Tempt Me

She had to pull in deep breaths at the reminder. She wouldn’t trap him. He didn’t want a future with her and she didn’t want him because he felt obligated. He’d been in that situation once before and had been cornered into marriage. She wouldn’t hide the truth from him but she wouldn’t accept him marrying her out of guilt, either.

She could raise this baby by herself. How, she didn’t quite know the details yet. But plenty of women managed and she’d do the same thing. Just not as Bailey’s nanny. The thought of leaving the little girl hurt, but there was no way she could stay on. And there was every chance Austin wouldn’t want her to.

She had a healthy savings account thanks to room and board being part of any previous employment, and she’d be able to rent an apartment somewhere. Maybe the city, where she could get a job within walking or subway distance and not need a car.

See? She could do this. She just had to survive this week of the trial and then telling Austin she was pregnant with his baby.

* * *

Something was up with Mia and damned if Austin could figure it out. Things were bad before they’d gone to Dan’s, but afterwards, she’d totally withdrawn into herself. To his knowledge, nothing had happened there that would upset her except that she’d obviously gotten sick. He was damned sure going to make certain she saw a doctor once she finished testifying, because he was beginning to be concerned.

He planned to bring his daughter home by Friday, once Mia’s testimony was over and there was nothing her ex-employer could gain by going after her. The damage would be done by then. But he missed her like crazy and wanted to take her for pizza and ice cream tonight. He’d also thought Mia would enjoy getting out of the house, but she’d insisted on staying at home.

“You need time alone with Bailey,” she’d said.

“But Bailey wants to see you, too.”

A wistful smile had pulled at her lips. “I’d like that, too. But I think it’s more important for you to have father-daughter bonding time.”

Which was why he sat across from his daughter at an old-fashioned pizza parlor. His parents had joined them and they’d ordered two pizzas, one plain and one with pepperoni.

“Did Grandma tell you I want a fish?” Bailey asked after she’d swallowed a bite of her food.

Austin nearly choked on his pizza. “No, Grandma didn’t mention it.”

His mother grinned. “She actually wants a puppy but I managed to talk her down to a fish,” she said, her eyes glittering with mischief.

Austin supposed he was lucky his mom hadn’t encouraged his daughter’s desire for a dog… although he really was giving it thought. He just wouldn’t mention it to Bailey in case he decided against it.

Bailey pushed herself up on her knees on the booth bench. “Yeah, I wanted a dog, Daddy. But Grandma said you’re too busy working. But I told her Mia takes such good care of me, she could take care of the dog, too.”

As if Mia needed another thing to care for. “I think we’d have to talk to Mia about any pet you get, honey.”

“Does that mean maybe a dog? Can we go to a puppy store? Please?” Bailey squeezed her hands together like she was praying.

Austin blinked, uncertain how they’d gone from fish back to puppy in the blink of an eye. “First of all, if we did ever get a dog, we’d adopt one.”

“Connor in my class is adopted,” Bailey said. “His mommy said he’s extra-special because she picked him. I think I’m extra special because you’re my daddy.” She picked up her pizza and took a large bite, smearing grease across her cheeks and not caring.

He wiped her face with a huge lump in his throat because this child meant so damned much to him. It didn’t matter to him how he’d had her, it only mattered that he did.

“You are extra-special, Bailey Button.” He met his father’s, then mother’s gaze. Both their eyes were filling, too. “Okay, should we take the leftovers home?” he asked.

“Yeah. Would you give some to Mia?” Bailey asked.

“Sure thing.”

“How is Mia?” his mother asked. “I was hoping she’d come for dinner.”

He frowned at the question because he really didn’t know how Mia was. “She’s… she hasn’t been herself. She was sick and it’s lingered. I think it’s got her all out of sorts.”

“Maybe you should talk to her and find out what’s going on,” his mother suggested.

“I asked if she’s okay. Beyond that, there isn’t much I can do. I’m sure she has a lot on her mind, what with testifying this week.”