Page 41 of Not the Bodyguard's Baby
Adam sat down on the ottoman opposite September. “I didn’t believe in love at first sight until I met Harmony. I think she had me wrapped around that little fist of hers the first time she waved it at the office.”
“It was the same for me when she was born. I never loved somebody as much in my entire life as the second they laid her in my arms. Those first couple weeks were magical, and then I hit a dark patch...”
Adam reached for September’s free hand. “And you became one of the bravest women I know. It’s never as easy asking for help, especially when the stakes are so high.”
September rocked in silence for a few minutes. “Thank you for being the father she needed. You’re a good man, Adam Hastings.” She gave him a little smile, and even in the dim glow of the night light, he could tell she was blushing.
“What happened with Shyla?”
“She’s been recording my whole life. Everything. She claims she threw all but one video away, but I don’t know I trust that.”
“Everything?”
“Everything. All our conversations. Friends. Anything that happened outside of my bedroom she reported. She claims she’s destroyed everything she has.”
“How did she do it? I checked the rooms for the last three years searching for cameras.”
September shrugged. “The one video she didn’t destroy was taken from somewhere around the TV in Dallas. It’s of the night I told him I was pregnant.”
“I assume that’s the evidence she said she had?”
September nodded. “I still can’t believe she knew everything and didn’t help me. She only did what she thought was best for my career. You were right all along. I should have listened to you. But I guess with her listening to our conversations, she knew exactly what to say to keep leading me on.”
Adam reached over, lifted Harmony from September’s arms, and placed her in the crib. Harmony sighed in her sleep and snuggled into a new position on her back. Adam turned to September with outstretched arms. She stood from the rocker and walked into them. The tears in her eyes glistened, then fell as he gently walked them backward out of the room into the hallway so September’s sobs wouldn’t disturb Harmony’s sleep.
“So what is on the video?”
September pushed back from him a little and looked him in the eye. “My nightmare in full color. Shyla thinks it’s enough to get him tried for two counts of attempted murder in the state of Texas.” She leaned back into him, and Adam wrapped his arms around her. Sven had beaten her. The man was lucky he was locked up in jail in some little town. “He tried to kill you?”
She nodded into his chest. “In Texas, you can try someone for attempting to kill an unborn child by harming the mother.”
He wanted to see the video.
He didn’t want to see the video.
“What are you going to do with it?”
She shrugged. “I am not sure. I am having a hard time dealing with it all. I’m so angry, and I don’t know if I should be or if it is the PPD.”
He rubbed her back. “I am angry too. It is a good thing Sven is locked up right now, and I’d much rather hold you than go after Shyla. And there is no way I have PPD.”
She pulled back and gave him a half smile. “Thanks. It is hard for me to recognize which is which. It will probably be a few months before I dare trust my feelings.”
“Be as angry as you want with Shyla and Sven.”
She snuggled back into his arms. He placed a kiss the only place available, the top of her head, but September rose up on her toes and kissed him fully on the lips. “Adam Jedidiah Hastings, you are the best man I know.”
He kissed her again, not sure what to say. He was so far from being the best man she knew. If he was, he wouldn’t have run away from his feelings a year ago.
“We should probably get to bed so we can figure out the next steps in the morning.” Either that or he would keep kissing her all night.
“How long will they keep him in jail?”
“Up to seventy-two hours. It depends on if the judge will be in on President’s Day.”
She nodded against his chest. “I am too tired to think.”
He held her at arm’s length. “Go get some sleep.”
