The Ten-Day Baby Takeover

by Karen Booth

  Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she otherwise seemed unfazed by his reaction. “First off, it’s Sarah and his name is Oliver. And I understand you’re shocked, but that’s not my fault. If you’d taken my phone call, you could’ve been prepared for this.”

  “I seriously doubt I would’ve felt prepared. It’s the middle of the workday. I’m a single man and an incredibly busy one at that. I am not prepared to care for a baby I didn’t know about five minutes ago.” Anger bubbled up inside him, but it was more than this inconceivable situation. He disliked his own dismissive tone. Considering the way his father had treated him, he didn’t want to reject the little boy. No child deserved that. Especially one who didn’t know who his father was.

  “I understand you’ll want a paternity test, but I think that the minute you see him awake, you’ll realize he’s yours. He looks just like you. Especially his eyes. Plus, he has the same birthmark you have on your upper thigh.” A flush of pink colored her cheeks. She cast her eyes at her lap, seeming embarrassed. Despite the nature of their conversation, Aiden found it extremely charming. Sarah seemed to be the sort of person who wore her heart on her sleeve, a quality that made her incredibly sexy, too. “I mean, Gail told me you have one. And that’s where Oliver gets it.”

  Sarah carefully hitched up the baby’s pant leg. The child must’ve been incredibly tired—he hardly stirred when she revealed the mark. Aiden’s breath caught in his throat. He rounded the desk, dropping down on one knee before them. He had to see it up close. He had to know this was real. The shape and size of the birthmark were indeed the same as his—an oval about the height of a dime, tilting to one side. The dark brown color was a match. Is this possible?

  He reached out to touch the mark, but stopped himself. “I’m sorry. I’m a little taken aback.”

  “It’s okay. He’s your son.” Sarah’s voice was sweet and even. Given the impression he had of her from that first email, she was not at all the woman he’d envisioned.

  The boy’s skin was powdery soft and warm. Aiden gently tugged his pant leg back down, then studied his face. His eyelids were closed in complete relaxation, lined with dark lashes. His light brown hair had streaks of blond, admittedly much like Aiden’s, although Oliver had baby-fine curls and Aiden’s hair was straight and thick. Still, he knew from his own baby pictures that his hair had once been like Oliver’s. Was this possible? Was this really happening? And what was he supposed to do about it? He had no idea how to care for a baby. This would change his entire life. Just when he was getting settled back in New York and trying to find a place for himself in his own family.

  Oliver shifted in Sarah’s arms, and for an instant, he opened his eyes and looked right at Aiden. The familiar flash of blue was a shot straight to Aiden’s heart. It was like staring into a mirror. Oh my God. He’s mine.

  Two

  Things weren’t going terribly. Awkward, yes. Terrible, no.

  It was really only awkward on Sarah’s side of things. Aiden was still on bended knee watching Oliver sleep, and it was impossible not to stare at him. She tried to look elsewhere, to feign interest in the framed black-and-white photographs of exotic locales on his walls, or the view out his office window overlooking the Manhattan skyline, but she could only sustain it for a few moments. His blue eyes would draw her back in, so vivid and piercing she was sure he could hypnotize her if their gazes connected for more than a few heartbeats. They were topped by dark brows that suited his hard-nosed demeanor, accentuated by just a few tiny crinkles at the corners. The scruff on his face was a warm cinnamon brown, neatly tended, but gave him an edge that made her wonder what he was like when he wasn’t so guarded. And there was something about the way he carried himself—more than self-assured, he came across as superhuman. Bulletproof. Sarah was certain Aiden Langford did precisely what he wanted to do, when and how he wanted to do it. He was not the sort of man who cared to be told what to do.

  Too bad she had to do exactly that. The thought made her pulse race like an overcaffeinated jackrabbit. There was no telling how he would react, but judging by the look on his face, there was a chance it might go okay. However much of a handsome jerk he’d been when she walked in the door, his demeanor had softened in the last few minutes, ever since he’d taken a good look at Oliver. Surely he realized now, that even in the absence of hard evidence like the results of a paternity test, the baby was his.

  “So,” Sarah started, recalling the speech she’d practiced many times, words she dreaded saying because they would signal the end of her time with Oliver. “I was thinking that I’ll leave Oliver with you now and I’ll check into a hotel while we get this straightened out. A paternity test is a quick thing. We’ll get your name on Oliver’s birth certificate. I’ll sign over the power of attorney and guardianship. All we need is a lawyer and a few days and then I can be out of your hair.”

  A crease formed in the center of Aiden’s forehead as he stared at her. “Out of my hair?” It was just as tough to look into his eyes as she’d guessed it would be—they really were the spitting image of Oliver’s. She’d fallen in love with that shade of blue over the last three weeks. “I already told you that you are not handing me a baby and walking away.” He stood and straightened his charcoal suit jacket, which showed off his wide shoulders and broad frame. The way he loomed over her only accentuated his stature. There must’ve been something in the water in the Langford household—the two she’d met were ridiculously tall. “It seems to me that the more sensible course is for you to keep Oliver until this gets straightened out. You said it yourself—you used to be a nanny. You’re used to caring for a child. I have zero experience in this area.”

