The Baby Claim

by Catherine Mann

  Broderick had literally walked away. After luring her out here under the stars. Kissing her as sweetly as if he was savoring the world’s finest wine. Touching her as if she were delicate china to be adored. He’d then left her feeling more than a little crazy. Breathless and edgy, she could barely tell what side was up right now.

  Leaning her head back, she stared up at the shimmering streaks of the aurora borealis. Early spring wasn’t the optimum time to watch, but the lights were still magnificent. Romantic. She wasn’t sure what game he was playing, or if it was even a game. He was attracted to her. He had high stakes here, too. Could he be as confused as she felt?

  Asking seemed to be a dangerous proposition right now, though. Not until she was prepared for whatever his answer might be.

  A wail interrupted her thoughts, sending her limbs into motion. Little Fleur’s cry set off a maternal drive in her heart, and she barely registered the cold whip of Alaskan night air across her exposed skin as she leaped out of the tub and reached for the baby monitor. More discontented cries sounded from the machine.

  Fumbling for her robe, she pulled it on as she made her way across the patio, dripping water as she went. She left her fluffy boots behind, determined to be there for the baby who might be her only physical link to her deceased husband.

  Glenna yanked the door open, water pooling at her feet in the momentary pause. Entering the cabin, she heard another voice emerge as a rustle from the baby’s room. A male voice.

  Broderick.

  On her tiptoes, she listened, trying to distinguish the words.

  His tone, gentle and soft, made it hard to determine exactly what he was saying. Glenna touched a hand to her throat, held her breath.

  Silence.

  Little Fleur’s crying eased.

  Glenna scooped up a towel off one of the chairs at the rustic wood table. Patting herself dry, she strained to hear him, noting the warm shadows the yellow lamps cast in the cottage. A homey glow. There was no other way to describe this space.

  “Shh, shh. It’s okay, little one.” His normally deep rasp carried a softer cadence.

  Her head cocked to the side as she let him take care of the child. If Fleur was his baby, then this moment mattered for their bond. She didn’t want to intrude on that.

  Instead, she wandered around the cabin, reaching up to touch the moose antlers above the hearth. All the charm of old Alaska seemed distilled in this space. Glenna dropped her hand to the wood-burning stove. The metal was cool to her touch. An absence of fire. Refreshing, because her own conflicted desire felt like a roaring inferno.

  “Ahh. There we go.”

  Broderick’s voice sliced into her thoughts.

  She kept moving around the room, her bare toes trading cool stone tile for a warm fur throw rug that sprawled in front of the couch.

  Gazing about her, she took in the small details of the place. An old barn-style wooden sliding door separated the two rooms. As she drew closer, her breathing quieter now, she fully appreciated the softer side of Broderick.

  Hand braced outside the door, she listened in on his one-sided conversation. Apparently, he’d picked up the baby, and she heard him say, “Yes, ma’am, we’ll get you in a dry diaper and take a little walk around to look out the window...”

  Her chest went tight as she envisioned him holding Fleur, carrying her to the window to gaze at the stars.

  Glancing over her shoulder, Glenna noticed a family photograph hanging on the far wall, beneath massive elk antlers. The whole Steele clan... Crossing the room, she scrutinized it, aware of how different Broderick’s family looked now. Aware of how strange it must be to go through life without his mother, without his younger sister who’d tragically passed away...

  Fleur cooed, a gentle sound interrupting Glenna’s melancholy thoughts.

  A smile pushed at her lips and her heart beat a bit too fast. Glenna felt herself slip into dangerous territory, practically tap-dancing on thin ice.

  Broderick’s interaction with the child warmed her core.

  Dangerous territory indeed.

  * * *

  A few hours had passed since he’d settled Fleur back to sleep. His potential daughter. The thought still sent him reeling.

  He opened the door to the fridge, cool air dancing on his cheeks. Pulling at his soft navy T-shirt, he scanned the shelves for enticing treats for a late night work session. He had made progress with Glenna. He was playing a long game here. More than a one-night stand, and that required patience and persuasion.

  Bold had always been his signature move, even as far back as that weekend in college. Broderick didn’t back down from challenges. And he needed her in his bed.

  He would keep his cool, take his time and appeal to her more logical side. There was only one way to resolve this issue with the baby and with the business.

  He needed to persuade her to make this about more than sex. They needed a serious relationship.

  Then, problem solved with the business and the baby. They would be aligned on everything. He had no plans of marrying or falling in love, and she’d made it clear her dead husband was the love of her life. The notion of dating her, of taking it to the next level, should have surprised him, but it didn’t. It settled in place like a well-formed plan for a profitable merger.

  Reaching into the stainless steel refrigerator, he pulled out an assortment of cheeses—brie, feta and mascarpone. He stacked the wedges on the counter, then rummaged for the raspberries, blueberries, strawberries and smoked salmon.

  He looked over his shoulder to where Glenna sat in the overstuffed chair, computer screen washing her face in a blue light. Her damp hair was gathered back in a lazy topknot that called to his fingers to pull it free.

