by Violet Paige
He was slow to face me.
“How much of that did you hear?” he asked.
“That’s what you ask? Tell me, does that mean you’re sorry, or you’re sorry you got caught?”
He shook his head. “Both.”
I held my breath, trying to figure out how not to scream at him. How to keep my voice low enough that Austen didn’t hear us argue. I was exhausted. I hadn’t slept through the night since she was born. After my mother left I was ready to hire a night-time nanny because I was slowly losing my mind. How did new parents function? I napped every chance I had. The sleep deprivation was taking a toll. And now this? This? My husband was keeping secrets from me?
I walked into the room still wearing my PJs from last night. I had no idea what time it was, probably close to three or four in the afternoon. I still needed a shower. My messy bun was falling out around my face. And that frigid stunning ice queen had just rolled an avalanche in here and left.
“What did Sasha mean about a paternity test?” I walked to the couch and sat. Jeremy’s laptop was open. I blinked at the spreadsheet on the screen.
“It’s nothing.”
“The legitimacy of our daughter is nothing? Don’t give me that bullshit.”
He ran his fingers through his dark hair. He was exhausted too. I could see it in his eyes, but he hadn’t complained once.
“Byron Lancaster filed a petition on behalf of my mother. A paternity test has to be submitted before the court will finalize the transfer of funds for the estate.”
“When?”
He shook his head. “There’s no deadline.”
“No. When did Byron file the petition?”
Jeremy lowered his head. “Over three months ago.”
“You’ve known for months and never said anything? How could you keep that from me? Why do they need a test? We followed the will.”
Jer sat across from me. His elbows planted on his knees. “I didn’t say anything because I asked Dr. Simons if it was possible to do the test while you were pregnant.”
“You did what?” There was fire in my words and eyes.
“I know. I know. But she told me it was risky, and I dropped it that second. I never mentioned it because there was no point while you were pregnant. I wasn’t going to put that stress on you.”
“You went behind my back and talked to Dr. Simons? I don’t understand why you would do that. Something doesn’t make sense. Why do they need a test, Jer? Why is there any question whether Austen is your baby?”
He held his hands forward. “This kind of money brings out the worst in people. You know that. You know my mother. She’s a snake in the grass—always. The woman is heartless. Even about her own grandchild.”
“Jer,” I warned. I wanted an answer, not a god-awful fairytale explanation about the wicked queen in the castle. “Why did Byron request a paternity test?”
“He found out about the fertility clinic in Atlanta. I’m not sure who told him. He argues you were already pregnant when we eloped. He thinks one of the sperm donors is Austen’s biological father, not me.”
“I will kill him.” I hopped up from the couch. “I will strangle him with my bare hands. I want to get on the jet right now. I want to fly to Newton Hills. Call the pilot. Call him. Now.” My eyes blazed. “I’m going to talk to Byron Lancaster face to face and then your mother!” I screamed. “How dare they. How dare they.” I felt the sobs hit me hard.
Jeremy walked up behind me, circling his arms around me. “Breathe, baby. Breathe.”
I let him pull me against his chest. “She’s our baby,” I choked.
He ran his fingers through my bun, untying the last strands until my hair fell in loose waves on my shoulder.
“She is our baby. But we aren’t knocking anyone’s teeth out today. Ok? I’m going to handle Byron and Sylvia.”
I could hear his heart beating as rapidly as mine. He was calm on the exterior, but under his skin, his blood was boiling too. His pulse raced with anger.
I sniffed and looked into Jeremy’s eyes. “We need to do the test today.”
“There’s no rush. We can talk about it some more.”
“No.” I felt the resolve replace the helplessness I had felt. “We are taking Austen to get the test done today. And then we are going to get your money. We are going to buy your baseball team. Your mother can suck it.”
Jeremy laughed. “Suck it?”
“Hey, don’t mess with me right now.”
“No. No, wouldn’t dare. You’re fired up and I like it.” He kissed my forehead. “But you don’t have to do this. I’m willing to fight them in court. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“That could take months. Years.” I looked for my shoes in the hall closet. “I know you’ve lost Sasha too. I heard everything she said. You need the money to buy her out and to buy the team. We have to move fast before you lose any more investors. This is critical, Jer.”
He stared at me. “Who is this calculated business woman?”
“I’m Jeremy Hartwell’s wife. Co-empire conspirator.” I winked. “Scout is Austen’s legacy, and I’ll be damned if Sasha or your mother are going to take anything away from her.”
I looked down. I had put my shoes on with my pajama pants.
“Babe, take a shower. Get dressed. I’ll get the baby ready to go.”
I looked at him. “I’m still mad you kept all of this to yourself. We’re a team.”
