Inheriting His Secret Christmas Baby(21)
Author: Heidi Betts

“Getting married seems like the perfect solution to all of our problems. It will alleviate any concerns about custody, keep the press from turning into a pack of rabid wolves the minute they catch wind that I fathered a child with a complete stranger, and give Bradley what he needs most—a loving father and mother.”

Haylie swallowed hard, trying to get a hold on her runaway emotions and put some kind of order to her scrambled thoughts.

On the one hand, she was happy they finally had their answer, that they—Trevor, especially—knew without a doubt that Bradley was his son. She hadn’t been lying, hadn’t come to him with some crazy, made-up story and dollar signs dancing in her head.

On the other hand, this news put a giant, ragged hole in the little bubble she’d allowed herself to live in these past few weeks. The one that let her believe everything was fine, that let her enjoy her time with Trevor, being under his roof, pretending that the fictitious happily-ever-after fantasy she’d invented would last forever.

But she’d always known it wouldn’t, she just hadn’t expected it to end quite this abruptly or in quite this way.

And she certainly hadn’t expected Trevor to propose marriage.

Great sex was not a good enough reason to get married. Neither was primary physical custody of a child they both loved and wanted desperately. The fact that he was suggesting they tie the knot in such a cold, calculated manner told her that much.

He made it sound like a business proposition. A deal that would benefit them both.

And maybe it would. On paper, it all sounded very logical.

They both wanted Bradley, and by marrying, they could both keep him.

She worked well with his sisters, and had proven she could plan grand parties and events at Jarrod Ridge, as well as anywhere else in Aspen, Denver or beyond.

They suited each other well in bed, so even if their marriage was a loveless one, there would be no lack of passion.

But that was the problem, wasn’t it? Any union between them would be completely lacking in what it needed most—love.

Worse, she was very much afraid that would only be true from his point of view, because she’d already fallen a little bit in love with him, hadn’t she? It didn’t seem possible, given that they’d only known each other for three weeks, but it was true, all the same.

She didn’t think she could agree to a business arrangement marriage with him, and then go through the rest of her life loving him even though she knew he would never love her in return. And if he went back to his old habits of being a smooth, suave ladies’ man, sleeping with other women on the side… That would surely kill her.

“I—I—” She caught herself stammering again and made herself stop, take a deep breath and start over.

“No,” she said more firmly. With conviction. “No, I don’t think that would be a very good idea at all. I don’t need a marriage certificate to provide for Bradley—or your money. I’m perfectly capable of caring for him on my own, back in Denver, just as I have since the day he was born. You can see him, of course. Anytime. I won’t ever try to keep you from him, and I’m sure we can work out a reasonable visitation schedule. But I’m not going to marry you simply because you think it would be an amusing convenience.”

For a minute, Haylie didn’t think he was going to respond, but she knew from the narrowing of his eyes and tightening of his mouth that he wasn’t happy with her answer. Then he released her wrist and crossed his arms in front of his chest, regarding her with cold, dark eyes.

“I’m afraid that’s unacceptable,” he told her in no uncertain terms. “A child should know both of his parents. I’m Bradley’s father, and for all intents and purposes, you’re his mother. I don’t want him shuffled back and forth between the two of us like a piece of luggage. After only recently discovering I have a half sister, and just now getting to know my own son, there’s no way I’m going to let him out of my sight again.”

“And that’s the only reason you want to get married?” she asked quietly.

She didn’t mean to, but she found herself holding her breath, waiting for his reply. Maybe he did have feelings for her. Even if it wasn’t head-over-heels, undying love, maybe there was something there. Something they could build on, that would give her hope for the future.

“Of course,” he answered. “Marriage is the best plan of action I can think of that will give us both what we want.”

So much for rose petals and arias and heartfelt declarations of love.

“I’m sorry,” she said, shaking her head and feeling the sadness of the words all the way to her soul. “I can’t.”

She felt Trevor’s emotional withdrawal even before he stepped back, distancing himself physically.

“I’m sorry, too,” he told her in a hard, flat voice. “And I’d urge you to reconsider. If you push me on this, I’m afraid I’ll have to play hardball. I’ll file for custody, Haylie, and you know that as Bradley’s biological father, the courts will give him to me.”

Not to mention his power and money and influence. He was right; if it came down to a court battle over Bradley, she would lose every time.

Careful not to touch her in any way, he moved around her and out of the office, leaving her alone to reflect upon his less than veiled threat.

For the first time since Haylie had started sharing his bed, Trevor woke up alone. He was sure it was only his imagination that led him to believe the room was quieter, the sheets cooler and less welcoming than when she was there.