  After their hot tub dip, she’d pulled on silky sleep pants and a matching top. Sure, it covered her, but the outfit reminded him they were here for the night. The sea foam color brought out different hues in her blue eyes, like waters churned by a storm.

  He understood the feeling well. But soon enough, they would have relief from this frustration—long-term relief—if he simply presented his plan in the right manner.

  Arranging the bounty next to a sliced baguette on a cutting board, he felt resolved. Broderick would play his hand carefully. Walking away from her in the hot tub had been damn hard, but it had given him time to think. Time to come up with a better plan.

  After bringing over the platter, he snaked two wineglasses between his fingers and grabbed a bottle of chilled prosecco.

  He arranged the spread on the rustic dinner table, poured the sparkling wine and popped some strawberries into the stemmed glasses. Setting one to his right, he opened his laptop, ready to get down to business.

  Looking up from her perch on the armchair, Glenna glanced at the food. She picked up her computer and briefcase, then headed for the chair next to his. The light scent of her cologne and shampoo wafted by him as she took her seat, so intoxicating his mouth watered.

  After scooping smoked salmon onto a piece of bread, she studied him, her gaze so intense Broderick felt she could peer into his mind. There were a few moments of silence between them, interrupted only by the soft classical cello piece pouring through the nursery monitor, music for baby Fleur.

  Kota groaned, extracting himself from his spot underneath the table to nuzzle Glenna’s hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her ruffle the pup’s ears. Kota let out a large yawn, teeth flashing bright even in the muted light.

  Broderick took a sip of his wine, peering over his computer screen. “We should talk about what happened out there.”

  A flush brightened her cheeks. “Let’s not.”

  He squinted, taking in her forward-leaning posture. He wasn’t buying for a moment that this attraction between them had simply been extinguished. She circled the rim of her wineglass with an idle finger, staring back at hi
m.

  In a throaty voice, he pressed on. “I want it to happen again, and more, and from your response it’s clear I’m not alone in feeling the attraction.”

  He watched as she popped a raspberry into her mouth, the slight red stain of the juice accentuating her full lips with a sweetness he wanted to savor. Reminding him of the earlier kiss that still seared his brain and left him feeling more than a little uncomfortable.

  She wasn’t easily swayed. She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s biology. And abstinence—” She winced. “I didn’t mean to say that part about being abstinent. That’s personal. Private. None of your business. Please don’t speak right now.”

  The scarlet in her cheeks deepened.

  After spreading goat cheese on a piece of baguette, he eased back in his chair and gave her his best, wickedest smile, teasing her just a little. Although the fact she hadn’t been with anyone since her husband’s death reminded Broderick of how much she’d cared for the other man.

  He moved his neck from side to side to work out a sudden kink.

  The knowledge also reminded him that he was on the right track with his plan for something more serious with her. She preferred sex within a relationship.

  “Really, don’t say a word.” She buried her face in her hands, then fluffed her hair and returned to her wineglass. Glenna’s next swig seemed full of determination.

  Silently, he held up his hands.

  She threw a pillow from the neighboring chair at him. “You know I’m attracted to you, but you made it clear in the hot tub that nothing is going to happen,” she said boldly. “I don’t know what your angle is, but I’m not into game playing. You’ve only served to remind me why it’s unwise to act on those feelings, especially with all that’s going on.” She made a gesture that seemed to suggest she was talking about all the general chaos of their lives.

  For him, that chaos wasn’t insurmountable. If she wanted to opt for a no-holds-barred discussion, he could handle that. In fact, he welcomed the challenge of sparring with her.

  “I walked away earlier because I wasn’t sure you’re ready. Am I right?”

  Her eyes narrowed and she scratched under her topknot in a gesture he was beginning to realize was her nervous twitch. A poker “tell” that she was rattled.

  “Maybe. But you could have said all of this out there instead of just strutting away like the lord of the manor.”

  “I could have, but you tempt me, lady. In spite of my very best intentions, you tempt me.”

  “I guess that’s a compliment.” Her throat moved in a long swallow. “Things are difficult and complicated here. I’ll admit that. It would help if you weren’t so smart. So charming. So damn hot.”

  The way she spit out the words, they didn’t sound much like compliments. Still, he grinned.

  Broderick grabbed another handful of berries. “I’m glad you feel that way. Those should be good things, because you’re one helluva sexy lady. I’m pacing myself. You’re worth the wait.” He finished his white wine and popped a berry in his mouth.

  She pursed her lips, shaking her head. “That still doesn’t answer the question of how we’re going to work together and be in the same family.”

  He scooted his chair closer. “What if we work together, at the office, and take Fleur with us?”

  “What do you mean?” Her brow furrowed. Glenna downed her last bit of wine, then licked her lips. Driving him mad.

  He needed this to work.

  “You don’t want to get married again. You’ve said as much. I’m devoted to my job, but I want a steady relationship.”

  “Just not the commitment?”

  He nodded. “I don’t want my heart stomped by someone too upset by the hours I pull, and I sure as hell don’t want to go through what my father went through when Mom died. So let’s give this a try hanging out together. Seeing where the attraction takes us.”

  Broderick tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Let his other hand graze her knee ever so slightly.