He cupped the sides of my face. “It’s a mistake I’ll never make again.” He brought his mouth to mine and I let my eyes close as we fell into the kiss. A kiss that for a brief second helped us forget sleepless nights. Forget company sellouts and lawsuits. A kiss that reminded us we were always better together than apart. And that this kind of love is what made the most beautiful baby in the world.
Epilogue
Jeremy
“Beer?”
I pulled the ball cap closer to my temples.
“Jer, do you want another beer?”
I held my hand out absently. The cold plastic cup was full. It was the bottom of the eighth. We needed one more out to take us into the ninth. We could put this game away. Rodriguez was the best closer on the roster.
One more pitch. One more.
Rodriguez leaned back on his heel before letting the pitch go. I held my breath. Out.
Evie clapped and hollered next to me. “Woooo, Silver Hawks.”
I laughed, finally taking a sip of the beer. “You saw that.”
“He’s been pitching like that all season.”
I looped my hand around her neck and drew her lips to mine. “I love it when you talk baseball.” I kissed her, tasting the beer mingle on her tongue.
There was loud applause.
“Uh, Jer. We’re on the KissCam.”
I kissed her harder the second time as the ballpark chanted. If only the fans knew what I wanted to do with my wife right now. I’d lift her out of this seat and take her into our box. There was a pull on the curtains. I could lock the door and steal five minutes of privacy. Maybe three.
Austen squealed in Evie’s lap. But there was that. We had a baby.
I let Evie’s lips go. “I’ll take her.”
I held Austen in my lap. She was decked out in a pink Silver Hawks onesie. There wasn’t a cuter nine-month old in the ballpark.
“Oh my mom just sent a text.” Evie looked at her phone. “She and Dad are watching the game. She wants to know if we want to stop by for lasagna on the way home.”
“Sure. I love Dad’s lasagna.”
“Ok. Frannie is going to try to be there, but this pregnancy is totally kicking her ass.”
“Tell Marcus to come and we’ll handle the kids.”
Evie typed something on her phone. The ninth inning started. My focus switched gears.
“Watch this, Austen. We’re going to get a base hit. I guarantee it.”
Just like I predicted our next three batters made it on base. We add
ed two runs to the score. As long as we played tough defense, we’d have another win this afternoon. My first season as an owner, and we were easily division champions, if not headed further into the playoffs.
The season had been fucking incredible. There was a learning curve, but Evie had been there with me every step of the way.
It helped that the team I bought was in Atlanta. We were close enough to Newton Hills to move back home. The warehouse had been home during my bachelor life. The days when I slept around and spent my nights with nameless models. I didn’t want to hold onto it. I sold the penthouse and bought a house for my family. A place where Austen could run. Where we could have dogs and cats. Hell, she could have a bunny rabbit if she wanted. There was fresh air and green grass.
Austen stood on two chunky legs when I held her up for the last pitch. Nailed it.
Evie kissed me on the cheek. “Good game, baby. Want me to take her?”
“Nah. I’ll carry her.”
We started to leave the box when we were greeted by reporters on the other side of the door. I didn’t always make press appearances. I let the ball club handle it. I knew why they were here now. Everyone had read the announcement online this morning.
“Mr. Hartwell, any comments on your former business partner’s marriage to Johnny Stepp?”
I shook my head. Evie squeezed my hand.
“I wish them as much happiness as my wife and I have in our marriage.” I actually hoped they made each other fucking miserable.
“Did you know when she left Scout that she and Stepp were seeing each other?”
“No idea.”
Sasha’s marriage to Stepp had been a shock. I wondered how long she had planned it. Knowing her, it was all part of a larger plan. Stepp was just as likely to go along with it. It could have been me. I could have taken her as my life partner instead of the amazing warm sexy woman I had chosen.
I never regretted for a second getting drunk in Bella’s that night. I never regretted being scared shitless by my love for Evie. I never regretted letting my guard down and learning how to be a husband to her. How to be a father to Austen.
“Have you spoken to Mrs. Stepp since her wedding?”
“No. But we send the couple our congratulations.”
“Do you think you and Mr. Stepp will work on any projects together in the future?”
“I can’t see that happening.” I grinned. “I have my hands full with this one.” I held Austen up and she giggled.
“Do you and Mrs. Hartwell have plans to have more children?”
Evie and I both froze in place. The flashes went off.
She looked at me. I grinned.
She knew exactly what I was thinking. She always did.
Austen needed a baby brother. It seemed like Team Hartwell could start on that project tonight. Or sooner.
“We do make cute babies, don’t we?”
Evie slapped me in the chest, but I didn’t care. The reporters chuckled at our easy banter. I didn’t care if the entire world knew how much I loved my wife. That I loved her enough to flip my world upside down. I loved her enough to fight for our family. That I loved her so much I wanted to see her pregnant again. I wanted our nights to be about baby making again.
She reached up on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear, “We are dropping Austen off for a night with her grandparents and you are taking me home alone.”
