Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Don’t freak out, please,” I say. “Paige is only four months along. We’re going to figure it out. And no matter what happens, we’ll make sure you have plenty of time to spend with your grandchild.”
Mom nods. “When can I meet her? Maybe if she comes here and gets to know all of us and sees your beautiful home, she’ll want to move here.”
It’s doubtful, especially after she made it clear she needs to put herself first, which includes not moving anywhere for anyone.
“I’ll talk to her,” I say. “But if she comes to visit, you can’t push her to move there.”
“I won’t,” Mom promises. “But you said it yourself. She doesn’t have any family there. So, maybe once she meets ours, she’ll want to move here.”
“Maybe,” I agree, knowing it’s not going to be that easy.
“Keep in touch,” Dad says. “We love you.”
“Love you too.”
I hang up and lie back in my bed, wishing I were with Paige at her house instead of in a hotel room. I think about what my mom said, her worry over me possibly having to move.
The truth is, until Paige, the only future I could see for myself was in Dallas as CEO of Bradford Hotels. But now, when I think about my future, the only thing I know for certain is that it includes Paige and our baby.
chapter seventeen
PAIGE
“Hey, Paige. There’s a delivery for you.”
I glance up from the email I’m typing and find Janet standing in my doorway, along with a gentleman holding a lunch box.
“Thanks, Janet.”
She retreats, and I move toward the gentleman.
“Paige Abrams?” the gentleman verifies.
“That’s me.”
He smiles and then sets the lunch box on the edge of the sofa. He unzips it and pulls out a container of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food ice cream, followed by a jar of pickles.
“For you,” he says, like it’s perfectly normal to deliver pickles and ice cream.
Before I can ask who these are from, he says, “Oh! There’s a message too.”
He pulls a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and hands it to me.
“Thank you,” I say, confused—but delighted—that someone has sent me my two favorite items.
I grab a ten-dollar bill from my purse, but the gentleman shakes his head.
“No can do. I was already tipped and told not to accept one from you.”
He nods once and then exits my office, leaving me with my ice cream, pickles, and a note.
After storing the goods in my mini fridge, I sit down and open the note.
Princess,
I look forward to dinner tonight. Here are a few essential items to help get you through your day.
XO,
Your Prince
My thoughts go back to our time in London, the night I got drunk…
“I wish you were my prince,” I murmur, tears sliding down my face as Nate tucks the blanket around me.
“I do too,” he whispers, swiping his thumb across my cheek to wipe the tears away as my eyes close. “Now, sleep, Princess. I’ve got you.”
“What’s wrong?” Ana asks, making me jump.
When I glance up, she’s blurry, and I realize I was tearing up at the memory.
“Nothing,” I say with a laugh, trying to play it off. “You know how it is. Pregnancy hormones are going to be the death of me.”
Ana nods in understanding and sits in the visitor seat across from me. “I get it, but generally, there’s a reason for crying.”
“I found Nate.”
Ana’s eyes bulge. “What? When?”
“Yesterday.”
“And I’m only now hearing about this? And only because I came to you! What the hell, Paige?”
“It was all so much,” I say with a sigh. “One minute, I was running late from my checkup, and the next, I was standing in the conference room, staring into his whiskey-colored eyes. For a second, I thought I was imagining shit.”
“I bet!” she exclaims. “How did he find you?”
“He always knew how to. He had my full name, and I told him I worked for Kingston. I just thought he’d respect my wishes when I told him what happened in London needed to stay in London.”
“Well, thank God he didn’t listen! So, he just showed up?”
“Not quite. He’s Nathan Bradford…with—”
“Holy shit! Bradford Hotels!” Ana shrieks, bouncing in her seat. “They’re partnering with Kingston.”
“I know,” I say with a laugh.
“Of course you do.” She rolls her eyes. “Sorry, I’m just so excited. You found your baby daddy!” She eyes me skeptically. “Which has me wondering why you aren’t more excited.”
“I am,” I say with a half-smile.
“Oh, yeah, I can tell you’re just jumping for joy.” Her brows pinch together. “Wait, is that why you were crying? Did he say something? Do something? I’ll murder him in his sleep.”
“Easy there, killer.” I chuckle. “I wasn’t crying. I was tearing up because he had pickles and ice cream delivered with a note, and it made me emotional.”
“Awww, that’s so sweet. So, I’m assuming that means he knows about the baby?”