Jayden’s eyes grew large. “Have I done something wrong?”
“No, no, of course not,” Iris smiled. “You’ve been a good boy and I’ve proud of you for giving your lunch money to help a friend. Remember that test we took the day before yesterday?”
He nodded.
“We got the results back.” Iris glanced over at Dane. “And well, the kids at school are right, honey. The tests showed that Mr. Stewart... Well... He’s your father, Jayden.”
Jayden looked at Dane standing there. “You’re my daddy?”
A lump formed in Dane’s throat and he forced himself to sit down and scoot over next to Jayden. “Yes, I’m your father.” Dane finally said the words aloud to the most important person in his world other than Iris.
Jayden leaned toward him and swept his tiny arms around Dane’s middle. Dane looked to Iris and saw tears swimming in her eyes, undoubtedly over Jayden’s unexpected show of affection. He hugged Jayden as tight as he could. He’d never thought he would be accepted with open arms by the child, and it meant the world to Dane.
“I’ve always wanted a daddy,” Jayden said. “I thought I wasn’t normal like other kids.”
Dane pulled back from Jayden slightly, but didn’t completely let go. “You are normal. You may not have been conceived like other boys and girls, but there’s nothing wrong with you. Don’t ever let anyone make you feel less than.” While it was true he was saying the words to his son, he hoped Jayden’s mother would hear them too.
“You’re squeezing me too hard,” Jayden managed to eke out before Dane released him. “What does it mean?”
“It means I’m going to be a part of your life. You’ll be seeing a lot of me.”
“Are you coming to live here with us?” Jayden asked. “Are we going to live with you because you’re rich?” He turned to his mother.
“It’s not quite like that, Jayden,” Iris responded.
“I don’t understand. Other mommies and daddies live together.”
“And you know some of them don’t,” Iris replied. “Like your friend Amy. Her parents share custody. She spends half her time with her mom and half her time with her dad.”
Jayden frowned. “But I don’t want to spend half my time with both of you. I thought you liked each other. You were kissing.”
Iris chuckled. “I know it’s confusing, honey. And yes, your dad—” she used the phrase for the first time and Dane’s heart turned over in his chest “—and I do like each other, but we’re still getting to know each other.”
“So you could get married?” Jayden asked.
Dane interrupted his barrage of questions. “Not so fast, sport. I know you’re excited and I am too, but your mom’s right. We have to spend time with one another. I have to find out your likes and dislikes.”
“That’s easy. I don’t like veggies and I like the color blue,” Jayden answered.
Dane couldn’t resist laughing at his son’s forthrightness. “That’s good to know, but your mom probably needs to get dinner ready and you probably have some homework.”
“Not for much longer,” Jayden said. “Once I get the transplant, I’ll be out of school.”
“That’s definitely a plus. Iris, will you walk me out?” Dane stood up. “I’ll be back soon, Jayden, and we can talk as much as you like.”
Iris stayed behind with Jayden for a moment and then met Dane at the door in the foyer. “That went better than expected.”
Dane nodded. “I thought it was going to be a lot harder, but he was so accepting.” He felt his heart seize up in his chest. “I’m, I’m...”
“It’s okay.” This time it was Iris’s turn to hug Dane.
Dane leaned and brushed his lips across hers. “I enjoyed last night and today, but it’s only going to get crazier once I officially announce Jayden is my son. Are you sure I can’t convince you to come stay with me for a while?”
Iris shook her head. “This is Jayden’s home. We won’t be run out. Eventually, they’ll get tired of the story and move on.”
“But they’ll be a nuisance.”
“I know. And we’ll deal with it.”
“Thank you for including me in that ‘we,’” Dane responded. With another kiss on her forehead, he opened the door and let his security guards and the crowd swallow him, taking him away from his son and the woman he was falling for.
Eleven
“So are you finally ready to talk strategy or is your head still in the clouds after blowing off me and Whitney?” Jason asked Dane later that evening when Dane summoned him to the Hollywood Hills mansion.
“Yeah, I am,” Dane responded evenly, ignoring Jason’s jibe.
“Good. Because while you were spending the day gallivanting in Venice Beach with your new ladylove, you were being crucified in the media,” Whitney scolded. They were all sitting around the kitchen table while Morgan ordered some takeout.
“What are they saying about me now?” Dane asked. He was completely bored by the media’s misrepresentation of the entire situation.
“They are calling you reckless,” Whitney informed him, “since you willfully donated your sperm without a thought to the consequences.”
“Untrue,” Dane stated. “As I recall, donations help infertile and same-sex couples, so I would beg to differ.”
“Some outlets are stating this was all an elaborate media ruse.”
“So what—I could vilify myself and put my sick child and his mother in front of a national audience? I don’t think so.”
Whitney held up her hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m merely letting you know what people are saying so we can be prepared should you choose to make a statement.”
“I plan on acknowledging Jayden Turner as my son,” Dane stated. This was not up for discussion or debate.
“You realize your image as America’s favorite heartthrob is toast?” Jason responded.