  “You’re serious? You’re not just hitting on me for a one-time deal?” Glenna leaned into him, her voice soft.

  “I’m very serious. Look at this as the most important business decision of our lives. We’ll be together, connected. Then whoever turns out to be Fleur’s new parent, we can help the other.”

  Her blue eyes searched his. “You really mean this.”

  “Can you think of a good reason why not? Let’s decide now.”

  “Whoa. You’re asking us to make this kind of decision right now, this fast.” She held up her hands, shaking her head until that topknot slid to the side, threatening to fall altogether. “That’s crazy.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” He slid a berry between her lips. “Think on it.”

  Her throat moved in a long, slow swallow. Yes. He was making significant progress.

  He eased back. “Now let’s get to work on the last set of financial quarterlies.”

  * * *

  Kota had limitless energy, or so it seemed to Glenna. For the past hour, she’d played fetch until her arm grew weary. Kota dashed into the snow, a sleek black line of ambition. Then he’d bound back to Glenna, practically prancing with the ball wedged between his teeth.

  And maybe she’d been trying to work off the nervous energy from the chaos Broderick had brought to her life with his proposition.

  She pitched the tennis ball again. Harder.

  The midmorning sun hung heavy in a cloudless sky, and the cabin’s isolation provided her with time to think. Much needed time to think, as it turned out.

  Sure, she felt a visceral attraction to Broderick. But his proposition about starting a serious relationship and co-raising Fleur?

  That she still had to work out. Her feelings ran rampant, and over breakfast, she’d snapped at him. Not on purpose, but she’d known she’d been prickly.

  Too much had changed in a week. Nothing about her life felt normal or manageable. The only things that had become increasingly clear were her affection for Fleur—and her desire for Broderick. She knew she had to consider his offer.

  She called Kota back to her, and they made their way from the fenced-in backyard to the deck and hot tub. Broderick opened the door, a concerned look on his face.

  The echoes of hurt on his face slammed into her. “I’m sorry for being irritable earlier. Truce?”

  “Absolutely.” His smile rested easy on his tanned face. Those whiskey eyes warmed.

  “Would you like to come with me while I walk Kota? I think Fleur could use some sunshine, too.” She gestured to the small nature path she’d spotted just outside the fence.

  He gave a backward glance into the cabin, where Fleur sat in a baby carrier. “Won’t she get sick from the cold?”

  “Seriously? Were you Steele children pampered wimps?” Glenna laughed, welcoming a moment’s levity.

  “Don’t let my dad hear you say that. He believed in making us work hard. No silver-spoon, trust-fund kids in his family.” Broderick took a step back so she could make her way into the cabin. Even so, her body rubbed against his, sending electric awareness into her limbs.

  Glenna ignored it, responding instead with a tidbit about her own life. “Mom and Dad were the same way. We even had price limits on eating out. I remember someone commenting on it at a restaurant. Mom said, ‘Yes, Charles and I have a healthy portfolio. Our children, however, have yet to earn their fortune.’” Glenna did her best to impersonate Jeannie’s dramatic hand waving.

  Broderick let out a chuckle, nodding as if thinking of some distant memory. “Sounds like Dad... And if we’re not careful, they’re going to fire all of us and start with a fresh staff.”

  A deep, rich laugh emerged from her. Shook her back to life. “Okay, now let’s get you ready for that walk.”

  “What do you mean?” He pointed to his coat, as if that
was all there were to their excursion. “I have my winter gear.”

  Raising a brow, she gestured to the carrying pack in the living room. “You’ll need to keep Fleur close to your chest so she’ll be warm and secure.”

  “What about a baby sled instead?” he asked quickly.

  He was obviously nervous, but Glenna recalled how he’d handled Fleur last night when no one was looking. A natural. Though he clearly needed encouragement.

  “This is a difficult time, with her being away from her mother. The baby needs as much human contact as we can give her.”

  “I could walk the dog.” His counteroffer was smooth, but didn’t completely mask his unease.

  “Are you afraid of babies?”

  “No. I’m afraid of that contraption.” He walked to the swaddle pack, picked it up. He examined it gingerly, as if it might move of its own volition.

  “Think of it as a hiking pack on your front.”

  She quickly assembled Fleur in the pack on Broderick’s chest, showing him how it worked and barely resisting the temptation to take a little extra time touching him. Things were...complicated. This walk would do them good. If Fleur was his, he had to learn.

  Glenna playfully squeezed his arm. “And now we’re ready to walk.”

  She let him lead. After all, these were Steele family grounds. He’d grown up here, knew the trails. Kota walked in step with them, and Glenna drank in the untouched scenery. Not another building in sight. Perfection—she’d found it.

  They hiked toward the mountain, boots crunching in the unmarked snow. Silence descended between them, the comfortable familiar kind. Fleur made giggling noises, soft and lovely. Broderick seemed to calm down the farther they went.

  Feeling empowered and brave out in nature, Glenna asked, “Do you think our families would have been friends if they’d all worked for the same business or if we’d lived in the same neighborhood?”

  “Hmm... That’s an interesting thought. The Steeles and Mikkelsons going to block parties together.”