Starting Over (21 page)

He claimed the
chair beside her as though she hadn’t asked him to leave, but he
remained silent.

“What are
doing?” she demanded.

“Waiting until
you’re ready to talk. I have no place to be, so if you need a day,
week, month… I’m good with that.”

“Why are you
here?” she cried. He was stubborn enough to stick around until she
agreed to hear him out.

“We need to
talk.”

“I think we’ve
said everything, don’t you?”

“Not even
close.” He laced his hands over his flat stomach and slouched in
the chair. Crossing one ankle over the other, he looked as though
he was settling in for a long chat. “I’m sorry.”

Eve let his
words sink in. She knew he was sorry—she’d heard his distress in
his voice mail messages—but that couldn’t undo his accusations or
the anguish it caused. “I arranged for the paternity test. Just to
put your mind at ease.”

“I was a
stupid, callous bastard to say the things I did when you told me
about the baby,” he said gently, shifting to face her. “I’m so damn
sorry, Eve.”

She closed her
eyes when a tear threatened to spill down her cheek. “I believe
you.” Alex had never used words to hurt her. He may have been
insensitive or careless at times, but never malicious.

“But that
doesn’t change anything, does it?”

“Some words are
like missiles,” she said quietly. “Once you launch them, you can’t
get them back. Not even if you misfire and hit an unintended
target.”

“You know I
never meant to hurt you. I was just reeling… I didn’t know what to
think, how to respond.”

“And now that
you’ve had a chance to think about it, how do you feel?” She was
almost afraid to ask, but she’d tortured herself with that question
for days. Was he sorry he hurt her, or was he sorry he’d lashed out
and acted as if he didn’t want the baby she was carrying to be his?
He stayed quiet for so long, she gave up waiting. “I guess I have
my answer, don’t I?”

He reached for
her hand when she stood. “No, you don’t.” He coaxed her back down
with a gentle tug. “I didn’t know how I felt at first. I was
confused and shocked. Now that I’ve had a chance to think about it,
I’m excited and happy. I want this baby.”

She wanted to
believe that, but knowing how he’d felt about having a baby when
they were married made it difficult for her to believe he’d changed
his mind so drastically. “Why do you feel differently now? You
admitted you didn’t want a baby when we were married.” Since he’d
told her that truth, she laid awake night after night, chastising
herself for all the times she tried to draw him into conversation
about the baby they would have… a baby that had been her dream, not
his.

“Everything was
different then. I was working crazy hours, traveling all over the
world. Now I can put down roots, be there for my kid…
our
kid.
I can be the kind of dad I always wanted to be.”

Her heart
twisted thinking about the kind of father Alex would be. He would
adore and spoil their child, but he could also be demanding. He
expected perfection from himself and others—anything less was
unacceptable. She hoped he wouldn’t be too hard on their son or
daughter. She wanted them to find their own path, the way her aunt
had encouraged her to find hers.

“I’m glad you
feel that way,” she said begrudgingly. “I’m sorry I threatened to
cut you out of their life. I hope you know I would never have done
that.” Living without a father during her formative years had
taught her how much a child needs her daddy. She wanted her son or
daughter to have a solid relationship with Alex, one that made them
feel secure and loved.

“I know.” He
smiled. “I backed you into a corner, and you came out swinging. I
wouldn’t have expected anything less.”

She returned
his smile, and a great sense of relief settled over her. She hated
being at odds with him. “So, where do we go from here?”

“Well,” he
said, lacing his fingers and stretching his arms overhead, “I have
a proposition for you. I know it may sound like it’s coming out of
left field, but I have given it a lot of thought, especially since
I found out about the baby.”

“What is it?”
she asked, getting a chill in spite of the warm summer breeze
tickling her skin.

“I know the
kind of mother you want to be. You’ve told me dozens of times.”

He was right;
she had. She wanted to be the cookie-baking mom who attended every
dance recital and soccer game and volunteered for school field
trips. That was before, when her only focus was her family. Things
were different. She had the inn and the foundation to consider as
well, and she didn’t want to let her Aunt Sharon down.

