Page 54 of Baby For The Billionaire Silver Fox

“Sure. But there are different degrees of being in control. Realizing you can’t orchestrate everything is really such a relief. You should try that sometime.”

“I did.”

“When? Since you’ve been in Cooperstown?”

“Yes. The night of the windstorm? I was with Dan at Queen Estates Winery, and we got stuck there when some trees fell over the road. We shared a room.”

“Oh, my God! And you’re just telling me thisnowbecause why?”

“I’m telling you now. It was epic.” I sighed and kept my eyes on the road.

Lexi squealed. “Really?! I love the idea of you two together.”

“We’re not together. It was a mistake. I let my guard down. He’s just so damn sexy, and I’m very attracted to him.”

“Why is that a mistake?”

“Because when he finds out I’m pregnant, he’s going to hate me for not telling him. And he’s going to run in the other direction as fast as those strong, sculpted, masculine legs can take him. And I totally get it. What man wants to be in a relationship of any sort with a woman who is pregnant with someone else’s child?”

“You don’t know that, Nicole,” Lexi said firmly. “When are you going to tell him?”

“I thought I should tell my parents before I tell anyone else. That’s why we’re driving to New York. At least, that’s why I am. You’re going to New York to be boss lady at your bakery.”

“So after that, you’ll tell him?”

“I’m thinking about it. I go back and forth between telling him and leaving town for my next gig without telling him.”

“You’re not usually a coward, Nik.”

“It usually doesn’t matter as much as this does, Lexi.”

I stared straight ahead at the road. “Besides, all I have space for in my brain right now is how to tell my parents.”

“Time for me to plug in the Taylor Swift emotional support playlist?”

“Yep.”

By the time we arrived in the city and I dropped Lexi off, I was ready for the day to be over. “I’ll see you back at your apartment later. Bring me your best scones for my pity party, extra sugar, please. I’m going to need them. Or I’ll just come back here to the bakery for sustenance. This probably won’t take me long.”

I drove up to my parent’s brownstone and circled a few blocks before I found a parking spot.

“Come on, Buddy, let’s go for a walk.” I snapped the leash on him, which was not easy because he was like a moving target, wiggling in excited anticipation. “Maybe I should call you Wiggles instead of Buddy,” I said.

We walked several blocks so we could work out the kinks from the long drive. “There’s a sweet boy. Back into the car you go. This won’t take long. I’ll be back soon, okay? Then we’ll go to Lexi’s and get a Pupachino.” Even though it was cold, I cracked the window open for air. I scratched his backend just where he liked it, then gave him a hug.

I made my way to my parent’s unremarkable, neglected brownstone. Now I’d see if they were both actually home like I’d asked them to be when I texted that I was coming. If so, my dad would be holed up in his home office to avoid my mom, and my mom would be lounging on the couch with her latest ailment.

Oh boy, here we go. I pushed back my shoulders, strode up the steps, and rang the doorbell. Good grief, I didn’t even feel comfortable letting myself into the house I grew up in. That spoke volumes, right? I fidgeted with my shirt while I waited.

“Harry, get the door!” I heard my mom yell. A second later, she shouted again, “No! You get it! My head hurts, and I can’t get up.”

Eventually, my dad opened the door, looking pissed off because my mom wouldn’t get it.

“Hi, Dad,” I said.

He just grunted and walked into the living room. I followed his slight frame, noting how gray his hair had gotten since I last saw him. He scratched his backside as if I wasn’t right behind him. Typical. I was practically invisible to him.

My mom was on the sofa, leaning against several cushions. She still had her housecoat on and no makeup. It looked like she hadn’t brushed her hair in days, and she had shadows under her eyes.

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