The Skipper & the Billionaire Playboy (12 page)

His lips tightened. “Not necessarily. My uncle had juvenile onset, and he was dead by twenty, choking to death on his own saliva. The earlier symptoms present in a family, the more likely anyone with the gene is to have a severe form. I didn’t want that kind of life for our child, or the uncertainty of knowing or not knowing what he was facing.

“As I said, it was a knee-jerk reaction. I’ve spent my whole life fighting against the idea of having children, convinced I never wanted them, because I didn’t want to pass on the curse of Huntington’s. It was my original, honest gut reaction, but it’s not how I feel now.”

She sneered at him. “Now that our child should okay, it’s fine to let it live? That’s horrible, Sawyer. What if it has some other defect, like Down Syndrome? Will you want an abortion again?”

“No, of course not.” He spoke with quiet conviction. “It was a horrible reaction, and I want you to know that during the past three days when I waited for the results, I realized I would love our baby no matter what, even if he had juvenile onset, and even if I was dead within ten years, and he barely remembered me. I want to be here to help you. I wanted to support him and you during the time I had left. The life I had before is meaningless and worthless, especially without you and him. I’m sorry.”

They were simple words, clearly heartfelt, and they penetrated the anger she clung to like a blanket. She still hadn’t forgiven him for hiding so much from her, or his handling of the shock of the pregnancy, and it would take a while before she could trust him completely again, but she believed he genuinely wanted to be involved with their child. Just how involved was the major remaining question.

“How do you envision your support working, Sawyer? Are you going to mail a generous monthly check, but never see him? Will you fly him in to see you a few times a year, along with all the nannies money can buy? Will you take him for holidays and summers on the
Quixote
? I’d like to know what level of involvement you’re envisioning, Sinclair?”

He visibly winced at the use of his surname. “I’m envisioning a wedding ring, a lifetime commitment, being by your side when you give birth, and giving him three or four more brothers and sisters too. I see us supporting you from the sidelines as you race in the Louis Vuitton Cup, and as you eventually win the America’s Cup. Whatever life we have, I see you beside me, and him between us. I want that so badly for all three of us.”

Nadia stared at him helplessly, unable to hide the tears streaming down her face. “I’m not sure I can trust you, Sawyer. You hurt me so badly.” Abruptly, she remembered there was one more urgent question for which she need an answer. The answer that would determine the outcome of everything else. “Did you sleep with Paige?”

Sawyer shook his head vigorously. “I wasn’t at all interested in her. I’ve only been interested in you since I saw you that morning on the boat in that sexy bikini. At first, I’ll admit it was strictly physical, and I was envisioning another one of my shallow flings with you, with the added bonus of getting my grandfather off my back for a while. I didn’t expect to feel anything more for you than simple desire, and I sure as heck didn’t expect to fall in love with you.”

She flinched at the word, not ready to hear it on his lips. “Don’t say that.”

He smiled tenderly. “You just told me you don’t trust me, so I have to tell you the truth so you’ll trust me again someday. The truth is I love you, Nadia. I went out of my way to drive you away because I knew it was becoming something special between us. It would inevitably lead to a long-term commitment, and I didn’t want to marry someone thinking I had only a few years left to live.

“I didn’t want to be the burden on you that I would have become if I went downhill too quickly, or if I didn’t have the nerve to follow through with suicide. I sure as heck didn’t want to have children that would have this curse, or leave them fatherless within a few years. Driving you away was the only solution I could think of, but it ripped my heart into about a million pieces to do so.”

She wanted to cling to her anger and her disbelief, but it was increasingly difficult in face of his sincerity. Was she punishing him for hurting her, or was she trying to shield her own heart from further hurt? She wasn’t entirely clear on the answer, which left her unsettled. She didn’t want to penalize him out of spite, but it was only natural to protect herself after what he had done before. “I’m willing to give you a second chance to prove these things, Sawyer, but I’m not jumping into anything right away with you. Do you understand?”

“I understand.” He squeezed her hand before tugging her closer to put his arm around her. There was nothing sexual in the touch,. It was simply an embrace of comfort and affection. “I love you enough to wait for you however long it takes. I’m going to be a better man for you and our baby, Nadia.”

She shook her head. “You can’t change for someone else.”

“Then I’ll change for myself, because my life is completely upside down and different from what I thought it would be. Without death looming over me in a decade, or the fear I’ll be sitting around with no memory of who I am, or worry about choking to death on water, life is suddenly vibrantly beautiful and full of possibilities.”

“Does that mean you’re ready for more adventures?”

He grinned. “I’ll always be up for the occasional adventure, but right now, I’d like to settle down here and run the company, marry you, and raise our child.” He held up a hand. “And somewhere in that plan, we’re going to make sure you get to pursue your dreams too. I’m not asking you to give them up. I’m sorry you have to delay for a little bit, but we’ll make it work.”

