“Even though you'd want me to work your hours? No deal.” She shook her head and looked over at her daughter. “If I'm working, even from home, she has someone watching her.”
James nodded thoughtfully. “Submit a billing report with child-care expenses with the hours you worked while home. I'm not paying for you to go grocery shopping.”
“Works for me,” Audrey agreed. “As for hourly wage, I want whatever your current secretary makes. If she's salary, just divide it by forty.”
“Done.” James leaned back in his chair. “Are we agreed? You'll take the job?”
Audrey reached her hand out across the table and grinned. “It's a pleasure to be working for you, Mr. Coleman.”
“Excellent.” James agreed. “You start now.”
“Okay.” Audrey leaned back in her chair. “But you're buying breakfast.”
***
After breakfast, we all piled into Audrey's car and headed back to the hotel. James drove with Audrey in the passenger seat, already on his phone making arrangements for what was going to happen next. I sat in the back seat with the baby.
She was asleep again, her mouth starting to work as she got hungry again. I held her tiny hand, and just sat there admiring her itty-bitty perfect fingernails. Everything was so miniature and perfect. I loved the idea that something so wonderful was growing inside of me right now.
I watched little Eva as James and Audrey worked. It was amazing how easily Audrey fell into working for James. Since she was already under a NDA, she knew James' lawyers and even some of his staff. The rest she figured out on the fly and seemed to be rocking it.
Lunch arrived via room service and Audrey came to take her daughter back into her arms. She sat on the couch in the middle of the hotel room, feeding her sweet daughter with a smile on her face.
James held up a fax and she nodded. “Well, other than continuing to answer phone calls for you, that's about all I can do for now,” Audrey said. “Would it be alright with you if I went and laid down for a little bit? I don't get much sleep at night with her wanting to eat every five seconds.”
“Sure,” James replied. “I'll watch her for you. Got to keep up that child care part of your contract.”
Audrey laughed and handed her newly fed baby over to James. “Allie here certainly has been doing a great job at it.” She grinned at me. “You'll make a great mom someday. Eva doesn't take to just everyone, but she seems to love you.”
“Thanks.” I blushed with pride. There was no way Audrey knew yet that I was halfway to being a mother already, so the compliment rang true.
She went to the attached bedroom and shut the door. I could hear her body thump onto the bed and then it went completely silent. I turned back to look at James. He was looking into Eva's eyes and smiling.
James' features were soft and full of love. This wasn't even his child, yet he was looking at her like she was the most precious thing in the entire world. If I didn't know better, I might have even assumed that Eva was his by the protective way he held her.
“It's strange,” he murmured. “I can see Ryan in her. She has his eyes, but none of the violence in them. They're the same shape, but there's love in hers.”
I didn't know it was possible for my heart to melt more than it already was. If I hadn't already been head over heels in love with James, I would have fallen right then. There was no way not to love him when he was looking at that baby like she was the best thing in the entire world.
I could have looked at them all day, but then my phone started to ring. I had turned it off to anyone but preferred contacts since the news came out, so the fact that it was coming through meant that it was important. I tore my eyes away from James and looked at the caller ID.
Tessa.
I stared at the phone for a long minute. It stopped ringing. I knew I should call her back, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how to have this conversation with her.
The phone started to ring again. She wasn't giving up on me so easily. I let out a sigh. She'd just keep calling until I picked up.
“This is Allie,” I said, dreading whatever Tessa had to say next.
“I saw the papers. We need to talk.”
“I know, but right now isn't a good time,” I said, keeping my voice low so I wouldn't wake the baby. James took her to the couch and laid down, putting her on his chest. It was so paternal and sweet, I wanted to take their picture and hang it in my heart forever.
“No shit,” Tessa replied. “But I need to talk to you. There's something you need to know.”
“He's not the father of Audrey's baby, okay? Will you please stop with that?” I hissed into the phone. “Today is not the day to bring that up.”
Tessa stayed quiet. “It's not about Audrey. It's about me. And James. It's something you should have known a long time ago. Please?”