  Of course, most single men, especially those who notoriously played the field, weren’t in a position to drop everything and care for a baby. But Aiden Langford wasn’t most men. Didn’t he have a pile of money to throw at the problem? “I used to be a nanny. Past tense. That’s no longer my vocation.” She stopped short of admitting that she didn’t have the stomach for it anymore. “You’ll need to hire someone. I wrote down the number for the top nanny agency in the city for you. One phone call and they’ll send someone over to help you.”

  “So I’m not only supposed to work with a complete stranger to take care of a baby, but the baby is supposed to accept that, too?”

  He’d gone for the jugular with that one, although he seemed to be doing nothing more than making his case. The thought of anyone aside from his own father caring for Oliver made Sarah’s chest, especially everything in the vicinity of her heart, seize up. “I’m a businesswoman, Mr. Langford. I need to return to Boston and my work.”

  “Business? What sort of business?” Although he was following the logical course of their conversation, Sarah couldn’t help but bristle at his dismissive tone.

  “I run a women’s apparel company. It’s really taking off. We can’t even keep up with demand.”

  “Good problem to have. Until your vendors get tired of waiting and move on to something else.”

  Wasn’t that the truth. Half of her day was spent reassuring boutique owners that their orders would be there soon. “That’s exactly why I need to be back in Boston. And don’t forget that I have been caring for your child full-time for nearly a month. It’s time I go back to my life and let Oliver start his new one. With you.” That last part had been particularly difficult to say, but the fact that her voice hadn’t cracked only bolstered her confidence. She hadn’t even shed a tear. It was a miracle.

  Aiden sat on the edge of his desk and crossed his arms. His suit jacket sleeves drew taut across his muscles. How was she supposed to hold her own in an argument when he was distracting her with his physique? “So, I’ll pay you for your time.”

  Ah, so he did know how to throw money at a problem. He was just lobbing it in the wrong direction. A breathy punch of a laugh left her lips. “I’m not for hire.”
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br />   “I’ll pay you double whatever your going rate used to be.”

  She huffed.

  “Fine. Triple.”

  “You’re a terrible negotiator.”

  He shrugged. “I do what’s necessary to get what I want.”

  “That would make me the most expensive nanny in the history of child care. I was paid very well for my services. I was very good at my job.”

  “You’re only making my argument for me. Money is no object, Ms. Daltrey. If Oliver really is my son, he deserves the best. Sounds to me like that’s you.”

  She shook her head. “No way. Absolutely not.” This was not the way this was supposed to go. She needed to put an end to Aiden Langford and his money-throwing, muscle-bulging ways.

  Oliver fussed and rubbed his eyes, moving his head fitfully as he woke.

  Sarah had spoken too loudly. Nap time was apparently now over. She stood and attempted to hand the baby to Aiden. “Here. Take your son. At least for a minute.”

  Oliver refused, clinging to Sarah.

  “See? He clearly wants to be with you. I’m a stranger to him. Would you really leave a baby with a stranger?”

  She pursed her lips, calculating her best response. Of course she wouldn’t do that. But after the extensive research she’d done on Aiden, he didn’t really seem like a stranger. That, however, was not information she cared to share. Which meant she was back at nothing.

  “Even worse,” he continued. “A stranger who doesn’t know how to change a diaper, or what to feed him, or what to do if he starts to cry.”

  “No idea? I know you have two younger siblings. You never babysat?”

  Aiden threaded his fingers through his hair, tousling it in the process. “No.”

  Well, shoot. She couldn’t hand over Oliver to a man he didn’t know, especially not one who might not be able to care for him, even if that had been her plan. Her horribly simple plan. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to take Oliver to a hotel, either. He needs to get used to being with you. And you’re apparently going to need to learn how to take care of him.”

  “Excuse me if I haven’t thought it out quite that far yet. This is still a new concept for me.” He blew out a breath, seeming deep in thought. “I guess the thing that makes the most sense is for you both to stay with me. Until we get things straightened out. And I can hire a nanny. I guess I have to buy a crib, too? I mean, really, this is a lot to pile on a person in one day.”

  He wasn’t wrong. Maybe it would be in Oliver’s best interest if she stayed for a couple of days, even if it would make it exponentially more difficult to say goodbye to him. As for the to-do list to get Aiden up and running with the baby, it was a long one if she was going to be thorough. They would need time. With the bad hand Oliver had been dealt in life, she owed it to him to spend a few days in New York so he could be off to the best possible start with Aiden. That was exactly what she’d promised Gail. “Okay. We’ll stay at your place.”

  “You’ll have to tell me what you want to be paid. I have no earthly idea how much money a nanny makes. Or even what a nanny does, other than everything a parent would do if they were around.”

  She’d first said no to Aiden’s money on principle, but if she was going to help him with Oliver, she could get something from him that was far more valuable than a paycheck. She knew from her online snooping that he was a whiz when it came to growing companies. It was in his blood—the Langfords were one of the most successful entrepreneurial families in US history. Maybe he could help her solve the countless problems she was facing with trying to take her business to the next level.

  “I don’t want your money. I want your expertise.”

