Single Man Meets Single Mom

by Jules Bennett

  Cassie scooped Emily from the high chair and settled her on her hip. “I’ve no doubt Dad is weighing in with his opinion. I need to give her a bath. You sticking around?”

  Shaking her head, Tessa sighed and started across the living room. “I think I’ll head home and make some dinner. It’s not often I get to cook for Grant, and he’s worked so hard lately. He needs to relax.”

  Cassie squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t want to hear about you two relaxing. Just a simple no would’ve answered my question.”

  With a naughty laugh, Tessa grabbed her keys from the entry table and waved. “See you tomorrow.”

  Once Cassie was alone, she couldn’t help that her thoughts drifted to Ian, to the days they’d spent at his home in L.A. and to the fact he’d taken such good care of her sweet Emily.

  Yes, the man may be five years her junior, but so what? Her ex-husband had been two years older and look how well that had turned out. Cassie couldn’t hang a single argument on age, not when Ian went above and beyond to show her just what type of man he was.

  After Emily was bathed and dressed in her lightweight sleeper, Cassie set some toys on a blanket and let her daughter have some playtime before bed. Settling on the couch, curling her legs to the side, Cassie rested her elbow on the arm of the sofa and watched Emily smack soft yellow and red cubes together, making them jingle.

  Exhaustion consumed her, but how could she not be tired? Her plate was not only full—it was overflowing. Physically, mentally, she was drained. Her head was actually pounding so fiercely her eyes ached. Maybe she could just lay her head on the arm of the couch while Emily played for a bit longer.

  Adjusting her arm beneath her head, Cassie closed her eyes, hoping to chase away the dull throb.

  * * *

  After the flash of panic in seeing Cassie slumped over the arm of the couch and Emily holding herself up against the edge of the couch by her mama, Ian realized Cassie had merely fallen asleep.

  “Hey, sweetie,” he said softly when Emily smiled up at him, flashing her two little baby teeth. “Your mama is pretty tired. Why don’t we let her sleep?”

  Ian scooped Emily up, set her in her Pack ’n Play across the room and made sure she had her favorite stuffed horse. He had to ignore her slight protesting as he crossed back and gently lifted Cassie into his arms. Murmuring something, she tilted her head against his chest and let out a deep sigh. She was exhausted and apparently couldn’t even keep her eyes open. It was so unlike her to fall asleep with Emily still up and not confined to one area.

  A small bedside lamp sent a soft glow through her bedroom. After gently laying her down, he pulled the folded blanket from the foot of the bed and draped it over her curled form. Smoothing her hair from her face, Ian frowned and leaned in closer to rest his palm across her forehead.

  She wasn’t burning up, but she wasn’t far from it. Careful not to wake her, he peeled the throw back off her to hopefully get her fever down. Her cheeks were pink and the dark circles beneath her eyes were telltale signs of an illness settling in. He had a feeling Cassie would only be angry to know she was getting sick.

  He went into her adjoining bath, got a cool cloth and brought it back out, carefully laying it across her forehead. She stirred and her lids fluttered open as she tried to focus.

  “Ian?”

  “Shh.” He curled a hand over her shoulder to get her to remain down. “It’s all right. You need to rest.”

  “Emily...” Cassie’s eyes closed for a moment before she looked back up at him. “I don’t feel very well.”

  “I know, baby. I’m not going anywhere and Emily is fine. Just rest.”

  He had no clue if she heard him; her eyes were closed and her soft, even breathing had resumed.

  The woman worked herself too hard. Not that he could judge. After all, he hadn’t grown to be one of Hollywood’s most sought-out agents at such a young age by playing assistant and errand boy. No, he’d done grunt work, made his career his since he’d left home determined to prove to his free-spirited mother and domineering father that he could manage on his own and succeed way above anything they’d ever dreamed.

  And he’d done just that.

  But now that he looked down at Cassie resting peacefully, he couldn’t help but wonder if there wasn’t more in store for him. Work was satisfying on so many levels, but it didn’t keep his bed warm, didn’t look to him for support and compassion and sure as hell didn’t make his heart swell to the point of bursting.

