Page 97 of Tender Offer
Joyful laughter shifts my attention from the umbrella that’s about to meet the fate of a trash can to Bellamy. Her grin tints her rose-colored cheeks and crinkles the eyes she lifts to Preston, who’s staring down at her with a faint smile that slowly becomes more pronounced. They linger for a moment on the edge of the sidewalk. Her hand is on his, holding the bump of their baby.
I never expected Preston to despise his child—who would want a man who does?—but witnessing his happiness up close while I live with his agony at home twists the knife deeper into my heart. I haven’t seen him smile in weeks, but here he is, offering it freely to a woman he claims he doesn’t love.
Sensing eyes on him, he looks up. The smile drops into a frown. He says something to Bellamy, who nods and takes their umbrella. There’s no gloat or smirk. If anything, she looks remorseful.
“Puff.”
“Hey,” I say, tipping my umbrella back to accommodate our height difference. “I was just out.”
His brow lifts. “In the rain?”
“When is it not raining here?” My attempt at a smile is too much to bear.
“I tried calling earlier. KD had a doctor’s appointment. It was my first time seeing the baby.” Sadness tugs at his words, and he clears his throat. “It’s a girl.”
My chest squeezes under an invisible weight. I draw in a deep breath but can’t steady myself to ignore the ache that’s eating me alive. I gulp and pray that the tears lining my vision don’t fall.
I don’t want to break in front of her.
“I-I’m sorry,” I stammer.
The reality of what their baby means hurtles through my rib cage. Them shopping for the nursery. Preston holding Bellamy’s hand and kissing her forehead during birth. Celebrating milestones together as a family.
Preston reaches for me, enveloping me inside the warmth of his jacket. He kisses my forehead and tightens his grip. “Please don’t cry, Puff.” His voice is a low rumble. “I love you so much, and I’m sorry—for all of this. I want to be a good father, but I don’t want to lose you.”
“I know. But watching you two together makes me feel like the mistress.”
He pulls away to hold me in a stare. “You’re the woman I love. I want a future together.”
I press a kiss to his lips and step away. “It hurts too much to think about what that looks like. There’s a lot for you to focus on right now.” I raise a hand and take another step back when he moves forward. “Please.”
His jaw clenches, but he nods.
“You should get her out of the rain.” I nod at Bellamy. She’s shifting from foot to foot, looking between us. “Her health is important.”
“Madison,” he says.
“I’ll be fine. I have to go.”
If my oxford shoes do one good thing today, it’s turn me in the other direction and force me to walk away. Eyes narrow at me, the woman with no jacket and a fuzzy bun who’s crying like she just left a funeral. I reach into my clutch and pull out my phone. Tammi picks up on the third ring.
“Tam.”
“Maddie, what’s wrong? Did someone die!?”
“I—I don’t think I can do this anymore.” Pain explodes, shooting shrapnel through my heart and into my voice.
By some miracle, I make it back to the penthouse. My eyes are puffy and my nose is like a faucet, but I’m here. Tammi listens to the emotional monologue of my life.
“Come home, Maddie,” she says.
I nod like she can see me and stuff the clothes I brought from New York into my suitcase. “There’s a nonstop flight leaving in a few hours.” I give Tammi the information.
Once I’m packed, I roll my suitcases out of the bedroom and stop into Preston’s home office for a pen and paper. A photo of us sits in a silver frame next to his desk. He took a candid shot the morning after our first night together. I’m grinning up at him from under the covers. My hair is wild, matching his expression of untamed adoration.
Inside the desk drawer is a legal pad. I grab a pen but stop when I see the sonogram. It’s a copy, but it shows the baby’s profile. A tiny head, a little nose, and the outline of a mouth. The bundle of joy that will change his life forever.
Tears come in another wave, one that forces me to grip the desk.
