Page 68 of Surprise Baby for Mr. Fischer
I giggled in relief. Damn, this man was endearing himself even more to me. It was scary how much I cared about his thoughts, his feelings, him.
A few minutes later, we wrapped up the appointment. Lincoln snapped a picture of one of the ultrasound photos. “I'm going to send this to my uncle. I can't wait for him to see the baby. The last time he and I talked, he was getting excited to be a Grandpa.”
“Oh, good idea." I snapped a picture of the baby's face and one of her little feet. “I'm going to send these to Ash and Stella.”
Lincoln looked up when he was done texting his uncle. “We should get your parents and my uncle one of those heartbeat things too.”
“I’m sure they’d like that.” His thoughtfulness touched my heart.
“And your sisters. We could get one for each of them.” He looked at Evie. “Can we get a bunch more of those?”
Evie held a small red heart in her hand that held the recording of our little girl’s heartbeat. “Sure. We can make as many as you’d like.”
“No, Evie.” I shook my head and chuckled. “I appreciate the gesture, Lincoln, but my sisters don’tallneed one.”
“If you’re sure.” Lincoln didn’t look convinced.
“I am.” I grabbed his hand with one of my hands and the red heart with the other. “Thank you, Evie.” I was afraid if I left him alone, he’d order a hundred and give them out to everyone we saw.
My heart tightened at the thought of the general public knowing Lincoln had a child. While it was just us, I could block out the possibility of my pregnancy turning into a three-ring circus. Realistically, though, I knew that we couldn’t keep this secret from the public forever.
I shut down the thoughts circling my mind. I didn’t want to taint this beautiful moment with my fears.
We walked down the hall holding hands. The feel of our fingers locked, our palms touching, felt right. Lincoln was quickly adapting to our new normal. His initial hesitation had all but disappeared, and in its place was a really great guy. Someone I could easily fall for.
My heart skipped a beat as my mind zeroed in on that last thought.
Did I want to fall for him? We came from two different worlds. Being in the spotlight was part of his job description, whereas I wanted nothing to do with it. That niggling doubt that told me I shouldn't be with him, the one that nagged me asking how would we ever make this work, was quieter now. The sound of my doubt was being smothered by the unexpected feelings I was having for him. I only needed to take a chance.
I was ashamed to admit that the moment I found out who he was, I thought he’d be impossible, stuck up, and unwilling to bother with someone like me again. I figured I was a fling, a convenient body to enjoy that weekend he was here. That maybe he’d been putting on an act, a show, during our weekend together just to get in my pants. He’s an actor, and a good one. He could’ve been acting that whole time. For a second, when he’d acted so poorly about the baby, I wondered if the mask had slipped, that he was going to show me the real him.
Yet, everything he said or did contradicted those very thoughts.
Why did he have to be so damn perfect?
Lincoln paid for our session while I was distracted and walked with me to the door. As he held it open, he asked, “What’re you thinking?”
“Honestly?” We walked side by side toward my car. Already, he was quick to pick up on my changes in mood. It was almost scary how well he knew me in such a short time.
He nodded.
“That I was wrong about you.”
We reached my car, and my gaze darted everywhere but at him.
“Hey.” He leaned against my car and pulled me close. I loved how I fit right between his legs, my body instinctively curling into his. “Is that a bad thing?”
“No, it’s a great thing.” I sighed.
His hands rubbed up and down my back.
“You’re nothing like the resentful asshole I thought you would turn into once you found out about the baby. You’re pretty perfect, you know. It’s kind of annoying.”
His laughter rumbled beneath my ear and shook his body. “Is that right?”
“Yes, and tonight, you’re going to charm my parents and make me like you more.”
“And that’s a problem?”
