Page 11 of Secret Baby With Daddys Best Friend

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt at having kept my night with Jamie from her father. But I knew at the same time that Tom would never have forgiven me. And besides, it seemed like things were going pretty well for Jamie. When I met her, she’d been a young and talented PR girl. I wasn’t surprised that she’d made a name for herself. Even if I was surprised that she was coming to a convention on rare metals and technology.

I was more surprised about Jamie’s kid, though. I’d known, of course. Even if I’d been lucky enough to be out of town for Cassie’s christening back in Boston. She must be three or four years old by now. It felt odd to me. Jamie had been a virgin when I met her. I remembered that we hadn’t used any contraception. Guess that was a habit she’d kept up.

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and noted with some ire that my cheeks were red. Was it with anger, stress, or something else? Guilt, perhaps? I had plenty of guilt where Jamie Reed was concerned. If it wasn’t for our indiscretion all those years ago, I could have seen us becoming good colleagues. Good friends, even. But she hadn’t gotten in touch with me to talk about the job offer or anything. I’d assumed she was just embarrassed as I was, and just as eager to keep our one-night stand a secret.

As we rolled into Barnstable, I eyed the old houses and beautifully preserved colonial architecture with more than a little skepticism. I’d never bought a place in Cape Cod myself, or the Hamptons for that matter. It wasn’t my style. When I wasn’t working, I tended to hole up in a hotel somewhere or hit the beach for some alone time in some far-away tropical place.

This was the center of the nation’s old money. And I might be many things, but old money certainly wasn’t one of them. I’d joined the Navy with nothing but forty dollars in my bank account and a whole lot of nerve. No, I didn’t fit in here, as much as I appreciated the rugged wilderness of the landscape.

We pulled up at the front of the Hotel St. Martin. It was gorgeous, a double-fronted country house with an enormous graveled driveway. It was one of Cape Cod’s oldest and most exquisite hotels and would have no vacancies for the convention.

I got out of the car and made my way across to the enormous steps that led up to the front door. There was no sign of rain the temperature was warm, and the air sticky and humid. I went inside as the driver unloaded my bags, and went into the lobby.

“Good afternoon,” I said. “My name’s Eric Slade. I’m the keynote speaker.”

The receptionist looked up at me. “Mr. Slade?” she said. “Oh goodness, I’m so sorry. We weren’t expecting you until the reception later, which is at nine o’clock—”

“I’m aware,” I said. “Unfortunately, my accommodation out of town is no longer available. Would it be possible for me to book a room here? Until I can find something else? It would only be for a night.”

The receptionist’s eyes widened, and I watched, feeling a little awkward as her hands nervously typed on the keyboard. She clicked with her mouse and shook her head forlornly.

“I’m afraid there’s nothing at the moment, sir. I have a couple checking out of their room tomorrow morning, but aside from that we’re completely booked up for the convention.”

“Are you sure?” I questioned. “My original accommodations are unavailable. Surely you must have some rooms reserved for last-minute arrivals? Just somewhere I can unpack my things and take a shower?” It wasn’t like I needed much sleep. And besides, after my speech tomorrow night, I could leave whenever I pleased. Which I hoped would be long before Jamie and I saw one another.

The receptionist looked at me. I could tell she would have turned away pretty much anyone else.

“Let me see,” she said. “We did have a room on hold for one member of the convention. But she’s just arrived.”

“Could you point me in her direction?” I said. I felt sure once I explained the situation to the beleaguered executive who’d taken the last room, she’d be happy to find one somewhere else. Perhaps I could even offer her some money or something.

“Sure,” said the receptionist. “She’s in the main lobby, She arrived only a minute before you did.”

“Thanks,” I said and hurried away. I went to the front door and told the driver to unpack my bags. I felt sure it would take less than a minute.

I put on my most charming face and adjusted my hair in a mirror as I went back through the lobby, noticing with a little frustration that the hair at the sides of my head was going gray. “Pretty soon I’ll be losing it,” I thought to myself morosely, as I made my way through the crowded lobby to the ballroom where the convention registration was taking place.

I saw the woman at the desk. There was no one else there—it had to be her. She was tall, with brown hair, and an attractive figure even at this distance. I put on a smile and wandered up to her, tapping her confidently on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” I said.

The woman turned around, and my heart sank. I took in the green eyes and her cute button nose. She was a little older than when we last met, but the subtle curves of her face and her high cheekbones were unmistakable. She tossed her brown hair over her shoulders, hanging loose and free, and then she froze.

“Jamie,” I said, and my shoulders stiffened.

“You,” she gasped.

I realized that I might not be getting that hotel room after all.

Chapter Five

Jamie

Ilookedupintohis dark, brown eyes. There was no one else on planet Earth who had eyes like that. I’d traveled all over the place, working for countless clients, in the years since our forbidden tryst. But there was no one quite like Eric. He looked just the same as he had all that time ago, broad-shouldered and muscular. Maybe he had a few more gray hairs, but I didn’t care. I never had. His chiseled features and strong face set my heart aflutter, and I realized he was also in shock. After all, how long had it been?

I knew exactly how long it had been, of course. It had been four years and three months. After all, Cassie had been born in the Fall.

I stood face to face with the father of my child. And for a moment I felt like it was just yesterday that I’d seen him, and part of me wanted to smile and reach up and throw my arms around his shoulders. To say hello, to welcome him back into my life.

But then I thought about all those nights I’d left work and tramped to the ultrasound clinic by myself. I thought of how the only man who’d been there for Cassie’s birth was my dad. I thought about how Eric left me and the devastating feelings ran like ice in my veins. I took one look at Eric, and in his beautiful face, I could see the cause of all the bitterness I was feeling.

---