  Cassie and Emily, on the other hand...

  After clicking off the bedside lamp, he went straight to the hall bath to wash his hands. If Cassie was contagious, he didn’t want to get her daughter sick. Granted, the child had been with her mother all evening, but still. Weren’t people supposed to wash their hands before dealing with kids?

  Yeah, he had a lot to learn. As he lathered up and rinsed, he glanced across the open floor plan to Emily, who had long since forgotten she was angry with being confined. Ian dried his hands on a plaid towel and smiled. Definitely had a lot to learn about little people.

  And suddenly it hit him that he actually wanted to do just that. Who knew that when he came out here to sway Lily into signing with his agency that he’d completely get sidetracked by a beauty who literally fell into his arms?

  After getting a bottle ready—thank God he’d had those alone days with Cassie and Emily in California so he knew a bit more about Emily’s care—Ian set it on the end table and went to retrieve one happy baby.

  “Are you always in a good mood?” he asked as he lifted her from the baby prison. “Your mama isn’t feeling good, so it’s just you and me.”

  Emily patted his face and smiled. “Dadadada.”

  Ian froze. Oh, no. No, no, no. As if a vise was being tightened around his chest, Ian’s breath left him.

  “No, baby. Ian.”

  Emily patted his cheek again. “Dadada.”

  Okay, he had to put his own issues aside at the thought of someone calling him Daddy because this poor girl honestly didn’t know her daddy. She didn’t remember the man who was supposed to be here for her and her mother.

  Ian held her closer, silently wanting to reassure her that she was not alone. But was he also silently telling himself that he’d be here beyond the rough night right now? Would he be here after the film wrapped up?

  Since he was alone with his thoughts he might as well admit to himself that being with Cassie and Emily for the long term was something he wanted and, dare he say...ached for?

  As he settled into the corner of the couch with Emily, he slid the bottle between her little puckered lips and smiled as those expressive blue eyes looked back up at him. Eyes like her mother’s. Both ladies had him wrapped around their fingers.

  Emily drifted off to sleep about the time the bottle was empty. He set it back on the table and shifted her gently up onto his shoulder. If she spit up on his dress shirt, so be it. He hadn’t taken the time to change after his dinner meeting with Lily. She was pretty confident she’d be signing with his agency.

  And the fact this was the first time he’d thought of that monumental career development since he’d come in and discovered Cassie ill should tell him exactly how quickly his priorities had changed where the Barrington females were concerned.

  Once Emily had fallen asleep, he figured it was okay for him to rest on the couch with her. He carefully got up and turned off the lights in the living room, leaving on only the small light over the stove in the kitchen. Pulling the throw off the back of the sofa with one hand and holding Emily firmly with the other, Ian toed off his shoes and laid the little girl against the back of the sofa before he eased down onto his side beside her. Not the most comfortable of positions, but he was so tired he could’ve slept standing up, and there was no way he’d leave Cassie alone with the baby tonight.

  Resting with the baby on a couch was probably some sort of Parenting 101 no-no, but since he’d taken no crash courses in this gig, he was totally wi
nging it.

  The next thing he knew someone was ringing the doorbell. Ian jerked up, taking in the sunlight streaming in through the windows. It was Sunday and the crew was taking the day off. Was someone looking for him? The doorbell chimed again and Emily’s eyes popped open, too.

  Ian picked her up and raked a hand over his hair as he padded to the door. The last thing he needed was for someone to ring that bell again and wake Cassie. Apparently they’d all slept uneventfully through the night.

  As he flicked the lock, Ian glanced out the sidelight, frowning when he didn’t recognize the stranger on the porch.

  Easing the door open slightly, Ian met the other man’s gaze. “Can I help you?”

  The stranger’s eyes went from Emily back to Ian before the muscle in his jaw jumped. “Who the hell are you, and where is Cassie?”

  Shocked at the immediate anger, Ian instantly felt defensive. “I should be asking you who you are, considering you’re on the outside.”