“I will not turn my back on my son in order to maintain people’s false expectations or some fantasy they have about me. My boy is sick and I don’t know how much time I could have with him. What if this bone marrow transplant doesn’t work? I could lose him when I’ve only just found him.” Dane jumped from his seat and walked out onto the terrace. The night was dark and there were no stars in the sky.
“We’re not going to think like that,” Morgan said, coming outside and handing Dane a beer. “He’s going to get better because you’ve got great genes.”
Dane smiled at his assistant. “Thanks, Morgan.” Over the last year, he’d found her to be loyal and reliable.
“Dinner will be here in a half hour. I’m going to head out, unless you need me?”
“No, I’m good, Morgan. Have a good evening.” Dane returned to the kitchen to find Jason and Whitney staring at him.
“What?”
“I have never seen you like this before,” Jason said. “You truly love that kid.”
“It’s true. I hardly know him, but he’s my son.”
“Then we release a statement of how overjoyed you are at your newfound fatherhood,” Whitney said. “And that you intend to be a fully involved parent, sharing duties with Jayden’s mother, whom you admire for taking care of your son during these formative years. You’re excited to be a 100 percent match with Jayden, and you’ll be taking time off to spend time with Jayden and prepare him and yourself for the transplant.”
“Time off?” Jason inquired. “We’re getting offers left and right for Dane. We can’t take our foot off the pedal.”
“You don’t honestly expect me to be off shooting a movie while my son is fighting for his life,” Dane said.
“But his mother is here. She’s been taking care of him this entire time without any help from you.”
“Jason, are you daft?” Whitney asked. “I know this is a shock to us all but there’s no way I can
spin it if Dane continues to be absent from his son’s life. It would do more harm than good. Now here’s the plan. We do an interview with your favorite anchor. And...” Her voice trailed off before resuming excitedly. “We could even film your journey of becoming a transplant donor to help more people register. What do you think?”
Dane nodded. “Now you’ve got your thinking cap on, Whitney. I love it. Let’s do it.”
Whitney beamed with pride. “Thank you. I’ll get right on this.” She rose to her feet. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”
After she’d gone, Dane and Jason sipped their beers. Dane sensed his manager had something on his mind. “What’s up?”
“Don’t you think you’re moving too fast? You hardly know this woman and now you’re so entrenched in her life—”
“My son’s life.”
“Iris’s too. Don’t act like there’s not something going on between you two. I know she spent the night with you last night.”
Dane glared at him. “And how the hell do you know that?”
“Because I went to your beach pad and security refused to let me in. Said you had company and were not to be disturbed.”
“I’ll have to talk to them about being more discreet with my business.”
“They didn’t tell me who it was. They didn’t have to. You have besotted fool all over your face. The pictures of the two of you today at the Hotel Erwin were all over social media. You don’t need to be a genius to figure it out.”
“Are you always this cynical, Jason?”
“I’m only looking out for your best interests.”
“Then I would suggest you tread lightly, Underwood,” Dane responded. Because there was no way Jason or anyone else would stand between him and his son. Or between him and Iris, for that matter. Speaking of, even though it had been only a few hours since he’d left them, it was time he checked in.
* * *
“How’s this going to work?”
“Are you going to share custody with him? You get the weekdays, he gets the weekends?”
“Or just visitation rights and summer break?”
Iris covered her ears. She was having Sunday brunch with her family and they were firing questions at her left and right. She didn’t have all the answers. She was still wrapping her brain around the fact that Dane Stewart was Jayden’s father. And she’d had the best sex of her life with the man.
Dane had made a point of calling Jayden every night since they found out the truth last week. And just two days ago, Dane had come to Jayden’s pretreatment. Jayden had lit up when he saw his father.
“Listen, guys,” Iris said, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Dane and I are taking it one day at time.”
“With the statement and the televised interview coming up, Dane seems to be taking steps to solidify his position,” her father countered. “You have to protect yourself, sugarplum.”
“Dane would never do anything to harm Jayden.”
“Or you?” her mother ventured. “I can see the stars in your eyes, Iris. Your father and I just want you to be careful.”
“I need some air.” Iris left them in the dining room. They were suffocating her with all their questions.
“Are you okay, sis?” Shelly asked from behind her.
“Yeah.”
“I know they came on a bit strong, but they love you. As do I.”
“I understand that, but is it so wrong for me to believe in someone again? To count on someone besides myself and my family to care for Jayden? You haven’t seen the two of them together. They complement each other. Dane has a way with Jayden I haven’t seen before and I want that for my son.”
“No matter the cost to you?”
“What do you mean?”
Shelly shrugged. “I’m glad Dane has broken through the barrier you’ve had around yourself for years. That he sees the beautiful, sexy woman that you are. But I’m also urging you to be careful. He’s an actor. A superstar, for heaven’s sake.”
“And I can’t compete?”
Shelly shook her head. “No, but a lot of women throw themselves at him. There’s always going to be temptation for a guy like him. Guard your heart.”
Tears slowly made their way down Iris’s cheeks. “It’s too late, Shelly. I’m already in love with him.”
