Shari nervously glanced up the staircase. Now was not the time or the place to talk about this. Not when Andre was within earshot. What if he heard them?
Grant must have realized the exact same thing because he said quietly, “Now is not the right time for this conversation, but trust me, Shari, this is far from over. We will talk in the morning, but know this. Now that I know Andre is my son, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I understand.” Shari nodded. “And I promise we’ll talk in the morning.” Her pulse was racing as she ushered him to the door.
“You had better believe it.”
Shari took his remark for what it was. A warning.
Chapter 4
Shari was a nervous wreck as she watched Andre eat his Cocoa Puffs in her parents’ kitchen the next morning. Grant knew that Andre was his son and Shari knew hell hath no fury like a father scorned. She could only imagine how upset she’d be if Grant had done the same thing and kept her from Andre. And the truth of the matter was she had no leg to stand on—legal or otherwise. Her only defense was he’d married her former best friend, Dina, and she couldn’t handle the betrayal.
Would Grant want shared custody? The thought caused Shari’s stomach to churn. She couldn’t lose her son. He was her entire world.
Her mother, Lisa Coopersmith Drayson, walked into the kitchen but Shari didn’t look up; she was too deep in thought.
“Good morning, baby doll,” her mother said as she bent down and kissed her forehead. “And how’s my grandson this morning?”
“Eating Cocoa Puffs.” Shari glanced up and looked at her mother. Many would say they looked like sisters because they shared the same big, brown eyes and long, dark hair that went past their shoulders. The only difference was that her mother was dressed fashionably in yoga pants and a sports top.
“Is everything okay?” her mother asked. “You look a little out of sorts this morning. Didn’t you sleep well in the guest bedroom?”
“No, I tossed and turned all night,” Shari replied. She couldn’t sleep because she had no idea what Grant intended to do.
“Well, we heard you get in late last night. Andre here was keeping one eye open and one eye closed,” her mother said, ruffling the thick curls on Andre’s head. “Must have been some evening. It’s not like you to stay out so late.”
“It was nice having some male company.”
“That Mr. Robinson is quite an attractive young man,” her mother commented. “And accomplished, too.”
“Really?” Shari looked down and sipped her coffee. She’d made a pot as soon as she’d woken up. Of course, the caffeine only heightened her anxiety. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“Liar.” Her mother laughed and reached across the table for the carafe to pour herself a cup of coffee. “Is he why you’re so on edge this morning?”
Shari glanced at her mother. Was she that transparent? “No, why would you say that?”
Her mother smiled knowingly. “Oh, no reason. What are you guys up to today?”
“Well, I was hoping you might be able to watch Andre again for a few hours. I have a quick errand, but I promise I’ll be back soon.”
“Hmm...another date?” Her mother raised a questioning brow.
Shari ignored the question and rose from her chair. After pouring out her coffee mug and rinsing it out, she bent down and kissed Andre’s cheek. “Mommy will be back in a few hours and then we’ll go to the park and play. How does that sound?”
“Okay,” Andre said and went back to playing with the toy that had come out of the cereal box.
Once she was in her car, Shari allowed herself to take a breath. She had to go to Grant’s. No way would she let him come to her territory and risk everyone in the family finding out about her lie of omission. She quickly dialed Carter’s number and after getting Grant’s address, Shari put the key in the ignition and turned the car on. It was time to face the music.
* * *
Grant stared pensively out his penthouse floor-to-ceiling window on Lake Shore Drive and looked out at Lake Michigan. He’d lain in bed for hours staring at the ceiling. By 6:00 a.m., he’d finally given up and gotten out of bed and showered. His mind was a whirl of emotions. He’d come to Chicago to work on his business and maybe even spark up an old flame, but what he’d gotten was much more than he bargained for. He was a father. He had a son.
Despite Shari finally admitting the truth, Grant had known the moment he’d set eyes on Andre at Lillian’s that the little boy was his. He had his green eyes, dimples and fair coloring. It was like looking at a mini-me.
But was he even ready to be a father? Shari had pregnancy and four years to prepare for the role, but Grant? He’d just been thrown into fatherhood with no preamble and certainly no thanks to Shari. She would probably have kept Grant in the dark if he hadn’t made this trip to Chicago. He didn’t know whether to strangle her or kiss those big, brown lips of hers senseless.
Although fatherhood was a role he hadn’t wanted for a few years yet, now that it was in his lap, he intended to do right by his son.
A knock on his penthouse door roused Grant out of his daze and back to reality. Before he opened the door, he knew who would be standing on the other side. No one knew where he was staying or would have any reason to visit him this early in the morning. It had to be Shari.
He opened the door and found her staring up at him. Her long, black hair had been pulled into a simple ponytail and she was wearing a black-and-white-trimmed tunic and white jeans.
“May I come in?” she asked when he stared at her, motionless.
He didn’t speak; instead, he stepped aside, allowing her to enter the penthouse.
Shari didn’t take a moment to absorb his expensive furniture or his posh surroundings; she just started firing on attack mode. “Listen, I know you’re upset with me,” she began, pacing the ceramic tile floor, “and you have every right to be, but I would like the chance to explain.”
