Page 127 of The Rules of Dating My One-Night Stand

It broke my heart that she felt the need to say that, as if she needed to earn her way into my life. But before I could respond, Vera chimed in.

“Well, I for one hope the baby is Robert Valentino’s.”

I gritted my teeth. “Why would you say that?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” She shrugged. “Cha-ching.”

“I do just fine on my own. I don’t need his money.”

“Well,Icould sure use it.” She chuckled.

I felt sick to my stomach. Not only because of her attitude, but because her comment reminded me of Owen’s need to compete with Robert. Since Robert showed up, Owen hadn’t been in a good place. He hadn’t come to see me since the appointment. And I didn’t like the way I’d left things. I also had to wonder if seeing Robert in person was just the thing to make Owen doubt everything. No doubt that had been Robert’s intention.

After the rain stopped, Vera and the kids headed out shopping again. Left alone, I turned things over in my mind until my phone rang around 6 PM.

It was Owen.

My heart leapt as I picked up. “Hey, I’m glad you called. I miss you.”

“Are you busy right now?” he asked.

“Not really.”

“Can you come down to Holden’s for a minute?”

“Holden’s? Why? What’s going on?”

“Just something I want to show you.”

“Okay. I’ll be right there.”

The door to Holden’s and Lala’s apartment was open a crack when I arrived. As I entered, I nearly melted at the sight before me.

“What’s going on here?” I asked.

Owen turned to look at me and flashed a gorgeous smile. In his arms was baby Hope. He rocked her gently, still wearing his work clothes, his sleeves rolled up. Holden and Lala didn’t seem to be home.

“Look at you.” I took a few steps forward. “Pretty sure if I wasn’t already pregnant, this sight alone might’ve done it.” I rubbed my thumb along Hope’s hairline. She looked so comfortable in his arms. I couldn’t blame her. “Are you babysitting, Dawson?”

“Well, I stopped in to say hello, and Holden and Lala happened to be talking about how they hadn’t been out to eat—just the two of them—in a while. So I offered to stay. Hope pooped before they left, so I should be good. They said they’d be back in an hour. They only went to the Indian place right around the corner—you know, just in case I needed them to come back.” He laughed.

“Is this your first time ever watching a baby?”

“It is, actually.” He shrugged. “But maybe I need to get used to it?”

Maybe.

I hated his choice of words. I’d planted that seed of insecurity.

“Can I hold her?” I asked.

“Of course.” Owen placed baby Hope in my arms. While I’d held babies before, I wasn’t entirely comfortable. Looking down at her sleepy eyes, reality began to set in.

“It’s hard to believe this is gonna be my life soon.”

“You’re gonna be such a good mother, Devyn.”

Rocking the baby, I looked up at him. “Because I had such a great example?”

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