“Oh, Iris.”
“Please don’t pity me, okay? His feelings may not be as strong as mine yet, but I believe he cares for me.”
“Then bring him here to Jayden’s birthday party. Let us meet him and see for ourselves the kind of man he is.”
“You know the kind of man he is. He was the man who agreed to a transplant before he knew Jayden was his. If nothing else, trust that.”
“I will.”
* * *
“Jayden’s birthday is coming up,” Iris told Dane in bed the next evening at her home. He’d come over after his interview with Robin Roberts from Good Morning America. He’d chosen Robin because she’d been in Jayden’s shoes with her transplant and understood why he wouldn’t want to leave Jayden’s side. She’d flown to Los Angeles for the interview. It had gone surprisingly well.
With the questions planned in advance, Dane had spoken candidly about his sperm donation, the reason for joining the bone marrow registry and finally his joy at discovering that not only was he a match for Jayden but Jayden was his son. Dane proudly claimed Jayden and welcomed him into the Stewart family.
The curveball came when Robin asked him about his relationship with Iris. He’d answered honestly, speaking of his respect and admiration for the mother of his child, but Robin hadn’t taken the pat answer. She’d asked him about the images of them kissing and their day out in Venice Beach. Dane didn’t want to attract more scrutiny to Iris, so he’d stated they were exploring a relationship.
Immediately after the interview, his cell phone had blown up with Tweets, IMs and Instagram pics of women’s devastation because he’d finally found love. Jason texted him angry-face emojis while Whitney stood enthusiastically behind the cameras giving him the thumbs-up signal. He was increasingly glad he’d hired her.
And now tonight, he and Iris were celebrating his media victory in the best way he knew possible. In her bed.
“Are you throwing a party?” Dane asked, gently caressing her cheek with his hand. “Do you think he’ll be up for it?”
Jayden had started the chemo treatments and become increasingly lethargic. Dr. Lee had suggested he not return to school due to increased risk of infection. Despite the chemo and losing his hair, somehow his son still managed to smile each day. Jayden was a fighter. He took after his mother.
“Yes. Jayden has been looking forward to it. I’d hate to cancel. Plus, I already have something in the works, just family and friends.”
Dane wanted to suggest inviting his family or at the very least his siblings, but he didn’t want to be pushy. Iris was allowing him to be a father to their little boy. He wanted her and Jayden to be comfortable with his presence before introducing the entire Stewart gang.
Or maybe not the entire gang. Lord knows his mother hadn’t been happy when she’d found out. Although they weren’t close, he had FaceTimed with her and his father to share the good news they were grandparents again. Nora Stewart had been horrified over how Jayden was conceived.
“You donated sperm?” she asked. “Why would you do such a thing, when you could have asked us for money?”
“Because I was determined to make it in LA on my own two feet.”
“Well, now you’re saddled with a baby mama,” his mother retorted.
He was annoyed by her response, to say the least. Why had he even bothered informing her? “I don’t feel that way, Nora. Iris is a wonderful woman and if you’re ever fortunate enough to meet her you’ll treat her with respect.”
“Of course we will,”
his father chimed in. “You know, this now makes Jayden our oldest grandchild.”
“I’m not old enough to be a grandmother and now I hear you made me one before my time,” Nora bemoaned. “Since he’s old enough to talk, let Jayden know he can call me Mimi, because I refuse to be called Grandma or Nana.”
“Duly noted,” Dane returned. “Anything else?”
“When can we meet him?” his father asked.
“Soon,” Dane responded. “Soon.”
“Earth to Dane.” Iris cut into his thoughts and he caught her wrists as she waved her hands in the air before his eyes. “Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
“Words? Hmm...” He leaned in and dragged his lips along her shoulder to her neck. Then he closed his mouth over the tender flesh there and sucked. He was pleased when he heard her whoosh of breath, and moved from her neck to her jaw until he returned to kiss her lips. Her eyes became heavy lidded, and she closed them. She trusted him with her body, and he didn’t waste time undressing her, quickly tugging her nightie over her head. For him, it was pretty easy: rip off the boxers and he was naked.
Iris’s eyes widened and traveled south to the mighty swell of his arousal. He wanted her panting underneath him, so he pushed himself back on his heels, pulled down her panties and discarded them. Then he was moving her legs apart to position himself between them.
“Dane...” Those were the last words he heard as he lowered his head and used his tongue, mouth and fingers to bring Iris to the peak. He licked, tasted and nudged, over and over again, alternating speed and pressure until he felt her quicken and she raced to the edge. Only then did he sheath himself with a condom and slide home. It took only a few final strokes for them to shatter into a million pieces, crying out each other’s name.
Twelve
“Iris, I want to thank you so much for inviting the Stewart clan to Jayden’s birthday party,” Fallon said when she, her husband and son, along with Ayden Stewart and his wife, arrived at the Turner family home the following Saturday. The party hadn’t yet started; they were an hour early. After making the introductions to her parents and sister, they were all sitting on the veranda.
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