Page 63 of Christmas with the Baby Daddy

“My dad was a stern dad,” I said, opening up. “Very strict, but I knew he was loving too.”

George stared at me, then sighed. “I never had a dad.”

Yes, you do.Now that we were on this topic, I struggled to ignore that niggling, nagging voice getting louder in the back of my head. I couldn’t be sure about how the time added up, but this kid reminded me of…me.

“I worry that someday, I’ll be stuck with one like Rory.”

I rubbed his back. “Nah. I can’t see him ever coming back here.”Fuck, I’ll stay long enough to scare him off if that’s what your mom wants.

“But Mama doesn’t spend time with men. She doesn’t go on dates like Sara does sometimes.” He smiled up at me. “You’d make a good daddy.”

Talk about a hit to the heart. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, my chest too tight with… love? I was fond of this kid already, and I knew it was an honor to hear such praise from him. He meant it.

Once more, as I watched him color for a little longer, I tried to talk myself out of the impossible scenario my mind couldn’t let go of.

What ifI’myour father?

Can George be my son?

I knew he was five, and when I counted the difference between now and Kevin’s death, I realized he would’ve had to have been conceived before Blake and I had that hot night of passion to get through the grief.

I had to know for sure, though. If we didn’t share so many similarities, I wouldn’t’ve let the idea take root in my mind.

I vowed to ask Blake as soon as I could get her alone again.

Because if I was, she had a lot of explaining to do for why she’d kept this a secret.

25

BLAKE

The next morning, I woke refreshed and well-rested. All thanks to Zach putting George to bed. It wasn’t often that I could put myself and my needs first, and that included making sure I got into bed at a reasonable hour after getting George settled.

Zach couldn’t have any clue how amazing of a gesture it was to just let go like that, and as I got ready for the day, I daydreamed about all the ways I’d like to repay him. They were all naughty ideas, but the common denominator beneath them all was whether he would be here long enough for me to act on any of them.

In my heart, I knew we weren’t just screwing around. If a man was only interested in sex, he wouldn’t put PJs on me and not try to cop a feel. Zach hadn’t, though, and his sweet tenderness of “tucking me in” prompted me to wish this could be a long-lasting fling instead of a short one.

“Listen, honey,” I told George later as I waited for a spot to drop him off in the school line. “Please avoid Brent today.”

He nodded, poised with his hand on the door handle to jump out with how efficiently this car line was expected to flow. “Okay, Mama.”

“Try not to be near him at all, okay? Steer clear of him.”

“Should I stand up for myself if he comes near me?” he asked.

I resisted a growl. “Yes.Yes, George. Always, always stand up for yourself.” I never had to ask him not to start anything. He was never the instigator. “But try to avoid letting him close enough where you’d be stuck having to defend yourself.”

“Okay, Mama.” He opened the door but before he launched out, he paused and grinned at me. “I had a lotta fun with Mr. Zachary.”

Oh, honey.“I’m glad. He’s really nice, huh?” I ignored the horn honking behind us.

“Uh-huh,” he replied. “I wish he could be my daddy.”

I froze, unable to let my face show the emotions crashing through me. Guilt. Hope. Sorrow. Joy. I was a contradictory mess. “Have a good day, honey,” I said instead.

On the whole drive to the warehouse to interview for the third-shift position, I stressed over what my darling son had said.

Zachwashis dad.

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