Page 58 of Ice Daddy
Lance watched Irie nurse. He was slow to rise; he didn't want to get up at all. He wished he could stay in that room, just the three of them, for all time.
But last night had changed his mind, at least. Making love to Paige had brought her closer into his heart—and sleeping in her bed, with his arm wrapped around her warm body, with their daughter sleeping just a few feet away, was the final straw. He knew he couldn't do what Kip was asking. He couldn't call off their plans—not after convincing Paige to quit her job and pack her bags. There was a middle way, wasn't there? She could come to Boston and they could still have a paternity test done … he'd just have to keep the truth from Kip a little bit longer. And maybe that meant no one could know about Paige until they had the results of the paternity test. But that wouldn't take too long, right? A few days at most.
After breakfast, Lance loaded Paige's bags into her car.
“Alright, that's it!” he said, dusting his hands. “Car's loaded and ready to go. Soon as you two are ready, we're off.”
“Great,” Paige said as she dressed Irie. “So what are we going to do to celebrate your birthday tonight? Should we invite your sister over, so Ella can meet her niece? Maybe your hockey buddies, too?”
“Hm.” Lance pretended to think it over. He didn't have the heart to tell Paige that they couldn't do that just yet. “I dunno.”
Paige pulled over Irie's Brawlers jersey over her head. That detail nearly broke Lance's heart. He looked at his little girl, the girl he waspretty damn surewas his, still wrestling with what he had to do. Paige studied him quietly. He could tell she'd suspected something was wrong since last night, and his heart hammered in his chest. He hoped she wouldn't take offense at what he had to ask her to do once they got back in Boston.
“You know, you're awfully quiet this morning,” she said.
He sipped the last of his coffee. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“You're not having second thoughts about me coming with you, are you? Because if youare,just say so. I don't have to come with you just yet. We can slow things down if you're not ready.”
He shook his head. “No. I want you in Boston with me, Paige. You and Irie both.”
She smiled, relieved. “Good.”
They left her apartment and climbed into Paige's car. It was a bright morning in Nashville and the snow was quickly melting under the morning sun. The traffic was light, and they made it to Lance's hotel in no time. He fetched his bag from his room, checked out from the hotel, and the family sped off to the airport.
They were only miles from the airport when Paige suddenly struck her forehead with her palm. “Oh my God. I totally forgot to tell my parents what we're doing—I'm the worst daughter ever!” She passed Lance her phone. “Can you dial my Dad?”
Lance and stared at the phone. “Right now? Are you sure?”
“I should tell them I'm going to Boston for a few days at least, right?”
Lance gulped. “Yeah, you're right.” He dialed Paige's Dad, hoping he wouldn't pick up. But of course, her Dad answered on the first ring. Lance set it on speaker so they could all talk.
“Hello?”
“Hey there, Mr. McMillan.”
“Who's this?”
“This is Lance Couture.”
“Hey there, Lance! What can I do for you?”
“I'm here with Paige and Irie. We're in the car.”
“Hi Dad!” Paige said.
“Hi sweetheart! What are you two up to today?”
“Lance and I have some pretty big news, Dad,” Paige said. “Is Mom there? She should hear this too. Put us on speaker.”
“Here I am!”Paige's Mom called from the background.“What's the big news?”
Paige looked at Lance, biting her lip, her eyes silently begging him to rescue her.
Lance forced a smile through gritted teeth. “Hey there, Mrs. McMillan. So this is kind of super last-minute notice … sorry for that … but Paige and Irie are actually coming with me back to Boston.”
“What?” her Mom gasped. Lance couldn't tell if she was happy, appalled, or both.“You are?!”
