I take a sip and then place it back down.
“I don’t want anything other than for you to know.”
A bitter laugh of disbelief spills from his lips as he tugs on the back of his neck.
“And you expect me to believe that? I don’t even remember your name, and you’re sitting there wanting me to buy this bullshit?”
His words hit like a slap to the face.
Was I expecting him to remember me or our time together? Honestly, no. But deep down, I did cling to a little hope that I might have been even a little bit memorable. Clearly not.
Just another notch on his bedpost…or nightclub wall…
“Rett,” Hailee snaps as she glares daggers at him.
“No, it’s okay. He’s right,” I say, finding some strength from deep inside me. “Why should he know my name? I’m just one of a very long list of conquests. Unfortunately, I’m also the one who walked away with more than she bargained for.
“I understand your concerns, but I can assure you, Mr. Donnelly. I do not want your money, your fame, or anything elseyou think I’m trying to steal.” My fists curl at my sides as I step closer to him, channeling my inner Walsh.
I may not have followed in my family's footsteps, but I have learned plenty from them that will help in a situation like this.
“All I want to do is tell you what happened that night. It’s taken me weeks to come to terms with it. I was on birth control, and I watched you put a condom on. It shouldn’t have happened. But it has, and I’ve got my first ultrasound next week and?—”
“And you expect me to just believe it’s mine? For all I know, you fucked a handful of guys that night.”
I react before my brain catches up with what he just said. My hand darts out, swinging toward his irritatingly good-looking face.
But being the incredibly talented defenseman that he is, he catches my wrist before I can make contact.
“Careful, sweetheart.”
My eyes shutter, hearing him call me that. It brings back far too many feelings from that night. And having his giant hand on me doesn’t help either.
“You’re the only man I’ve been with in…in a long time.”
He narrows his eyes before he barks a laugh.
“You haven’t been with anyone in…a long time,” he mocks. “But you let me fuck you against a wall in a club.”
“A moment of madness, obviously,” I seethe.
“Rett,” Hailee warns.
He drops my arm, but his hard stare doesn’t waver.
But it’s fine. I realize as I stare up into his cold, hard eyes that I really needed this reality check. It’s put all my fantasies and thoughts and what ifs into perspective.
Reaching behind me, I pull a piece of paper from my pocket. A piece of paper I’ve been carrying around since I first got my ultrasound date in the hope that one day, I’d be able to give it to the person I’d really like to attend with me.
“Here,” I say, slapping it to his bare chest. “This is the time and place of our anomaly scan. I wanted to give you the opportunity to be there, to be a father to our child. I will be doing this, with or without you. This is the one and only time I’m going to stand before you and give you the chance to be a part of our baby’s life.”
I swear, I see a little crack in his resolve at that.
From my research, I know he had a stable upbringing with two loving parents who still support him. Maybe they’ve taught him what family really means. Maybe he’ll understand just how important this is.
“I’m going to want a DNA test.”
I raceout of that office like the hounds of hell are snapping at my heels.
