Songbird (34 page)

D
id he mean it?

The question has rattled around in my brain all day.

Shaking my head, I lean back on the park bench and try to enjoy what’s left of my lunch break. It’s a beautiful, cloudless fall day, and the leaves are just starting to change colors. After a few minutes, the ducks arrive, so I tear off a couple pieces of bread from my leftover sandwich and toss it onto the ground for them to fight over. They’ll migrate soon, and I’ll miss seeing them at lunch. When they return in the spring, I’ll be a mother.

Will I be a wife, too?

Apparently, Devin assumed I was asleep when he whispered his nighttime proposal in my ear. He hadn’t mentioned it this morning at breakfast, and I certainly didn’t bring it up. He knows I’m an emotional mess right now. Why would he say something like that?

And did he mean it?

I close my eyes and raise my face toward the sun, willing its warmth to soothe my frazzled nerves. Suddenly, I feel someone sit down next to me. I open my eyes and nearly jump out of my skin when I find Dominic Barkley sitting by my side.

“It’s nice to see you again, Callie. Pretty day, isn’t it?”

I take a deep breath and toss more bread onto the ground. A couple of mallards gather around us, happily snatching up piece after piece.

“Still having me followed, I see.”

“Actually, I called the news office. A very chatty receptionist told me you liked to come to the park for lunch. So I took a chance.”

“I’ll be sure to mention that to Human Resources. She should be fired.”

He chuckles.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Barkley? Or should I say Mayor Barkley?”

He smiles. “Let’s hope. And call me Dominic, please.”

“What do you want?”

“I’d like to apologize. I see now that I came on a bit too strong. I’m sorry. I had no idea you were involved with someone, and I certainly didn’t know you were pregnant.”

“Your investigator would have figured it out sooner or later.”

“I apologize for that, as well. I met a beautiful woman and I wanted to know more about her.”

“That’s a creepy way to get to know someone.”

He nods. “Agreed. Politicians tend to go overboard sometimes. We have many resources at our disposal, and sometimes, we use them when we shouldn’t. I’m sorry if I frightened you.”

I nod and continue watching the ducks.

Dominic chuckles lightly. “I have to say, I am a little surprised. You aren’t Devin’s usual type.”

“What’s Devin’s usual type?”

“Beautiful—which you are. And rich.”

“Money doesn’t buy happiness, Mr. Barkley.”

“No, but it makes life a little easier, doesn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“True. A news reporter for a local paper couldn’t know much about that. Which is why I have an offer for you.”

“What kind of offer?”

“Well, Callie, I don’t know if you follow the news at all . . .”

It’s a joke. We both know it’s meant to be. But I just can’t muster the energy to laugh. He sobers quickly and clears his throat.

“If the polls are to be believed, I am going to be the next mayor of Nashville. Naturally, I’d like to replace most of the current staff. I want to be ready, so I’ve been conducting interviews. I’m going to need a communications director.”

“Which is what? A fancy name for a speech writer?”

“
Senior
speech writer, but yes. Your work is exemplary. I think you would make a fine addition to my administration. Interested?”

“Hmm. And what would Jocelyn have to say about that?”

“Jocelyn will be my press secretary. She’ll have plenty to keep her busy.”

I smirk.
With him as mayor? I’m sure she’ll have her hands full.

If this job offer came from any other mayor-elect, my answer would be a no-brainer, but this is Dominic Barkley, and he’s a creep.

“Callie, I know your first impulse is to say no, but I think you should know the base salary is six figures.”

I blink.
Six figures?

Dominic hands me a card. “Think it over. Call this number to speak with Jocelyn. She can give you more information about insurance benefits and such. That’s important with a baby on the way.”

I stare at the card in my hand as he stands to leave.

“I hope you can accept my apology, and I hope you give serious consideration to my offer. I look forward to hearing from you.”

Dumbfounded, I gaze at the words and numbers on the card until my eyes finally cross. With a heavy sigh, I toss the card into my bag and rest my hand on my baby bump.

Baby girl, your mom is on a roller coaster ride that never ends.

I spend the rest of the afternoon at the paper trying to work on an article, but it’s a waste of time. Between Devin’s whispered proposal and Dominic’s job offer my concentration is completely shot.

Glancing around, I wonder just how much I’d miss it. The deadlines. The hustle. The working my way up the ladder. Dominic Barkley just offered me the whole ladder—complete with affordable benefits, a 401K, and a six-figure salary.

But he’s a creep.

