I realized the only way to be rid of Gabriel for good was to start my own business giving child birth lessons privately.
“Hey, she’s going to be fine,” Lexi says jolting me back to the present. “We’re all here for her and you.”
It dawns on me that I’ve been staring at my six-month-old baby daughter and Lexi has drawn the conclusion that I am worried about her.
“Did you give some more thought about her father?” Lexi says, having gotten an opening into the one topic of conversation on which we disagreed.
I inch toward the door.
“I haven’t given you Logan’s address yet and you’re already inching toward the door,” she says in a dry tone.
I let out a breath. “To answer your question, I will. As soon as I settle in I’ll contact him. Okay?”
“It’s the right thing to do.” Lexi stands up. She reaches into the pocket of her jeans and hands me a slip of paper. “Logan is a good person.”
I grin. “How can he not be? He’s a fire fighter.”
“He’s also pretty hot,” Lexie adds with a wink. “So be careful. He’s also a bit of a playboy and is never serious about women. Don’t be charmed.”
Before she says anything else, I shake my head. “Don’t worry about it. That is so never going to happen, no matter how hot he is. I’m done with men, permanently. As far as I’m concerned, the only good one is Ace.”
I expect Lexi to laugh but she doesn’t. “I hope you’re just saying that and over time, you’ll get over what that lying bastard did to you. Love will make you forget that betrayal. I did.”
“Ace wasn’t married,” I point out.
“But he left me with the impression that he would call me.”
I’m itching to leave and I’m tired of thinking and talking about Gabriel. The only good thing about him is the quality of his sperm. He’d helped me make a beautiful baby girl.
“Fine. All the best with Logan,” Lexi says and I gratefully flee before she can think of something else to say.
Chapter 2
Logan
The sweet fragrance of the flowers in my back garden fills the air as I water my blooming lilacs. They are gorgeous and a deep shade of purple. In early summer, my garden comes to life, splashing with color and natural perfume.
On my days off work and when I don’t have a date, I love pottering in my back garden, plucking weeds, and digging along the borders. With the sun perfectly warm and my eyes shaded by sunglasses, it’s the closest I’ve come to pure happiness.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I shift the hose pipe to my left hand and fish for it. I groan when I read the name of the caller across the screen. Valerie Green. I consider not answering it but if I don’t, she’ll call an hour later and then again, until she speaks to me.
“Hey Valerie,” I say with a fake cheer. I’m not normally an asshole but it’s near impossible to be living with a woman you only met three months ago under unpleasant circumstances. Not to mention the knowledge at the back of my mind that she expects me to tell her that I’m ready every time she calls.
“Hello, Logan. How are you doing? How is work?” she asks.
Admiration for Valerie comes over me. No matter how badly she might want me to say that I’m ready, she never speaks to me as if she called for that purpose. She talks to me as you would a friend you catch up with every week.
“Work is great, no major incidences this week. I’m off today. How about you and Morris?” I ask.
“We’re okay, enjoying our retirement,” she says and adds with a chuckle. “He’s gotten over complaining about having anything to do since Emma came into our lives.”
Guilt grabs me by the throat. Morris and Valerie should not be taking care of a baby. They should take on the roles of doting grandparents and with the rest of their time, go on cruises and enjoy their retirement.
I ask the question I dread asking every week but I must. It’s the only reason why we were pushed together, with no choice in the matter.
“How is Emma?”
Before she can answer, a shrill comes over the phone. I hold it away from my ear.
Valerie chuckles. “There’s your answer. See what a healthy set of lungs she has.” The sounds of the baby crying grow fainter until they disappear completely. “Her grandpa has taken her. She’s growing so fast.”
“That’s nice.” It’s a lame response but I don’t know what else to say.
It’s Valerie’s way of hinting that I should do something before it’s too late. But what? I’m a bachelor and I don’t have space for a baby in my life. I love my life as it is and yeah, I know that makes me a selfish bastard but a baby has never figured in my life. Not since…