Page 14 of Secret Baby for Mr. Grump

And then my worry for that, combined with his reaction to that phone call, and…well, it all just got to me.

But the date wasn’t all bad.

The kiss had been pure magic. Even thinking about it made my toes tingle and my heart race again, but I put it out of my mind, trying to focus all my attention on my son, who needed me.

I glanced at Marcus surreptitiously. I couldn’t read the expression on his face, and he wasn’t saying anything. I wasn’t either.

What a night.

It was not what I’d imagined when I agreed to come here.

Maybe I was naïve, but I had hopes that Marcus and I would settle into the easy camaraderie we’d always had—talk a little and maybe even deepen our friendship. Then I would tell him about Caleb, and while he would be a little upset, he would eventually understand, and we could discuss co-parenting our little boy together.

But then the phone call Marcus received earlier gave me doubts.

I glanced at Marcus again out of the corner of my eye. He likely knew I was watching him, but he said nothing. His signature ‘resting irritated face’ was on, but it was nothing compared to the dark, mean expression he wore when he answered the phone earlier during dinner.

I hadn’t seen him with that expression before, except when he’d been locked up in jail. At that time, his anger was understandable, but the way he was on that phone call…

While Marcus had always been a stern sort who hardly smiled, I’d never heard him be so harsh and intense. And he’d made threats to someone. I didn’t know what the guy at the other end of the phone said, but surely it didn’t justify that.

But then again, maybe I didn’t know him as well as I thought. Athena warned me. Eight years could change a lot of people.

Especially someone who had already been through the kind of crap he went through.

And that was the major reason why I hesitated to tell him about Caleb.

I thought maybe he’d changed for the worse, had become ruthless and cruel. But then he’d taken me to the mountains and even remembered I liked Keke’s lobsters. Throughout the date, he was so attentive.

And attractive.

Which is why, the minute he’d taken me in his arms, I’d lost all sense.

The kiss would likely feature in my dreams later on, but for now, I brushed it out of my mind, pondering instead on the inner confusion I felt. Who was Marcus? The man I knew, or the one I feared?

You can figure it out later,I told myself as Marcus merged onto Athena’s street. Right now, you have a little boy to take care of.

The minute Marcus pulled into the parking lot, I rushed out of the car and hurriedly trudged through the snow toward the door. I barely got it open and rushed inside before my little boy was running to me, feet sliding on the semi-wet floor before he slammed into me, his hands tightening around my waist.

He wasn’t sobbing, but he was letting out little quiet cries, tears streaming from his eyes as he stared up at me. There was palpable fear in his expression that only eased slightly when I ran my hand over his head.

“I’m here, baby,” I said, smiling at him. “I’m here.”

He nodded and put his head down again, burying his face in my abdomen.

I glanced out the window to see that Marcus was heading up the driveway. I caught Athena’s eye, shaking my head. I didn’t want him to see Caleb. Not yet.

Athena nodded, immediately understanding. She hurried outside determinedly, not bothering to put on her coat. Through the window, I saw her catch Marcus on his way up and saw them talk. Marcus frowned like he didn’t agree with whatever she was saying, but my sister crossed her arms and had that stubborn look on her face. There was no way she was letting him in here.

Marcus’ face turned stormy for a brief second, and then he nodded, turning around and heading back to his car.

When I saw him get in and drive off, I felt a distant ache in my heart.

I was so conflicted.

My rapid departure without a goodbye was rude. I should have at least thanked him for the date or told him that nothing that happened after was his fault. I could have made up some excuse or something, but the truth was that the minute I heard Caleb wasn’t doing well, all thought of that left my head, and all I could think of was getting to my son.

But as Marcus drove off, I couldn’t help feeling like a bit of a jerk.

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