  Narrowed eyes pierced Ian. “I’m Cassie’s husband. I’ll ask again. Who the hell are you?”

  Husband. Ian didn’t miss the fact the prick left out the “ex” part.

  “I’m her lover,” Ian said, mentally high-fiving himself for wiping that smug look off the man’s face.

  Eighteen

  Cassie held on to the side of her head, which was still pounding, but now she had a new problem.

  Frozen at the end of her hallway, she had full view of Ian holding Emily and the front door wide-open with Derek standing on the other side looking beyond pissed. This was the dead-last thing she wanted to deal with in her life, particularly at this moment.

  “Derek, what are you doing here?” she asked, slowly crossing the room, praying she didn’t collapse.

  “Go back to bed, honey.” Ian turned to her, his face softening as he took in what she knew was impressive bed head. “Emily is fine and he can come back later.”

  “Don’t tell my wife what to do,” Derek practically shouted as he shouldered his way past Ian and into the living room.

  “She’s not your wife.” Ian’s eyes narrowed. When Emily started to fidget, Ian patted her back and murmured something to her. “I need to feed her and change her diaper.”

  Derek’s gaze darted from Ian to Cassie and back to Ian. “What the hell is this? You move in your lover to shack up? Never took you for a whore.”

  Cassie didn’t think she could feel worse. She was wrong. But before she could defend herself, Ian had turned back, clenching the muscle in his jaw.

  “Apologize,” Ian said in a low, threatening tone.

  Cassie had no doubt if Ian hadn’t been holding the baby, he would’ve been across the room in an instant.

  “This has nothing to do with you,” Derek shot back. “Why don’t you give me my daughter and get out.”

  No matter how awful Cassie felt, she raised her hand to silence Ian and moved closer to Derek. Too bad whatever bug she’d picked up couldn’t be fast-acting or she’d so exhale all over him.

  “You relinquished any right you had when you walked out on us.” Cassie laid a hand on the back of the couch for support. She’d be a little more intimidating if she wasn’t freezing and ready to fall onto her face. “You can’t just barge into my house and try to take control. I don’t know why you’re here, but I don’t really care.”

  Cassie felt Ian’s hard body behind her, his strong hand settled around her waist. The man offered support both physically and emotionally with one simple, selfless touch. And the sea of differences between the two men in this room was evident without so much as a spoken word.

  Ian had watched her with care, concern and, yes, even love. Derek stood glaring, judging and hating. When he’d first walked out she would’ve done anything to get her family back, but now that he was here, she loathed the sight of him.

  “I’m here to see my wife and daughter,” Derek told her.

  “I’m not your wife,” Cassie fired back. “And if you want to see Emily, you can contact your attorney and he can call mine. You can’t just charge in here after being gone for nearly a year and expect me to just let you see her. Did you think she’d be comfortable with you?”

  “She seems fine with him.” Derek nodded his chin in Ian’s direction.

  “That’s because she knows who I am,” Ian stated from behind her. “Now, Cassie has asked you to leave. She’s not feeling good and my patience has just about run out. Leave now or I’ll escort you out personally, then notify the crew’s security to take you off the estate property.”

  Derek looked as if he wanted to say more, but Ian stepped around Cassie, keeping his arm wrapped around her waist. He said nothing and kept his gaze on Derek until Derek stepped back toward the front door.

  “I plan on seeing my daughter,” Derek threatened. “And my wife. I’ll go through my lawyer, but I will be getting my family back.”

  He slammed the door, leaving the echoing sound to fill the silence. Cassie hadn’t seen Derek in so long, she had no idea how to feel, how to react. She didn’t feel like battling him.

  And had he threatened to take Emily? Was that what he’d implied?

  Cassie sank onto the back of the couch and wrapped her arms around her waist. Maybe she should have listened to those voice mails.

  “Go back to bed, Cass. Don’t think about him—just go rest for now.”

  Cassie looked up at Ian, still holding Emily. The image just seemed so...right. The three of them felt right. They’d all been random puzzle pieces and when they’d come together they’d instantly clicked into place without question.

