Page 12 of Baby Contract

“That might be nice, or I can come back tomorrow morning.”

“You’re not going anywhere, Addison.”

The way he says it makes it sound like it means a whole lot more.

Chapter Seven

CARR

Everything is going so smoothly now that Addison is here. The baby is happy, Errol is happy, and I’m getting work done. Ben, with the help of the legal team, was able to obtain a copy of the birth certificate. “Megan wasn’t happy about the request,” he says as he hands over the paper.

“There’s no name here.” Then I remember Addison saying that some people leave it blank. I tap the paper against my palm. “When’s the paternity test coming back?”

“Should be any day now.”

Addison wanders into the kitchen with the baby in one arm. “Is that the birth certificate?”

She must recognize the seal on the document. “Yeah.” I hand it over. “You were right. Name section is blank.”

“I don’t mean to pry, but your name isn’t on here.”

“It’s my cousin.”

“So this baby…she’s not yours?”

I don’t like the sound of that. “No, the baby is mine. Finders keepers—that sort of thing. Here. Let me hold the baby.” Addison has given me some lessons on handling this little tyke, and ever since she’s arrived, the baby doesn’t cry as much anymore. “Why don’t you go take a shower and we’ll have dinner together and you and Errol and I will come up with a name.”

“I don’t know…”

“You want to smell nice for the baby.”

Her eyebrows crash together. “Are you saying I don’t smell good?”

“I never said anything.” I turn my back on her and nuzzle the baby’s head. Everyone smells perfect. Addison like spring and the baby, well, the baby has some kind of special smell. It might be the baby powder, but I think it’s some natural chemical that babies produce.

“Hmmmph,” Addison sniffs and stomps out.

As she’s leaving, Errol arrives, carrying bags of groceries. “Why’s Addison upset?”

“Mr. Smooth told her she smells.” Ben points an accusing finger at me.

“She had bags under her eyes. She needs a break.” She’s doing all the childcare, and it’s a 24-hour job. Errol and I barely survived, and we’re two people. Two men, kind of inept, but still, it’s one more pair of hands and one more set of eyes than Addison has.

“Are you gonna hire a nanny for the nanny?” Errol wonders.

“No, but I think I can do some stuff. I was handling it okay before Addison arrived.”

Ben snorts. “You were on the verge of throwing yourself off your balcony.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ben.”

“Never mind him.” Errol hands me a highball. “What are we going to name the baby?”

Ben makes a timeout with his hands. “Did you call Dex? Shouldn’t you wait until the paternity test comes back?”

“No. Dex says the baby isn’t his. Megan doesn’t want the baby. The tyke is mine now.”

Errol arches an eyebrow. “Yours?”

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