As though he
could read her thoughts—just like in the old days—he said, “You
can’t deny that’s going to be tough with this place to run, the
renovation to complete, the foundation—”

“What are you
getting at? If you’re suggesting I sell the inn again, I already
told you that’s not going to happen.”

“Would you
consider a partner?”

Shock rendered
her momentarily speechless. “What are you talking about?”

“I’d like to
buy half the inn, or forty-nine percent, if you would feel better
retaining controlling interest.”

She rubbed a
hand over her heart when it raced. “What are you talking about? Why
would you want to do that?”

“It makes
perfect sense, if you think about it. I know business. Granted, I
don’t have experience in the hospitality industry, but my M.B.A.
gave me a good foundation for whatever business I choose to
pursue.”

After Bolton
Industries had been sold, Eve knew her ex-husband would look for
other opportunities before long. She just never expected him to
knock at her door. She couldn’t deny he was a brilliant business
man and having him on board would alleviate a lot of her stress,
but could she really work with the ex she still loved and was about
to share a child with?

“I know it’s a
lot to consider.”

With a harsh
laugh, she asked, “You think?”

“It could be
the answer for all of us, sweetheart.” He visibly tensed when she
frowned at his term of endearment. “Sorry, old habits die
hard.”

“It’s okay.” It
wasn’t. She didn’t need him to remind her of their past that was
already impossible to forget.

“Think about
it. Allowing me to manage the day-to-day operations would ease some
of your burden.”

Eve couldn’t
deny he was right. She wondered how her aunt would feel about that
arrangement. She honestly didn’t think Sharon would object. If Eve
hadn’t asked Alex for a divorce, they may have run the inn together
anyways. “I don’t know…”

“You’re not
saying no,” he said, flashing straight white teeth that still made
her toes curl. “That’s a start.”

“You’ve given
me a lot to think about,” she admitted, her mind racing. He would
be there all the time, her partner, a full-time father to their
child. She would come to depend on him once again, and that scared
her.

“This would
allow you to manage the foundation and still spend time with the
baby.”

While she
wouldn’t admit it, child care was one of her biggest concerns. She
didn’t want a stranger raising the baby she’d been so desperate to
have. “Sharon left the inn to me. I know she never intended for me
to sell even a part of it.”

“You know how
much I love this place,” he said, tipping his head and looking at
her out of the corner of his eye. “It has so many great memories
for us. Even more so now.” He glanced at her flat stomach.

Eve felt her
cheeks catch fire, and she was grateful it was too dark for him to
see. “I know, but—”

“I loved Sharon
too, Eve. I hope you know that.”

He earned back
another little piece of her heart with that comment. She knew it
was true. “I know you did. She loved you too.”

“I want to do
everything in my power to keep her memory alive here. For her, for
you, and for our baby. I want our son or daughter to know what an
amazing woman your aunt was.”

Eve was glad to
hear that, especially since she
was
considering his offer.
“Thank you for saying that. I just need some time to think about
this. Can we talk more about it tomorrow?”

Alex smirked.
“Does that mean you’re offering me a room for the night?”

“Sure,” she
said, getting to her feet. “Let’s get you set up. I’d really like
to turn in—” Before she could finish, he pulled her into his arms.
Her breath hitched when she saw the intensity in his eyes under the
glow of the full moon.

“I want you to
promise me you’re going to take better care of yourself.” He
brushed the back of his hand over her cheek. “You and this baby
mean everything to me. I can’t let anything happen to either one of
you.”

Her heart
swelled with love for him, and she didn’t know how she would ever
work with him day in and out without telling him how she felt.
“Nothing will happen to us.” She wouldn’t let it. She’d been
waiting too long to allow a cruel twist of fate to take her baby
away from her.

Leaning his
head against her forehead, he said, “Promise me you’ll get plenty
of rest, eat well, avoid stress…” He grinned. “That’s it. That’s
all I know.”

Looping her
fingers through the belt loops of his worn jeans, she matched his
smile, allowing the simple pleasure of sharing that moment with him
to wash over her. “I can see I have a lot to teach you about
pregnancy.”

