Page 162 of Merciless Desires

Her soft whimper punctuates the silence. “I don’t know.”

I’d leave the negotiations to my brothers, Riordan and Kieran, if we were to go back and make our relationship public. “Ana, consider this. Your father is unhinged over your disappearance. You need to give him the peace that you’re safe.”

“I know.” She sniffs and looks at me with red-rimmed eyes.

I go to kiss her, but a little shadow catches my eye.

“What’s this?” Sophie asks from the doorway in her pajamas, hair all messed up, and holding her stuffed pink flamingo.

“Good morning, sleepyhead. Come here.” I’m aware of how much skin I’ve exposed and wanted to change into something else when she woke up. But I won’t act ashamed. It’s no different if I had a bathing suit on. “I have a surprise for you.”

Her eyes light up. “What?”

“Ana and her baby are going to stay with us for a while.” I wait for her to smile, but she…doesn’t.

“Oh.”

Ana begins biting her nails.

“Oh?” I tug on the flamingo. “You’re not excited about having a little baby in the house?”

She shrugs. “Are you going to play with the baby and not me?”

“Oh, Sophie.” I pull her into my arms. “Sweetheart, don’t worry about that. We’re gonna—”

“Sophie…” Ana’s hand stills on her belly. “The baby’s kicking. Want to feel it?”

Sophie’s eyes go large. “Does it hurt?”

“No. It kind of tickles.” Ana reaches for my daughter’s hand and gently places it on her stomach.

“Oh,” Sophie gasps as the baby shifts under her hand. “That’s the baby?”

“Yes. Amazing, isn’t it?” Ana and Sophie lock eyes. “Your dad is still going to be your dad. And no one is going to play with the baby and not you. I’ll be home all day, waiting for you to get back from school. I’m hoping you’ll help me feed him, give him a bath, and show him how to play with toys.”

“I can do that.” She sounds more confident.

Ana’s and my gaze meet over Sophie’s head, and I acknowledge with a nod of thanks that she made sure Sophie isn’t left out. It’s exactly what my daughter needed.

“In fact, you know all those things we bought the other night?” Ana asks, stroking Sophie’s forehead.

“Uh, huh?”

“Once your dad has the crib and changing table put together, will you help me put the clothes and diapers inside?”

“I can decide where everything goes?”

“Of course.”

Her face turns curious again. “But why are you living here? Olivia didn’t.”

We’re all silent. I admit, I don’t have an answer for that. I can’t tell Sophie how I feel about Ana before I explain her mother and I are getting a divorce. I don’t want her to think of me being unfaithful. Even if she doesn’t understand infidelity, she’s smart enough to understand mommies and daddies don’t kiss other people.

I hope she doesn’t put the events of my divorce with Ana living here together. It will make the conversation about Ana and I giving this a shot to be a family, and that the baby will be her brother, more emotionally triggering.

“Your dad is helping me because I don’t have anywhere else to go,” Ana says. Simple. Truth.

“Why?” Sophie’s face scrunches.

---