically blood related.”

“You said all of that to say what?” Damian asked.

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