The Baby Contract

I smiled as a wave of emotion filled my chest. I had no clue it would feel so euphoric to be an expecting father.

Euphoric and terrifying.

“Thank you. I’d like to hire extra security for my home.”

He nodded, and I was glad he didn’t think that was too unreasonable. “We can arrange that.”

“I’d also like to have someone provide 24/7 protection to my child’s mother.”

His brow arched again. “That didn’t work so well with Harper.”

I nodded. “This is my child we’re talking about. She knows how important this is, which isn’t to say that I want you to be too conspicuous.”

“She doesn’t know you’re here?”

“No. But neither should she be surprised. The child’s mother is Anne Francis.”

Both his brows shot up. Just as quickly, he worked to bring his expression back to normal.

“You find that surprising?”

“I didn’t realize the two of you—”

“It’s not like that.” But saying it felt disingenuous. At least on my end.

For Anne, this was a business arrangement. “Also, Harper doesn’t know and it’s important that she doesn’t.”

Archer looked at me like I’d grown a third eye.

“Look, I know this sounds crazy but all I need from you is around the clock security protecting Anne and my unborn child.”

He frowned. “Yours and Anne’s child.”

“Right.” He didn’t need to know the deal I’d struck with her. “Can you do that?”

“I understand that instinct to want to control everything around you, especially around the safety of those you care about. But over doing it can lead down a path that has you losing those that you love. You have to think about trust and faith in those you love.”

I worked to keep out the annoyance in my voice. “I appreciate the pep talk, but I know what I want.”

He studied me. “I have half a mind to turn down the job. Anne is Lane’s friend. I’d have to lie to her about this.”

“Don’t you keep all your clients in confidence from your wife?”

Wasn’t that what we paid for when we hired Saint Security? Discretion even from pillow talk?

“Yes, but like I said, Anne is Lane’s friend now.”

Another piece of fallout from my actions when firing Archer. If I hadn’t done that, Lane wouldn’t have been kidnapped by Harper’s stalker and then she and Anne wouldn’t be friends with her.

I shrugged. Saint Security wasn’t the only security firm in town.

“But I know that you’ll just go to someone else who might make a mess of things if they let you railroad them. So, I’ll do it. I’m not happy about it, Bran and I need you to respect my expertise in this area. I also think you should reconsider or at the very least, let Anne know.”

I nodded, knowing he was right. I did feel a tiny build of guilt at making these arrangements because I knew Anne would respond similarly to Harper. She wouldn’t like it. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t agreed to it when we negotiated the deal.

But because I knew how she’d react I decided to arrange protection in secret. If Archer’s men could stay hidden, then she’d have the protection she needed without knowing it.

When it came to safety, I’d risk a lot. Hadn’t I risked my relationship with my sister to keep her safe?

And I’d do it again.

Maybe she resented me now, but at least she was alive to feel that way. Had I not hired protection, Kerby could have kidnapped and done God knew what to her. I shuddered at the thought. I hated that me and Harper were estranged, but better than her being dead.

I’d risk it with Anne too. Once the baby was born, she could go her own way with her twenty-five million and wouldn’t have to deal with me anymore. I pressed my hand over my chest, feeling like I had indigestion, certain it was something I ate and not the idea of Anne walking away from me and our child.

I swallowed hard as the acid in my gut grew. I couldn’t think in terms of Anne and our child. She didn’t want that.

Even if I was beginning to think that I did.