Page 78 of Forbidden Desire

She looks taken aback as she looks up at me. “J-Josie?” she says warily.

“Yes. Only if you’re okay with it.”

She bites her lip and I try to ignore the urge to stare at her mouth, as I wait while she deliberates. Maybe I should have asked her on a date. I just felt like asking to see Josie was a safer bet. I want to get close to her again. Both of them.

“I don’t know,” she says, her brows furrowing. I can tell she’s torn.

“I understand.” Disappointment consumes me.

She waits a few moments before speaking again. “After work. Meet me at the daycare.”

I look at her in surprise. She’s letting me see Josie. This is a really big step. I try not to scare her off with my excitement, so I just give a single nod.

“Sure,” I say casually, even though my heart is beating fast.

She stands from her chair and leaves my office, closing the door behind her, but her perfume still lingers. Everything about her still lingers.

I can hardly believe she agreed to meet me at the daycare to properly introduce me to her daughter.Ourdaughter. She doesn’t know I’ve already seen her, our eyes connecting like an unspoken bond that will never and can never be broken. But this time around, I can talk to her. I can maybe even hold her. I wonder what that sort of thing will do to me. My heart is already that little girl’s.

The next few hours move slowly, as I wait impatiently for five o’clock to roll around. I wish I had something to distract me, but my deal with Brock Wellington probably won’t close until a few more weeks. I haven’t received a contract to go over yet. He said it would be sometime next week.

While I wait, I decide to take a look at our new website since it got its facelift. I want to see what our subscribers are seeing, along with the articles they’re reading. The interface looks sharp, yet still remaining true toThe NY Daily Newslogo and color scheme. It’s a million times better than it was before with interactive links and easy to navigate tabs.

I peruse the articles, my eyes running over them quickly, until I fall on Erica’s latest piece. I read that one with careful precision, as if I’m breathing in her words, which are so effortlessly put together to create a captivating piece. I smile at her wit and theway she can make even politics interesting. It’s no wonder she’s been here so long. She has something to say, and people want to read it.

Beauty and brains. How can I possibly resist her? The idea of being together again is all I want, but I know it’s not that simple. There’s another person I have to consider. A part of Erica, a part of me, that comes with the deal. It’s scary to think about, but only because I don’t want to screw anything up. I know I’m jumping ahead of myself. I doubt Erica would even give me another chance after everything. I know her agreeing to let me meet Josie is already pressing my luck, but I’m grateful for it.

At five, I log off my computer and slip on my jacket, heading out of my office and toward the elevator. I feel my heart beating in my throat on the elevator ride down, knowing I’m about to see Erica. And Josie.

As I walk down the hallway, I see Erica leaning against the wall, waiting for me. She hears my footsteps approach and looks over. She looks even more nervous than before, and I hope she hasn’t changed her mind.

“Are you ready for this?” she asks.

“Areyou?” I laugh softly.

That seems to ease her nerves a little because a smile tugs at her lips. She nods for me to follow her. I watch as she greets the daycare workers and follow her into the room. They eye me curiously, probably wondering what I’m doing back here. Ericaand I both take off our shoes and place them in two separate cubbies before entering the gated area.

“She’s over here,” says Erica.

I follow her to the same area I saw Josie just a few days ago. Erica opens the latch on the gate and holds it open for me to follow. There are three babies in there, all babbling and playing with toys. My eyes immediately go to Josie, who is playing with a crinkly baby book.

“Hey, baby girl,” says Erica, crouching down.

Josie gives her a gummy smile and holds her arms out. My heart feels like it’s breaking and being put together at the same time. The way she looks at Erica as if she’s the only thing on this planet makes me feel weepy. One, because I know what a good mother Erica probably is. Two, because I’ve missed out on that look.

Erica brings Josie to me and is shocked when Josie reaches out for me. She looks from Josie to me slowly, as if she’s seeing our immediate bond too.

“May I?” I ask, holding out my hands.

Erica hesitantly hands Josie to me, and I have no fears as I take her. I don’t know if I’ve ever even held a baby, or I’m doing it right, but itfeelsright. Josie smiles up at me and says some excited babble of nonsense. I chuckle and cradle her into the nook of my arm.

“She seems to like you,” says Erica. I can’t tell if she’s happy about it though.

“She’s beautiful,” I murmur.

I didn’t think I could fall any more in love with my daughter and then I held her. Now I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let go.

Chapter 37

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