Page 25 of Best Kept Secret

Fallon shrugged. "Children are resilient. Just start to spend more time with Pariandhire a nanny, someone who can take over. You need to start building distance between Pari and Mira so that when she leaves, your daughter will be fine."

But Mira won't be,I thought, not liking this line of conversation at all. I didn't want to hurt either Mira or Pari. They'd landed on my doorstep, and I felt responsible for both of them.

"Pari is Mira's only family and—"

"She needs to get the hell out of your house, Beau," Fallon snapped. "Is this because you still want to fuck her?"

I didn't like her tone of voice. I didn't like her accusation. But she wasn't wrong. Ididwant to fuck Mira. I was attracted to her as I hadn't been to a woman in a long time—it was more than sexual, which was novel.

"No woman is leading me around by my dick," I retorted smoothly. "You know that better than anyone."

Fallon sighed and cupped my cheek. Her hand was cool from the cold white wine glass. "Baby, you know I'm here for you. I have experience with this, and I'm telling you that the longer Mira is in Pari's life, the more problems you'll have. You need to establish yourself as a parent. You can't do that when surrogate mommy is walking around."

"Fallon, MiraisPari's surrogate mother." I moved my face away from Fallon's touch. I usually didn't mind how touchy-feely she could be, but right now, while she was passing judgment on Mira, it feltwrong. I didn't examine why, but I had a feeling it had something to do with the chemistry between Mira and me. There was heat and…something else, something foreign—a sense ofwantthat I'd never experienced before.

Fallon shook her head. "Listen to me, Beau. You need to contact her parents and find out what the hell is going on."

"My lawyers are already on it. We get the DNA results in by mid-next week, and once we have that, we can get the legalities in place." I glanced at the hallway that led to where Mira was sleeping, hopefully with my daughter.

"Look, I can see youlikeher."

"Like? I love my daughter," I remarked heatedly. "Fuckin'love her, Fallon."

She sighed and brushed her lush blonde hair from her face. "I meant Mira. I can see you love Pari, as you should. And she's adorable. I just…I don't know, Beau, her behavior was off, and Ihave a feeling it has to do with Mira. You don't know what she's been doing with her when they're alone."

"She skipped her nap, Fallon. Kids do that. In the week Pari's been here, this is the only time I've seen that kid be anything but happy."

"And you don't wonder that Mira had something to do with her unhappiness? You told her I was coming, didn't you? Did she put Pari up to behave like this?"

I gaped at Fallon, wondering if she'd lost her mind. "You know Pari is just two and a half, right? I doubt she can be manipulated."

"Do you think you know more about children and their psychology than me?" Fallon challenged.

I ran a hand through my hair. She had a point.

"So, what you're saying is that Mira is bad for Pari?"

"It's not that simple, Beau. If she was all Pari had, then okay—but she has you, and what happens tomorrow when you meet someone, and want to marry her?"

I laughed. I couldn't help it. "I ain't ever marryin' anyone, babe. You know that. It's not who I am."

"You're thirty-four years old, Beau; there's plenty of time for you to fall in love…trust me, I've seen it happen."

"I'm not going to kick Mira out of Pari's life becausesomedayImayhave a relationship with some woman I've not evenmet." I got up, feeling restless, and stuck my hands in the pockets of my linen pants. "What did you think of Pari?"

"I need more time with her," Fallon stated. "Maybe I can do that after she wakes up from her nap. But I want to bealonewith her, just you and me,noMira."

Before I could respond, a loud noise erupted from the kitchen. I turned to find Roxy standing there, banging something loudly.

We were in the informal living area, which had become Pari's play space. The room was open-plan, connected to the kitchenand a large dining area that I preferred over the formal dining and living rooms.

"Roxy, darlin', you know Fallon here."

Roxy smiled tightly. "Yeah, we've met. How are you doin', Fallon?"

"I'm good, Roxy." Fallon's face broke into a wide smile. "When Beau said you'll be cooking dinner, I was excited. I've missed your cooking."

Roxy's eyes flickered, but she didn't bite. "It's been a long while since you ate here," she said, her voice cold enough to make me glance up. Something was brewing beneath the surface, but Roxy wasn't one to stir the pot unless there was a damn good reason. "But I didn't cook dinner tonight. That's all Mira."

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