His Baby Agenda

“We thought coming to see you might be better than sending an email,” Mr. Ortiz said. “I wanted to apologize for the way the meeting went.”

“Me, as well,” Mrs. O’Malley said. “We’ve had time to discuss Mr. Buchanan and his generous contribution to our city in some detail after we received your email. The committee feels we might have been too hasty in our judgment.”

Gabi crossed her hands together. “I’m glad to hear that. What changed your minds?”

“It was something you said in your email, that we all must let our actions speak to the type of person we are. Mr. Buchanan has never had another incident like the one in college, and when we pulled up his charity work, well, we were embarrassed by the way the committee reacted,” Mr. Ortiz said. “If you and Mr. Buchanan are still interested, we’d love to go forward with building the playground, and we’d even like to name it in his honor.”

Gabi swallowed hard against the emotions welling up inside her. This was the kind of gesture that Kingsley needed to see.

“I will discuss it with him and let you know later this week. But I’m sure he will be happy to move ahead with the project,” Gabi said.

She showed the commissioners out and texted Kingsley that they needed to talk.

He texted back that he’d said all that needed saying.

And she clenched her jaw and sent him one more message that she deserved the chance to say goodbye to Conner in person.

Kingsley simply responded that they’d drop by her office later in the day. She wondered what he was going to do? Had he just left the house to avoid a messy goodbye or was he leaving the West Coast permanently?

She wasn’t pleased with the way he acted. But at least she’d have the chance to see him again and maybe make him admit that he cared for her. The committee had changed their minds; perhaps time was all that was needed to heal the wounds of the past. Or at least she hoped it was.

Fifteen

Kingsley pulled into the parking lot of Gabi’s office and sat there for a long minute. He’d taken Conner to the Redwood Forest and his son was worn out from walking and talking. His lie that Gabi had a full day of meetings had worked on his son.

Conner couldn’t wait to tell her about everything they’d done and it made Kingsley a little sad that Gabi would no longer be a part of his life. But they were fine before she’d become part of their family and they would be fine again.

He knew what was required to keep Gabi safe and also, if he were being honest, to protect the two of them. There were no guarantees that they’d ever put the past to rest. What if she stayed in his life and then one day had enough of it? Better to end things now.

He got Conner out of his car seat and took his hand as they walked to the office building.

Abby was seated behind the desk talking to Melissa when they walked in.

“Hey,” Conner said.

“Hello, kiddo,” Melissa said.

“We’re here to see Gabi,” Kingsley said.

“She asked to see you alone first,” Melissa said. “I have a new book on knights if you want to read it, Conner.”

“Daddy?”

“It’s okay, buddy. I’ll be right back,” Kingsley said.

He didn’t want to be alone with Gabi. He wasn’t sure he trusted himself with her. He wanted her, but this thing between them had grown way past young lust. He wasn’t sure it had ever been just about lust.

He knocked on her door.

“Come in.”

He took a deep breath before he opened the door. He had chosen his path and nothing—not even Gabi—could shake him from it.

He walked into her office and closed the door behind him. She looked much the same as she had the first time he’d come to see her here. Very poised and professional, sitting behind her desk and watching him with a guarded expression in her dark chocolate eyes.

“What’s up?” he asked.

“Are you kidding me right now?” she asked. Her words revealed that the serenity she projected was only on the surface. Something deeper simmered underneath and he had the very real feeling that he wasn’t getting out of her office without a few burn marks.

It was okay. He could handle it.

“No, I’m not. I thought my letter said everything that needed saying.”

“Well, it didn’t. I didn’t get a chance to tell you how I felt,” she said.

“Is that necessary?” he asked. “I think we both know there is no way of moving forward.”