Granted, most politicians are, but this particular man had me followed. Investigated. All because he thought I was hot? It’s overkill, for sure, but he backed off. And now, he’s offering me a dream job. I could truly be Devin’s equal. I could bring something to the relationship besides me and our baby.

I’d be nuts not to consider it.

You aren’t Devin’s usual type.

Recalling Dominic’s comment makes me open my web browser and type
Devin McAllister’s girlfriends
into the search engine. Several images pop up, and most include Devin with his arm wrapped around some beautiful woman that isn’t me. Because I’m a glutton for punishment, I click on one of the pictures of him and a gorgeous woman with long black hair. According to the caption, her name’s Nina Drummond. The picture had been taken at a benefit he attended after Megan’s wedding but
before
I told him I was pregnant.

Still, I want to know more about her.

A search for Nina Drummond reveals that she’s an attorney with a firm in Memphis. A graduate of Harvard Law, she’s obviously intelligent, certainly beautiful, and most definitely wealthy.

Dominic’s right. I’m not Devin’s usual type at all.

Irrational jealousy consumes me.

I close the browser.

Stop this. He loves you. You are having his baby. He said he wants to marry you.

But can I keep him?

And more importantly, do I deserve him?

Shaking my head, I reach for my cell. I know I’m spiraling into a jealous, insecure rage, and there’s only one person who can snap me out of it.

Ice cream emergency. Meet me at the mall?

I hit send.

“Have those pregnancy hormones deprived you of your common sense? You can’t be seriously considering working for that man.”

I should have called Megan.

With a heavy sigh, I dip my spoon into the gigantic sundae in the middle of our table.

“This thing needs more caramel,” I mutter.

“Don’t ignore me, Franklin.”

“Yes, Lorie, I’m considering it. It’s an amazing opportunity.”

“If it were any other mayor, I’d agree with you. But
this
? This is a terrible offer, and to be quite honest, I’m having a hard time believing you don’t
see
that it’s a terrible offer. The man
stalked
you, Callie. Something is clouding your judgment and I’d like to know what it is.”

Lorie’s world is very black and white. Right and wrong. Good and evil. I don’t know why I thought she’d understand.

“Is he blackmailing you?”

“No.”

“Then explain it to me. Give me one good reason why taking this job would be a good thing?”

“I can give you
one hundred thousand
good reasons.”

“So it’s the money.”

I nod.

“Have you forgotten your baby daddy is filthy rich?”

“I’m not worried about us having enough money, Lorie.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m bringing nothing to this relationship.”

Lorie eyes me skeptically. “You’re bringing
you
. You’re bringing that baby. What else do you need to bring?”

I sigh deeply and place my spoon on my napkin. “I’m assuming the whole family has money. Including Owen. Right?”

“So?”

“So doesn’t that . . . intimidate you?”

She shakes her head. “Not at all, and you know why? Because they’re good people. They’ve welcomed us both into their family, and I know for a fact they’re crazy about you. Devin is apparently a changed man since he fell in love with you
and
you’re giving them a grandbaby. Thanks for that, by the way.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, I just have to live up to Saint Callie. No pressure there.”

“Bite me.”

She winks. “Seriously, where’s all this coming from?”

“Devin and I went baby shopping. It was just . . . very eye-opening. And Devin wanted top-of-the-line furniture, nothing but the very best—”

“The
nerve
of that man.”

“We split the bill, but only because I insisted. He planned on paying for every bit of it. Every diaper, every blanket, every—”

“I get it, Callie. What I don’t get is why this is a problem.”

“I want to be his equal, Lorie.”

She regards me thoughtfully.

“Why do you let her do it?”

“I . . . don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Your mother. The woman lives four hours away and she still has this amazing ability to make you feel like you’re undeserving and unworthy. All that
don’t-be-dependent-on-a-man
bullshit she drilled into your head since you were a little girl. It’s ridiculous, Callie.”

I start to argue, but it’s no use. She’s right.

“Has Devin made you feel less than his equal? Ever?”

“No.”

“Do you love him?”

“You know I do.”

“Are you carrying his child?”

I roll my eyes and point to my swollen belly.

“You will never be his equal. And he will never be yours.”

My eyes narrow. “Meaning?”

Lorie picks her up her spoon and dips it into the caramel. “Don’t you see? You are bringing his baby into the world. He can’t do that. What
can
he do? He can buy the baby expensive shit for the nursery and worship the ground you walk on.
That’s
what he can do. And he’s doing it. Let him do it. In return, you carry and nurture the little girl that’s growing inside you, and you love Devin with all your heart. Money will never make you equal. Love makes you equal.”