Grant followed silently behind her and motioned for her to sit on the couch as he plopped down in a leather chair adjacent to her. He folded his arms across his chest, eager to see what spin she could put on the fact that she’d kept his son from him for four years.
“Umm...where do I begin?” Shari said, sitting down and tossing her purse on the coffee table. “Okay, I guess I’ll start at the beginning.”
“That would be good.”
Shari rolled her eyes at his sarcasm, but maintained her composure. “I found out I was pregnant soon after our night together at Ledgeman. I wanted to tell you.” When she noticed Grant’s raised eyebrow, she pressed, “I did. I even tried to tell you, but then I saw you and Dina holding hands in the courtyard and my heart sank.”
Shari glanced up at him, but Grant didn’t say a word. He wanted her to get whatever she needed to off her chest before he told her how he felt.
“I know it’s my fault. I mean, I did tell you that our night together was just a hookup. And I said that because I didn’t want you to feel like you owed me anything seeing as how it was my first time.”
Grant sat upright in his chair. He hadn’t realized she’d been a virgin when they’d slept together. He could have done so much better by her if she’d given him the opportunity, and this information only made him angrier.
“Anyway, how could I have known that I’d end up pregnant after one night?” She attempted a laugh but it sounded shrill to Grant. “And then right before summer break, I heard that you were engaged and I was hurt. And maybe subconsciously, I kept the truth as a way to hurt you and Dina. I admit that, but I just couldn’t bear the thought of her helping to raise my child. And...”
Grant held up his hand. “Let me ask you one question. Would you ever have told me the truth if I hadn’t come to Chicago?”
Tears formed in Shari’s eyes and she looke
d away, unable to meet his gaze.
“I thought so,” Grant responded, rising to his feet. “You would have continued to leave me and my son in the dark.”
“Oh, God!” Shari’s hand went to her mouth. Hearing the words made her sound so cold, so heartless, but that was never her intention. Her heart had just been broken. “Grant...”
“I lost four years of Andre’s life.” Grant glared at her with reproachful eyes. “Years I can’t get back! But you can best believe that I don’t plan on missing one more minute of my son’s life.”
“You can have as much access to Andre as you like,” Shari said as she sniffed. She reached for her purse and withdrew a tissue to blow her nose. “I wouldn’t keep him from you. I promise. We can come up with a visitation schedule that’s fair and equitable to the both of us.”
“Not good enough,” Grant stated. “I won’t be a part-time father, not after the time I’ve lost.”
He saw the dread fill Shari at his words. “Do...do you intend on seeking full custody?”
“I won’t have to because we’re getting married,” Grant returned in a cool, aloof manner. “Tomorrow.”
“What did you just say?”
“You heard right.”
“That’s crazy!” Shari sputtered. “We don’t even know each other.”
“No crazier than having a baby and neglecting to tell the father,” Grant responded, affronted by her tone.
Shari shook her head. “No, no, this is lunacy. Marriage isn’t necessary,” she continued. “We’re smart people, Grant. We can figure this out, so neither one of us feels slighted. You just need time to calm down and when you do, we can talk about this like adults.” She rose and reached for her purse on the coffee table, but Grant reached out and clasped her arm, preventing her from going.
“It’s been settled. We are getting married.”
“Or else what?” Shari asked defiantly, snatching her arm away. She lifted her chin and boldly met his angry gaze.
Grant shot her a penetrating look, his vexation with her evident. “Or else I petition for full custody of Andre.”
“You wouldn’t do that!” Shari gasped. “You wouldn’t take a son from his mother. I’m all he’s ever known...” Her voice began to tremble. “You...you saw for yourself. Andre is a happy, well-adjusted child. He’s had a life filled with love from me and my family.”
“But not from me.” Grant saw the fear, stark and vivid in Shari’s eyes. He was bluffing about suing for custody, but he would never let Shari know that. “Listen, Shari. There’s no reason this has to turn ugly.” His tone turned soft. “You must see that raising Andre in a two-parent home is the best way. Think about the life we could give him.”
“A life with parents who don’t love each other?” Shari asked incredulously.
Grant was surprised by her candor and didn’t answer her question. He knew what it was like to grow up with parents in a loveless marriage, and he didn’t want that for Andre. Somehow, he would find a way to make a marriage with Shari work. At the heart of it, he was at the very least attracted to her. But he didn’t say that. Instead he said, “You’ve done a good job raising Andre until now, Shari. I don’t diminish that. But our son would finally have a father, and he’d finally be legitimate and not a bastard!”
“Ouch!” Shari turned away as emotions crossed her face. Was one of them guilt? Grant knew he was hitting below the belt to convince her to marry him.
He knew he’d been brutal, but he had to be. He didn’t want Shari to test him because if she did, he would buckle. He would never take Andre from her, yet he wanted a stable home for his son. “Those are my terms. Take it or leave it.”
Shari shrugged with resignation and replied in a low, tormented voice, “Okay.”
Grant walked toward her and lifted her chin. “What was that?” His gaze traveled over her face and searched her big, brown eyes.
Shari looked up at him, and Grant felt the blood rush through him. “I said I will marry you.”
