“Do you want me to wait?” he asked.
“Yes, please.” My nerves were in tatters since yesterday evening after Zayne told me what happened. I didn’t hate him. I couldn’t. I accepted love made us do unexpected things. If Incognito was anything to go by—very unexpected. Even as I pressed the buzzer, I wasn’t sure how Trent would react to my appearance. I didn’t tell him I was coming and hoped that the surprise factor I was aiming for, would work in my favor. Several seconds later, the door opened.
“I’m coming, Neha, I just—” Trent’s words trailed off when his gaze met mine. If he was surprised, he didn’t show it.
“Hi,” I hesitated. Neha?Was he entertaining his ex? “Um, did I come at a bad time? I can come back if you want,” the words spewed from my mouth. God, I felt like an idiot. I should’ve called first. “I’ll just go.” I turned to leave.
He stopped me. “Ash.” I faced him once more. “Hi.” He smiled before I noticed the white powdered patches on his cheeks and brow.
“Hi. Um, you have something—”
“Something?” He frowned.
“On your...” I reached up and wiped the white spots then glanced at my fingers, recognizing the texture. “Is that flour?” Then I noticed his black t-shirt was covered with the same powder. “Did I come at the—”
“Daddy! It’s burning,” a child’s voice yelled behind him.
I blinked. “Daddy?”
“Come on in, give me a sec,” he called over his shoulder as he raced off down a hallway leaving me at the entrance, flabbergasted.
“Trent is a father?” I mumbled.Oh shit.Why hadn’t he mentioned it? Perhaps the child lived with his wife and she was visiting. “I should leave.” I turned to go.
“Mommy?”
I froze. Pulling in a deep breath, I slowly rotated and came face to face with a handsome little boy. Sparkling cerulean eyes, immediately reminding me of Trent’s baby blues, dragged a slow gaze over me before coming to rest on my face.
“Hi,” I greeted but he just stared. I dropped to my haunches. “Hi,” I tried again. To my surprise, he neared me and even more bizarre, palmed my cheek. Still, he didn’t smile. Something in the way he looked at me kept me smiling and not moving.
“You came back, mommy,” he whispered.
I had no idea why my skin suddenly pebbled with goosebumps. “Um—”
“Nicky?” Trent’s soft call had the little boy swiveling on his heel and hurrying up the stairs that led off from the foyer. “I’m sorry about that.” I was still looking at the top of the stair when Trent neared me.
“Your son?” I finally found my voice.
He nodded before offering me one of his charming smiles. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” He looked genuinely apologetic. “After the charity ball, I wanted to invite you home to meet them then the whole Za—”
“Them?” At his frown, I repeated, “you said them. How many kids do you have?”
“Tw—”
“Daddy?” I glanced behind him to see a little girl peeking at me from behind a pillar. She hid when she saw me looking.
Trent held out his hand gesturing to the hallway. “Would you like to come in or are you afraid of kids?” The corner of his lips twitched.
“Sure.”
I moved away from the door, waited while he closed it then followed him. I checked behind the pillar as we walked by. The little girl was gone. I glanced around, impressed by the soft décor and the sheer size of the place. When we entered the kitchen, I stopped short, my nose assailed by the sweet aroma of pancakes at the same time I took in the mess. Amid the flour and chocolate-covered counters sat the little girl. Deep blue eyes framed by thick, dark lashes and pitch-black hair stared at me.
I smiled and she returned the gesture before her father called to her. “Come here, Pixie.” She stood, straightened her pretty pink dress, and neared him. He crouched next to her. “This is Ashrika, say hello.”
“Hello,” she greeted shyly then to her father, “she has such a pretty name, daddy just like her.”
I blushed and Trent grinned when he noticed. “Ash, meet my daughter, Neha.”
“Hello, Ne—” I paused, and his brow shot up. “Neha.” So, if this was his daughter, I was curious about the wife.