  “I’m listening.” He cocked an eyebrow at her, threatening to make her throat close up.

  “Business expertise. I want you to help me with my company. Help me find investors. Help me figure out my manufacturing issues and widen my distribution.”

  He nodded, clearly calculating. “That’s a tall order. Between that and me going through baby school, this is going to take more than a few days. We’ll need at least a week. At least.”

  How long could she do this? Every minute with Oliver only made her love him more. She clutched him, kissed his head, taking in his sweet baby smell. We don’t have to say goodbye today, buddy. I guess that much is good. “Today is Friday. I’ll give you ten days. I teach you how to care for Oliver. You help me with my company.”

  “I think I’d be a fool to say no. You have me in a corner here.”

  “I mean it, though. Ten days and I’m out of here.”

  “Like I said. In a corner.”

  “Okay, then. I want to have a say in the nanny you hire, too. And I want to help outfit the nursery.”

  Aiden then did the last thing she ever expected. He smiled. Not a lot, just enough to create the tiniest crack in his facade. Sarah felt as if she’d had the wind knocked out of her. His face lit up, especially his eyes. “Anything else?”

  “That’s all for now.”

  “Just so you know, fashion is outside my realm of expertise. Women’s clothing isn’t really my world.”

  Ah, but he hadn’t let her finish. Given Aiden Langford’s reputation for being a ladies’ man, she had no doubt that he was well-versed in her specialty. “Actually, it’s women’s sleepwear and lingerie. Something tells me you know at least a little something about that.”

  Three

  Oliver in her arms, Sarah climbed out of Aiden’s black SUV, squinting behind sunglasses at the apartment building before them. About a dozen stories high, it had an antique brick facade blanketed in tidy sections of ivy and dotted with tall leaded glass windows. This was not what she’d envisioned for Aiden Langford’s abode. She’d assumed a high-rise overlooking Central Park. Wasn’t that his birthright? Ritzy address and an equally swanky apartment? Instead, he resided on Fifth Avenue at Twenty-sixth Street, in the Flatiron District with a view of Madison Square Park. She had a sneaking suspicion that Aiden was full of surprises. And that this was the first of many.

  “Is that one yours?” She pointed at the highest floor. “The one on top with the biggest terrace?”

  Aiden wheeled Sarah’s suitcase from the car, lugging the teddy bear that was easily twice Oliver’s size, while Aiden’s driver John unloaded the remaining bags of toys and baby clothes. “The top four floors are my apartment.”

  Sarah gulped, surveying the manicured spaces—a formal balcony with stone columns and wrought iron on the lowest level all the way up to one that looked like a park in its own right, each spanning the building. He’d still gone for swanky, merely in a different corner of the city. “That’s a lot of room for a single guy.”

  “My third floor is empty. And the fourth floor is all outdoors. I need my space.”

  “I’m surprised you don’t live up by Anna and her husband. She was telling me she lives only a few minutes from your mom.”

  Aiden cast his sights down at her, his sunglasses revealing nothing but her own reflection. The crinkles in his forehead and the way his brows drew together were enough indication that he didn’t like the question. The driver slammed the car tailgate. Sarah jumped.

  “Like I said, I need my space.” Aiden’s voice was stern, like a father telling his wayward teenage daughter that she’d better be home before eleven.

  Okay, then. Dropping the subject.

  Together, they entered the beautifully appointed lobby. Black-and-white-checkerboard marble floors and a chandelier dripping with crystals hinted at both wealth and good taste. Sarah pushed Oliver in the stroller while she tried to remember to take deep breaths. Everything about this made her heart beat an uneven rhythm—entering into an agreement with a man she hardly knew, staying in his home, handing over the little boy she’d already grown to love more than she’d thought
possible. She did everything she could to ignore the feeling in the pit of her stomach, the one saying that each passing minute was another step away from what she was supposed to be doing—leaving nannying behind, once and for all.

  Stop being negative. This is good for Oliver. She had to believe that. Really, it was the best scenario for him—a transition period where his new dad could become acquainted with parenting. They’d find a nanny, set up the nursery. In ten days, this sweet little boy would be given the best possible start at a new life. And she’d get back to hers in Boston, a simple and solitary existence with its own rewards, the most notable of which was the chance to pursue a career that didn’t leave her so open to heartbreak.

  They stepped onto the elevator and Sarah closed her eyes to ward off her claustrophobia. Plus, every time she looked at Aiden, he got to her with his all-knowing gaze. No wonder the man had such a reputation with the ladies. Most women were probably too mesmerized by his penetrating stare to entertain a single lucid thought beyond, Of course, Aiden. Whatever you want, Aiden.

  The elevator dinged, and John, loaded down with the bulk of the baby supplies, held the door for Sarah as she wheeled Oliver off the elevator. They entered a stunning foyer with glossy wood floors, an exotic carved console table and several colorful abstract paintings. Aiden followed with his laptop bag, Sarah’s suitcase and the teddy bear, which was a nice counterpoint to his tailored gray suit and midnight-blue tie.

  “Where would you like these, Mr. Langford?” John asked.

  “Just leave them here. I’m not entirely sure where everything is going yet.”