Page 50 of Silver Fox's Secret Baby

"Good. I’ll make the arrangements. They have tar pits with dinosaurs in California. I wonder if Pax will enjoy that?”

The corners of my mouth turned up in a small, hesitant smile. The image of our little makeshift family enjoying Southern California flickered in my mind's eye, a tantalizing promise of happiness and togetherness. But beneath it all, the dark undercurrent of unresolved secrets threatened.

“I’m sure he will.”

“I’ll send you the itinerary.” Henry studied me for a moment longer before leaving. As the door closed behind him, I sank into my chair, my head in my hands. What had I gotten myself into?

18

Henry

Isat at my desk in my downtown office trying to focus on business in the Los Angeles office. I think all the fires were out, but there was some possible smoke. Unfortunately, I couldn’t focus. My mind kept drifting back to seeing Samantha when she’d arrived home from her date. I’d been dismissive, even cold toward her, and the guilt gnawed at my insides. Yes, I hated the idea of her being with another man, but our situation was my own damn fault. I’d been the one to push her away five years ago. The decision haunted me even as I knew it was the right thing to do. It was the right thing today too, and yet...

My computer pinged with a notification. I glanced at the screen with disinterest until I realized it was an email from Samantha.

I’d like to visit the Banion Times in Los Angeles to begin work on their online and social media updates. I’ve attached my report on what I’d like to cover and the best times for me and the L.A. team to meet.

The words in her email taunted me with a decision I knew I shouldn't make. I was supposed to be doing all I could to avoid her and stop this incessant need for her.

Another part of me reminded myself that I was having issues in Los Angeles. Wasn’t I just thinking I should travel out there instead of trying to deal with them here? If I wasn’t, I would have eventually thought that.

Maybe this was the opportunity I needed to figure things out with Samantha, to explore the complicated feelings that had resurfaced between us.

Yeah, right. I scoffed at myself, knowing there was no resolution to this situation, and yet, I opened up my calendar and made plans to travel to Los Angeles with Samantha.

I was second-guessing this decision all day up until I went to her office to inform her of the plans. She’d tried to back out of the trip. I should have let her. Instead, I remained steadfast that we’d both go.

Days later,we were on a private plane heading west.

“Can I fly the plane?” Pax asked as we’d boarded and introduced him to our pilots.

“Oh, God, no,” Samantha said.

I laughed. “I’m sorry, Pax, only certified pilots can fly.”

“Can I get certified?” His blue eyes shone up at me.

“Someday, sure.” I had an image of arranging flying lessons for him that I tried to quickly forget. Yes, I wanted to be in this young man’s life, but what were the odds that would happen?

Samantha sat at the table, pulling out her laptop as Marie and Pax sat in chairs and played a game.

I sat on the couch, taking it all in. “Any plans while in California?”

“I want to go to Disney,” Pax chimed in.

“A must on any list.”

“I’d like to go to the beach,” Samantha said, looking up briefly from her work.

"Can we build a sandcastle, Mommy?" Pax bounced in his seat.

"Of course, sweetheart.”

“How would you like to see more dinosaurs?” I asked Pax.

“Real ones?”

“Well, their bones and where they once lived.” I decided not to explain that most of the fossils there were animals that got stuck and died in the tar pits.

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