  Shoving her wayward hair behind her ears, Cassie shook her head. “I can’t rest, Ian. He just made a veiled threat to take Emily. He can’t do that, right? I mean, what judge would let him have my baby after he walked out on us?”

  Tears pricked her eyes. She couldn’t fathom sharing custody of her baby. Emily belonged here.

  “She doesn’t even know him,” Cassie murmured, thinking aloud. “There’s no way he could take her. Emily would be terrified.”

  Ian rested a hand on her shoulder and held on to Emily with his other strong arm. “You’re jumping the gun here. He didn’t say he was going to ask for custody. I honestly think those were just hollow words. He wants to scare you because he’s angry I was here. I guarantee had you been alone, his attitude would’ve been completely different. One look at me, especially holding his daughter, and he was instantly on the defensive.”

  Emily started to reach for Cassie, but Ian shifted his arm away. “Go on back to rest. I’ll feed her breakfast and then I’ll check on you to see if you feel like eating. You’re exhausted and working too hard.”

  Cassie raised a brow. “Working too hard? Are you the pot or the kettle?”

  Laughing, Ian shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  Cassie pushed away from the couch and sighed. “Thanks, Ian. Really. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you here last night.”

  After a light kiss across her forehead, Ian looked into her eyes. “There’s nowhere else I would’ve rather been.”

  As Cassie got back into bed, she knew Ian wasn’t just saying pretty words to try to win her over. The man was full of surprises, and she found herself falling harder with each passing revelation.

  And now here she was, 100 percent in love with a man who lived on the other side of the country, who would be leaving in a couple of weeks to go back to his life. And, of all the rotten timing, her ex had decided to show up now.

  Cassie curled into her pillow and fisted her hands beside her face as the tears threatened to fall. Somehow this would all work out. She had faith, she had hope and, for the first time in her life, she had love. All of that had to count for something...didn’t it?

  * * *

  Once Cassie had gotten a little food in her, she seemed even more tired, so Ian insisted on taking Emily for a few hours and then checking back. There was no way he could leave her alone with a baby, but he still had work to do.<
br />
  Single parents worked while caring for their babies all the time, right? Shouldn’t be too hard to send some emails and make a few phone calls.

  After fighting with the straps on the stroller and narrowly missing pinching Emily’s soft skin in the buckle, he finally had her secured and ready to go. Diaper bag over his shoulder, Ian set out across the estate, pushing Emily toward his trailer.

  Bright purple flats covered her feet as she kicked her little legs the entire way. Ian knew he was smiling like an idiot, but how could he not? Emily was an absolute doll and she was such a sweet kid. He was actually looking forward to spending time with her.

  Max Ford and his wife, Raine, were just stepping out of their trailer as he passed by. Max held their little girl, Abby, who was almost two now.

  “Look at this,” Max said with a wide grin. “You seeing how the family life fits you?”

  Ian didn’t mind the question. Actually, he kind of warmed at the idea of it. “Cassie isn’t feeling too great, so I told her I’d take Emily for the day.”

  Max’s daughter pointed down to Emily. “Baby.”

  Laughing, Raine took the little girl and squatted down to the stroller to see Emily. “Her name is Emily,” Raine explained.

  “You’re pretty serious about Cassie,” Max said in a softer tone. “Happened pretty quick.”

  Ian shook his head and raked a hand over his hair, which was probably still sporting a messy look after sleeping on the sofa all night. “Yeah, it did. But I can’t help it, man. I didn’t see this coming.”

  “You plan on staying after the film is done?” Max asked.

  Ian watched the interaction between the two little girls and Raine and his heart swelled. “I honestly don’t know,” Ian said, looking back to Max. “How hard was it for you with the transition?”

  Max’s gaze drifted to his family, and a genuine smile, not what he used for the cameras or his on-screen love interests, but the one that Ian had seen directed only at Raine, transformed his face. “When you want something so bad you’d die without it, there’s no transition. It’s the easiest and best decision I’ve ever made.”