I laughed. “Excuse us.” I pushed past the reporters, holding Austen close and leading Evie. “Family plans.”
Evie giggled as we left the owner’s box.
There were three things I was certain of in my life today. I loved baseball. It didn’t matter if the millions ran out. And my family meant more to me than any of it.
Thank you so much for reading Not Daddy Material. I had so much fun writing Evie and Jeremy’s stories. I hope you loved their sweet romance and their happily ever after.
I have some special surprises in this book for you. If you’d like to keep reading, turn the page for an EXCLUSIVE (not available anywhere else) Good Girl’s Bad Boss by Katerina Cole, A Violet Paige classic, Dirty Play, and London Falling a New Adult RomCom by T.A. Foster. You’ll love London Falling if you’re a Bachelor Nation fan!
Good Girl’s Bad Boss
Good Girl’s Bad Boss
A Bad Boy Office Romance
By Katerina Cole
Untitled
Virgin’s Dirty Boss
Copyright © 2018 Katerina Cole
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places or events are entirely the work of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons, events, or places is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Please purchase only authorized editions and do not participate in piracy of copyrighted materials.
1
Charles
“We have to win the bid for this building, you got this?” I said in annoyance to the underling on the other side of the phone line.
I was going down the stairs of the said building in a hurry, talking over the phone with the real estate division of my company. I’d come here today to see it again, and now I was even more convinced in its high potential.
I was one of three partners in my development firm LQT, and I dealt with the purchasing of old buildings to renovate. The building I was currently interested in was another run-down building. It was historic and held a great value.
In its old glory days, this was a hotel—the luxurious Art Deco styled rooms attracted many customers—but the owner went bankrupt and his hotel went out of business. He moved away, leaving the building as it was and neglecting it completely over the next years. It was sad really, not for him, but for the building itself.
For many years, various companies had been trying to get this building as its district became wealthier and attracted more contractors. Thankfully, its owner had finally decided to put it for sale. Obviously, the news of this auction spread like a wildfire, and it reached media too. That was why I wasn’t the only one who was interested in this building. Currently, there were several other bidders interested and I knew I had to grab it before someone else got it.
I was on my phone for several minutes already, making sure we secured the bid. I just had to make sure nothing went wrong, but I was fucking nervous and desperate to get this building. I wanted to restore it to a boutique hotel for high-end clients, and I was sure this would bring our firm huge profits. The guys would love it and maybe it would be my turn to take a vacation.
“Yes, Mr. Talon. We are working on it,” the real estate agent assured me. “We will definitely offer the best bid.”
“Good. I don’t want to screw this up.”
I exhaled, which was something I did a lot when I was frustrated. I moved my hand through my short hair as my annoyance increased.
Shit. Why were there so many people who saw what I saw in this old building? Why couldn’t they move their asses to something else?
I exhaled again, still going down in a rush as my quick footsteps echoed through the empty building. This time the competition was high, and we had to take a risk so we could secure the bid. The amount of money was extremely high, much higher than the real value of this place, but in my opinion, it was totally worth it.
Many people couldn’t understand this, but there was just some pure beauty in transforming something old into new. Rebuilding was my passion, and searching for those kinds of buildings was like a treasure hunt for me.
Each one of these buildings had a much higher potential that many might realize, and this was their actual value—they had so much more to offer than it was expected. They were like hidden gems, providing money to o
nly those who were smart enough to seize the opportunity when it came up.
Since I was a man of distinctive tastes and had a great talent, I was attracted to this line of business since the beginning of LQT. My other partners, Grant Lawson and Colten Quinn, never quite understood what was so special about these old, rusty places, but that didn’t matter. They believed in my instincts and decisions, because they had brought us millions so far.
Grant, Colten, and I met in the Army and became family. We were stationed overseas together and had a lot of time to talk. We soon realized we had the passion for the same line of business, but most importantly, we had the initial capital to start our own company. LQT grew a lot lately, and we were getting busier year by year.
Each time I started a new project I would get excited, but at the same time so easily irritated. There were lots of sharks in this line of business, just waiting to attack when it was least expected, and I always had to be alert. But with my military background, I could handle anything. Let those fuckers come.
“We will keep you updated, sir,” he said.
“Great. I’ll be waiting. Call me when you hear something new.” I ended the call.
This building wasn’t that spacious, but it had a lot of floors. Just as I put the phone into my pocket I finally reached the first floor, cursing the elevator that was obviously out of order.
I looked around the old lobby, already imagining the space after it was renovated and furnished luxuriously, hell yes this was going to be good. We had to buy this building, and I just wanted that bidding to be done and over with.
We would need to invest a lot of money into its restoration and hire the best interior designer to redecorate this place. We would have a lot of work to do, but it would be pointless to think about it now if we wouldn’t secure the bid.