With any luck, though, it wouldn’t last.

They’d both gone to bed angry last night. After being turned down flat by the only woman he’d ever proposed marriage to, he’d let his temper get the better of him and stormed off to nurse his bruised ego.

He was sure Haylie hadn’t felt much like singing after he’d left her in the den, either. He shouldn’t have threatened her, and saying he would file for custody in order to take Bradley from her had been just that.

Surely there was a compromise to be made, some middle ground where they could agree on what was best for Bradley and how their relationship should proceed. He still thought marriage was the smartest way to go. And there were worse situations he could think of than having Haylie in his bed every night and every morning, of sharing his home with her, of raising Bradley with her.

The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea, and decided to bring it up to her one more time. Maybe in the bright light of day, she would be more agreeable to seeing sense.

After grabbing a quick shower, he dressed for work, then went downstairs, expecting to find Haylie there, fussing with Bradley and getting ready to go with him to the Ridge. Instead, he found the first level eerily quiet, the kitchen empty and exactly as they’d left it last evening.

With a frown beginning to mar his brow, he checked the other rooms just to be sure she wasn’t tucked away somewhere, working on more wedding plans. When he didn’t find Haylie or the baby, he climbed back upstairs, stopping in front of her bedroom door. Her closed bedroom door, which she normally left open during the day when she or the baby weren’t in there.

Tapping gently, he waited for a reply. When he didn’t get one, he tapped again and called her name. Nothing.

Trying the handle, he found the door unlocked and slowly pushed it open…only to find the room just as empty as the rest of the house. The bed was made, the baby’s things missing from the crib and changing table, Haylie’s belongings gone from the closet and bathroom vanity.

A slick feeling of dread began to trickle down his spine, tightening his chest and gut. If their things were gone, then that meant…

Taking the steps two at a time, he hurried back downstairs to search again. Everything. Every room, every broom closet, and finally the garage. The Escalade was still there, but her older, less roadworthy hunk of junk was not. It was gone, and so, he feared, were Haylie and Bradley.

She’d left him. Packed up in the middle of the night and taken off. Back to Denver, no doubt. Without a word. Without even leaving a note.

Dammit. He didn’t know who he was more upset with: Haylie for running away—with his son, no less—or himself for royally messing up last night’s difference of opinion.

Not quite sure what to do or how to handle the situation, he climbed behind the wheel of his Hummer and headed for Jarrod Ridge. He would go to the office, just as he’d planned. Work out his anger and frustrations at the computer, and maybe later on the slopes.

He certainly wasn’t going to go racing off to Denver, chasing after her like a lovesick fool. At least not until he knew what his next plan of action—with Haylie, with Bradley, with both of them—should be.

Hours later, Trevor had several tabs open on his computer screen, several files spread across his desk…and didn’t feel as though he’d gotten a damn thing done since he’d walked in the office.

A rap on the door caught his attention and increased his level of annoyance, which had been steadily growing as the day progressed.

“What?” he snapped, not bothering to look up from what he was doing. Part of the convenience of working weekends was fewer interruptions. In theory.

When he raised his head, he found himself staring into the eyes of his older brother Blake.

Looking tall and commanding, as usual, Blake wore his role as leader of the Jarrod family and Jarrod Ridge as well as he wore his tailored, gray Armani suit. He also looked as though he knew Trevor was out of sorts and wondering at the cause.

Not waiting for an invitation, his brother strode forward and took a seat opposite Trevor’s.

“Word has it you’re in a lousy mood today and taking it out on your lovely and talented receptionist. Much more, and I’m afraid she might walk.”

With a sigh, Trevor dropped his pen and rubbed his eyes. “I know. I’ll send her flowers and increase her Christmas bonus by way of an apology.”

“An actual apology might help, too,” Blake suggested.

Trevor nodded. “Before I leave for the day.”

“Good.” His brother smoothed the crease in his slacks, obviously searching for his next words. “So what’s the cause of this suddenly sour disposition? Care to share?” he asked.

Leaning back in his chair, Trevor rested his hands on his stomach and decided that his older brother might not be the worst person to confide in at the moment.

“Haylie’s gone,” Trevor admitted. Even voicing that fact hurt, let alone picturing his house as he’d last seen it—empty, empty, empty.

“Gone?” Blake repeated. “As in gone-gone?”

“As in packed up her belongings and the baby and went back to Denver,” he bit out, every word stinging like a paper cut.

“Any reason why she’d just up and take off like that?”

Trevor took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. “Paternity results came back. Bradley is mine.”

Blake’s eyes flashed wide. “That’s terrific.” Then after a second, he said, “It is good news, isn’t it?”