I have to rein in these overwhelming emotions.
I press the card against the reader and when it beeps and clicks open, Gemma walks under my arm inside the hotel room.
I follow.
The door closes behind us, and I slide my hands into my pockets, giving her space.
“I’ll be okay.I’m sorry—"
“Whiskey or a bottle of red?”I walk to the phone and lift a brow.“Red it is.I’ll order food, too.”
She’s in no state to make decisions; I can see that as she sits on the sofa.
“What about our meals at the restaurant?”She asks as I end the call and join her on the sofa.
“I think I can foot the bill.”I smirk.“Aftersomeonewalked out.”
“God, I’m sorry.”Gemma shakes her head.
I lay my arm along the sofa and brush a hand over her hair.“I’m teasing you.”
“I’m a mess, Drew.”She sighs.“I am out of my league here.I feel like a fraud.The only thing I’m good at is being Zoe’s mom.I was never cut out to be a businesswoman.I think I only chose marketing because it seemed interesting.”
Wow.
That was a big download.
That she trusts me to share her thoughts and fears is something I’m not taking lightly.
“Moms are important.”I lay my hand on her shoulder.“I lost mine after I graduated and would do anything to have her back.”
Her sad eyes lift to mine.“I’m so sorry.”
“Tell me about Zoe.”
Suddenly a light appears in her pretty eyes, and the corners of her lips curl up.“She’s three and goes from zero to a hundred the moment she wakes up.Lately she’s started telling little lies, which is entertaining and hard not to laugh at, but I have to call her on it.”
When I frown, she explains.
“They’re harmless lies, but this is parenting.It’s stupid.She said there were robots at the zoo.There weren’t, but she thought it was funny to lie and trick us.”
I nod, listening.
“Does she look like you?”
“Now she does.”Gemma grins, pride glowing from her...no, it’s not just pride, it’s also love.
And it takes my breath away.
She turns, and it’s like a part of her has come back to life, like her heart is wide open.It takes my breath away.I’ve never seen anything more beautiful, more feminine, and more worth protecting in my fucking life.
This is dangerous.
“Do you want kids?”she asks, kicking off her heels.
“I’m a workaholic.I’d be a terrible father.”
But you are making me think things I shouldn’t.