Brushing a
quick kiss across her cheek, he said, “Good thing I’m a quick
learner.”

***

“Are you out of
your mind?” Dan demanded, barging into Eve’s office. “You can’t
seriously be considering this.”

Eve wasn’t in
the mood to endure another one of Dan’s tirades. He’d been on edge
ever since he learned she was pregnant. “What are you referring
to?” She tried to stay calm. She was trying to deal with a
construction crisis after a bout with morning sickness, and the
last thing she needed was to go toe-to-toe with him.

“I just
overheard your worthless ex tell Jane he offered to buy half the
inn.”

“Perhaps you
shouldn’t eavesdrop on private conversations.” She still adored her
old friend, but remaining patient with him was getting difficult
when he seemed so determined to dictate every decision she
made.

“Don’t tell me
it’s true,” he said, bracing his fists on the desk and looming over
her. “Tell me he was just blowing smoke again.”

“Alex did make
me an offer, and I’m seriously considering it.” In fact, she’d
thought about little else. The more she thought about it, the more
his proposal seemed like the answer to her prayers. Just delegating
the construction project to him would be a blessing. Alex would be
able to handle errant contractors with no problem, especially after
some of the business tyrants he’d dealt with over the years. He
didn’t possess her softer side, at least not in business, and it
seemed as if everyone who crossed his path sensed that and gave him
a wide berth.

“How could you
betray your aunt that way?”

Eve’s head
snapped up, anger swiftly displacing her frustration. “Excuse
me?”

“She left this
inn to you to run. You haven’t even been at it a month, and already
you decide you can’t hack it? You need your hero to ride in and
rescue you?”

The derision in
his voice turned her stomach. She’d never seen that side of Dan.
He’d always been so loving and compassionate toward her, offering
unwavering support. “I don’t need your permission to sell half the
inn. It’s my decision.”

“Are you
sleeping with him again? Is that when he threw this idea out there,
when he had you back in bed and right where he wanted you?”

Shocked that he
would be so disrespectful, Eve asked, “How can you—”

“You have
thirty minutes to pack your shit and get out before I kick your
ass!” Alex filled the doorway, his hand fisted at his sides.

“Go to hell,
Bolton,” Dan shot back without sparing a glance over his shoulder.
“I don’t take orders from you.” Dan glared at Eve. “I should’ve
known you weren’t strong enough to stand your ground with him.
You’re not half the woman your aunt was.”

Tears burned
the back of her throat, but Eve refused to give in to them and
lifted her chin. “I don’t care what you think. I’ll run this
business as I see fit. If you don’t like it, there’s the door.”

“You really
think I’m gonna stick around now that I know there’s nothing in it
for me?” Dan asked, crossing his arms.

“What’s that
supposed to mean?” Eve asked, holding her breath when Alex took
another step into the room. She knew he was a heartbeat away from
taking a shot at Dan, and that was the last thing she needed.

Dan hesitated,
as though he was trying to get his anger under control. His
expression softened when he said, “We were meant to be together. If
anyone should be running this inn with you, it’s me. Not him. Why
can’t you see that?”

His words
settled in on Eve, crushing her as she faced the harsh reality. It
was time for her and Dan to part ways. Time to say good-bye to
another part of her past. “This is what I want, Dan. I know you may
not understand that, but you don’t have to. It’s my decision.”

Dan rounded the
desk. “Just gimme a chance to prove to you how good we could be
together, Evie. You can’t tell me you forget what it was like.” He
bent down, touching her leg as he silently pleaded with her to look
him in the eye. “We were incredible together, in and out of
bed.”

“You worthless
piece of—” Alex moved in on Dan, but Eve held up her hand to stop
him.

“Please, we
need to have this out, Alex.” She was amazed her voice sounded so
strong and steady when she was crumbling inside. “So, you knew I
was thinking about leaving Alex, and you thought I’d divorce him
and fall in love with you?” It hurt to think he’d had an ulterior
motive for standing by her side during Sharon’s illness. She wanted
to believe Dan loved and respected Sharon as much as she did, that
he considered her family, now she wasn’t so sure.