His face brightens. "He's amazing, isn't it?"
"How old is he?"
"Three." He holds up three fingers, mimicking Cory's movements.
"He's been sick?" I twist my hands together. Everything I knew has shifted so suddenly. Ten minutes ago I was coming up here to push Hunter into telling me why he was creeping around the bistro at night. All I want to know now is why he didn't tell me about Cory.
"Very." He pulls in a heavy breath as if he's tempering his nerves. "I was so scared."
"He's alright now?" I want to know more. I want to know everything he can tell me about his son but it's not my place. He shares this child with her. It's obvious he's Christina's son.
"Yes. He had a high fever. It was an infection with a complicated name." He doesn’t offer more and I don't push.
"Can Princess Sadie come play trains with me?" Cory pops up next to the couch and I jump at the sound of his voice.
"Maybe in a bit," Hunter pats him on the shoulder. "We just need five more." He holds up one large hand and Cory slaps it playfully.
He scoots back down the hallway before Hunter speaks again. "I tell him bedtime stories about Princess Sadie."
I pull my bottom lip between my teeth to stave off the rushing emotions. "That's really sweet," I whisper.
"He's my life." He reaches to clasp my hand in his. "I can't be away from him."
I smile realizing that the statement makes me care for him even more deeply. "You shouldn't be away from him. He's your child."
He casts his gaze downward as he nods his head.
"I understand now," I say softly. "I get why you're marrying her now. You want to be a real family." I squeeze his hand as tears well in my eyes.
"If I don't marry her, she'll take him." His voice cracks.
"She can't." I rest my head on his cheek. "You have rights."
"Sadie," he pulls me into a tight embrace. "I can't be away from you either."
I pull back. I raise my hands to cradle his face. "That little boy needs you so much but you don’t have to marry her. You're his father. You have rights. Any lawyer will tell you that."
"No." He bows his head. "I don't have any rights."
"Did she tell you that?" I pull back, my anger rising to the surface. I'm tired of Christina using Hunter's guilt to goad him into doing things for her.
"It's the truth." He reaches to cradle my cheek.
"No. That's wrong." I search his eyes willing him to listen to me. I want to break the spell she has over him. I want him to be my Hunter again.
"Sadie," he whispers as his lips brush over mine. "Listen. Please."
"Yes," I murmur, lost in the brief taste of his lips.
"Cory is not my son. I don't have any rights." He stares into my eyes. "She got pregnant during a one night stand. She doesn't know who his dad is."
"How long have you two been together?" I can't connect any of this. "Did she cheat on you?"
"I've never slept with her," he says tightly. "I'm repulsed by her."
"You're marrying her." I spit back at him. "How can that be?"
"She'll steal him away from me if I don't marry her." His eyes darken. "She wanted me since we were teenagers. Once Cory was born and I reached out to help, she knew she had me right where she wanted me."