The answer was a resounding no. I loved her, God dammit. The idea that she had a child didn’t bother me. In fact, there was a part of me that liked the idea. We’d be a family. Granted, I wasn’t the kid’s father, but I could be a father figure. And if I was able to get Sinclair to love me again, we could have more kids. A whole brood of them, like we’d planned.
My house was big enough. It had been added on to several times over the years, and today, along with a grandparent unit, it had five bedrooms and three baths. We could have four kids and each could have their own room.
I laughed at how far ahead of myself I was getting. At the same time, I reaffirmed my resolve to see my original plan through.
I stepped closer to the door again and waited for Sinclair.
14
Sinclair
I was in the kitchen chopping veggies for the salad when Alyssa ran in.
“There’s a man at the door with flowers asking for you, Mama.”
“Oh.” My mother’s eyes glinted, no doubt because she thought I was long overdue for a love life. There were only two people I could think of who’d show up with flowers, and both I didn’t want here. Of course, if it wasn’t Wyatt or Mo Valentine, it could be Stark. I wouldn’t put it past him to butter me up if he got wind that I was organizing opposition to his prison.
I followed Alyssa to the front door and stopped short when I saw Wyatt standing there with a friendly smile.
Oh shit. I’d hoped to keep Alyssa a secret a little while longer until I could sort out the best course of action. Maybe he didn’t know she was my daughter, which could save me from having to tell him he was the father.
“See, Mama.”
Crap. She gave me up. Still, I didn’t have to say anything now. Maybe my being a mother would make him change his mind about me and not be interested. My conscience chastised me because Wyatt had every right to know about Alyssa.
I opened the screen door. “What are you doing here?”
He held up the flowers.
“What’s that for?” Surely, they weren’t a thank you for what happened the other night. Truthfully, if that was the case, I should have been thanking him because as crazy as this situation was, he’d given me two fantastic orgasms.
He nodded his head back and then started down the stairs.
“Go do your homework, baby.”
“It’s summer.” Alyssa looked at me like I’d gone crazy.
“Go help Grandma then.”
She grumbled but then ran off toward the kitchen. I walked out the door and followed Wyatt as he walked around the house. I guessed he was going to the river.
When I reached him, I asked again. “What are you doing here?”
He stopped suddenly. “You’re a mother?” His tone held an awe or reverence. It surprised me. And it told me he hadn’t guessed as to who the father was.
“Yes.”
He started walking again and I followed. When we reached the tree he said, “I don’t see a ring.”
“Her father isn’t in the picture.” That was the moment I knew I’d burn in hell.
He studied me for a moment and then nodded.
“You still haven’t said why you’re here.”
He smiled sheepishly. “I was planning to make a grand gesture to convince you to go along with this…fake…marriage.” He seemed to stumble over the word “fake.” He thrust the flowers at me. “Sorry, I was distracted by the fact that you had a daughter. She’s beautiful, Sinclair. Just like you.”
I took the flowers. “Thank you. I thought we decided the fake marriage idea was nuts.”