“Then let’s kiss on it.” Before Grant knew what he was doing, he was lowering his head and slowly brushing his lips across Shari’s. He hadn’t meant to kiss her. He was still furious and wanted to throttle her, but she’d looked so vulnerable, like she had that night so many years ago, that again he was powerless to resist.
Her lips were soft and moist and she tasted as sweet as he remembered that night in the dorm. Grant lost himself in the kiss and circled his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. He deepened the kiss by using his tongue to trace the outline of her lips until she parted her mouth and opened up to him. He wrapped his tongue around hers, entwining it with his, sucking it, devouring it. Shari didn’t object. She responded to his kiss.
The ringing of a cell phone snapped Grant out of the kiss just as if someone had poured cold water over him. What was he doing? He was kissing the woman who’d kept his son a secret from him for four years.
Roughly, he pushed Shari away from him and walked away to the window. Why the hell had he kissed her? Maybe because he’d secretly been wanting to do that from the moment he laid eyes on her again? He’d wanted to taste her sweetness and see if she tasted as good as he remembered.
He heard Shari from behind him on the phone. “Oh, yes, of course. I’d forgotten about the birthday party. Yes, I’ll bring Andre and we’ll be there shortly.” Inhaling, Grant took a deep breath and then turned back around.
Shari looked dazed as if she’d been thoroughly kissed and she had, but the words that came out of her mouth were far from sweet. “If you insist on this farce of a marriage, then fine. But it will not be tomorrow. I will not have some quickie marriage like you did with Dina just because you say so. I have a family and we have a son and he deserves a wedding since we’re doing this for him.”
Grant nodded in agreement. Shari had a point. “You’re right. We should have a proper ceremony. A week or two should be enough time for us to put together a small wedding.”
“Fine. Since this is your suggestion, why don’t you let me know where and when and then I’ll just show up,” she replied cattily. “I have to go.” She swung the purse over her shoulder and seconds later she was out the door.
Grant sighed as he watched the door close. He’d gotten what he wanted. Now what?
* * *
Once she was in her car, Shari burst into tears. She was finally going to marry the man of her dreams, Grant Robinson. In a fairy-tale world, Grant would profess his undying love to her and tell her he’d never stopped thinking about her. He would tell her he’d come back to Chicago for her. But he wasn’t saying that. He was offering a marriage of convenience for their son. Grant didn’t want her, probably never had. The only reason he’d kissed her just now was because they were stuck with each other. He probably was preparing himself for the fact that he’d be shackled to her for the rest of his life and had better start enjoying the prospect.
How had everything changed so suddenly? She’d been so sure this morning that she could convince Grant to see reason and they could come to some sort of custody arrangement. But he’d been unwilling to give an inch. Marriage or risk losing custody of her son. Grant could be bluffing about taking her to court, but she wasn’t prepared to put her son’s future on the line.
Grant had given logical reasons why marriage could be beneficial for them both, but none of those reasons included love. And despite the past five years and even his behavior now, she still loved Grant. She probably always would. The only bright spot in his rushing her to the altar was that in a few weeks she would come face-to-face with her nemesis and Grant’s ex-wife, Dina English. Except this time, she’d be the one with Grant’s wedding ring on her finger where it should have been since college. Had he known she was carrying Andre, would he have married her, instead? Shari would never know because she’d been too afraid to tell him.
>
Chapter 5
Shari worried about telling her family about her wedding to Grant and that he was Andre’s father. It would come as a shock to them. They’d all assumed that poor Thomas was the culprit. And worse yet, how was she going to tell Andre? She needn’t have worried because she was in for a shock when her cousin Belinda called her the following morning.
“Okay, what gives?” Belinda asked on the other end of the line.
“What are you talking about?”
“You called a family meeting at Grandma Lillian’s, at the estate,” Belinda replied. “No, make that Grant Robinson called a meeting for noon.”
“He did what?” Shari tried to interrupt, but her cousin was still ranting. Grant was making a preemptive strike. He wanted her family on his side. Once the Draysons found out Grant was Andre’s father, they would push the union. It was ingenious, if Shari believed he wanted to marry her, but she knew otherwise.
“Who the hell does he think he is? He doesn’t even know us. Just because Uncle Dwight is singing his praises about Lillian’s and Robinson Restaurants having a joint venture doesn’t mean—”
“He’s my fiancé,” Shari stated, interrupting her cousin’s rant.
All conversation halted and Shari could have sworn Belinda dropped the phone because she heard a lot of shuffling before her cousin returned to the phone and asked. “Did you say fiancé?”
Shari sighed. She might as well get it out of the way and deal with some of the histrionics now. “I’m getting married.” She tried to sound happy.
“What? You haven’t even mentioned the man in years since college and now I’m supposed to believe that you’re an item, let alone about to get married? Are you trying to punk me?”
“No. And I really have no time to waste or I’ll be late to the meeting,” Shari said. “But I’ll see you soon.” She hung up the line as soon as she could. She wasn’t prepared to give an explanation because she’d been completely taken off guard. Clearly sleeping on it had done no good because Grant was ready to proceed as planned, and he was enlisting her family to finish strong-arming her to the altar.
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