“I already had a plan.” She nibbled on her bottom lip as she considered her options. What he described called to her, and she was having a difficult time maintaining her resolve not to falter. “I think I’ve made the right contacts that I’ll always have an in with racing when I’m ready. I had a new job lined up, but I imagine Hugo will understand the change of plans.” Being newly married and with a baby of his own, she suspected he would not only understand but would approve of her staying with Sawyer instead of moving halfway across the world to skipper another yacht as a single mother.

“So, you’ll give me another chance?” he affirmed.

She nodded. “A slow, cautious chance, because I don’t want my heart broken again.”

He tilted his head slightly. “I broke your heart?” He asked it solemnly, but there was a gleam of hope in his eyes. “Does that mean you’d given me part of your heart?”

She sighed, allowing herself to rest against him and enjoy the embrace. “I gave you far more of my heart than was wise or sensible, and I did it in spite of my own best judgment. It’s going to take you a while to win it back.” Even as she uttered the words, she questioned how deeply she really meant them. She wasn’t going to let him off the hook easily, but Nadia knew that someday soon, she would be ready to trust him again and embrace their future together.

“You have to be kidding.” Nadia panted her way through another intense contraction as she stared at the large pink sapphire and diamond engagement ring Sawyer held out in front of her. “Now? You’re proposing right now?” She paused from castigating him to whimper and breathe as the contraction peaked. Only after it faded did she collapse against the pillow and look at the ring again. “You have the worst timing ever, Sinclair.”

He winced. “Oh no. I’m back to my last name. It’s a good last name, though, don’t you think? The kind of last name an America’s Cup champion would have?”

She rolled her eyes. “That’s still a few years away.” Nadia was planning to join the racing circuit once their daughter was weaned, but it would be at least a year before she even made it to competing for the Louis Vuitton Cup, let alone the America’s Cup.

Before she could say anything else, she had to deal with another contraction, followed by another right after. When she looked up again, the ring was gone, but he was right beside her. His hand held hers, and his arm was behind her back, providing firm support. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t as yet another pain rushed through her. “Make it stop,” she panted. “Epidural.”

“Too late for that, dear,” said her obstetrician. Dr. Gale was entirely too cheerful about that too, the evil man. “You’re crowning, and this little lovely will be here soon.”

“You can do it,” whispered Sawyer as he brushed a kiss against her cheek.

Nadia summoned her determination, needing to end this delivery now, before she broke down into a sobbing mess. Why had natural childbirth seemed so appealing? She knew the health benefits, but right then, she would have gladly taken a mallet to the head if it would ease some of the agony.

Two more contractions, along with the infamous ring of fire, and she suddenly felt a lot better. The pain faded even more as Dr. Gale held up their squalling daughter. She was a healthy light-brown color, with clearly efficient lungs, and a head full of dark curls. Seconds later, she was on Nadia’s stomach.

Sawyer put his hand out for the scissors, cutting the cord without a hint of hesitation. When he lifted their daughter into his arms, he displayed no doubts. He was clearly committed to his new role and all-in.

As he brought Sailor to her, Nadia took the baby in her right arm, holding out her left hand with a tired grin. “Yes.”

“Yes?” His eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Yes,” she said again, no doubts either. A second later, the ring box reappeared, and the large diamond was nestled on her left finger. “Good lord, honey, if I ever get lost at sea, I can just catch the light off this thing and use it as a beacon.”

His cheeks tinted pink. “I wanted something as beautiful as you. The ring doesn’t even come close, but it’s the best I could do.”

“It’s lovely,” she said sincerely, dropping the teasing. “Not as lovely as Sailor, of course.” She bent her head to brush a kiss across the baby’s head as her daughter nuzzled at her breast.

“Or Sailor’s mother.” Bending down, he kissed her sweetly before easing away. “I love you, Nadia.”

“I love you too, Sawyer.” Not only did she love him, but she trusted him. He had lived up to his word every day since they had reconciled. He was there for her and their daughter. It meant the world to her, and she knew they meant the world to him.

M
ia Caldwell has been fantasizing
about stories of "Happily-Ever-After" since she was a little girl, and now that's she's all grown up her "Happily-Ever-After" stories have taken a steamier turn! After graduating from college Mia still wasn't quite sure what she wanted to do with her life. Bored with her day job as an Administrative Assistant for a non-profit, she started writing stories on the side and sharing them with her friends. They gave her the push she needed to share them with you! She lives in New York with two rascally cats named Link and Zelda, eats too much chocolate and Chinese take-out, and goes on way too many blind dates. She's still waiting for Mr. Right, but in the meantime she'll keep dreaming up the perfect man!