Colour flames her face. ‘We agreed no names or numbers.’
‘That was before I put a baby in your stomach.’
‘A baby which I didn’t know you’d be interested in.’ She takes a tentative sip of tea.
I pour myself a double whiskey. It’s barely two o’clock, but I need it. ‘Of course I’m interested. That baby is as much mine as it is yours,’ I bite out.
Her eyes flash. She crosses her arms—which only pushes her beautifully full breasts higher—and my sanity frays another inch. ‘This baby is a Beckett.’
‘It’s a Hartmann,’ I growl.
‘Better not let my brothers hear you say that,’ she fires back. ‘They’re already gunning for you after your Barcelona stunt. What do you think will happen if they find out you knocked up their little sister? There will be a full-on war.’
‘One Iwillwin, or die fighting, because whether you like it or not, Zara, I’m going to be involved inourbaby’s life. Unlike you—’ I take a deep drink, revelling in the burn ‘—I don’t walk away.’
She winces. ‘You know, this is a lot to take in.’
‘Damn right it is.’ I swirl the whiskey in my glass, unable to stop staring at the perfect swell of her stomach. She looks fucking phenomenal. ‘Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?’ My voice softens.
She swallows and shakes her head. ‘Not officially,’ she says quietly. ‘But I have a feeling it’s a boy.’
My heart swells in my chest. An image of my own father fills my head. What would he make of this mad twist of fate?
‘My big scan is in two weeks. I’ll find out then.’
‘We’llfind out then.’ My tone leaves no room for debate.
‘You’re not going to stay out of this, are you?’ Wariness swarms in her eyes.
‘How can I? If I had your baby in my stomach, would you stay out of it?’
She blows out a long breath. ‘How do you think this is going to play out? We can’t exactly share custody when you live in the States. It’s just not practical.’
I take another deep drink. ‘Who said anything about sharing custody?’
Her pupils darken, alarm inching into her features. ‘There’s no way you’re taking my baby away from me.’
‘I have no intention of takingourbaby anywhere.’ I eye her steadily over the rim of my glass. ‘I’m not going anywhere, Zara. Not now. I’ll base myself here, work remotely as much as I can. I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone.’
‘I made my peace with being a single parent. This baby will want for nothing, trust me. You do not need to be involved.’
A growl rumbles at the back of my throat. ‘Iwantto beinvolved. Besides, what kind of man would I be if I didn’t take care of my family?’
‘We’re not your family.’ She glares at me as she takes another sip of tea. I watch her throat work, remembering how it bobbed as she took my cock deep into the back of her throat. Not helpful.
‘You are. And you’re stuck with me, whether you like it or not—both of you.’ My eyes fall to her stomach again. ‘I’ve spent the last five months thinking about you, regretting the day I let you walk out of my life. One thing’s for sure, now that I’ve found you again, there’s no way in hell you’re walking away this time.’
Her lips pop open. ‘But we don’t even know each other in real life.’
‘Then let’s get to know each other.’ I shrug. ‘Don’t pretend you don’t feel the insane chemistry that’s still vibrating between us. Don’t pretend you don’t want me. Not when every cell of your body is begging you to give into this—to me.’
‘Cole,’ she warns breathily, placing the cup back on my desk.
Something primal snaps inside me. My name sounds so good on her lips. What I wouldn’t do to hear her scream it as she shatters on my cock. The air crackles with sexual energy. I want her so badly it fucking hurts. Her beautiful breasts are swollen and ripe. Every inch of her skin is glowing and begging to be devoured. She feels it. I know she does. The outline of her nipples pushes against the fabric clinging to her curves.
She’s just told me I’m about to be a father.
I must be in shock, because all I can think about is fucking her.
