“Well, hi there.” Easton grinned down at her.
Easton point of view
The little girl who gazed up at me was the spitting image of her beautiful mother. She had large blue eyes and long golden hair, while the stubborn set of her jaw reminded me of myself. She planted her little hands on her hips and narrowed those pretty eyes in what I interpreted as a hostile glare, so out of place on one so young.
Her obvious dislike at first sight set me back on my heels. In my naïve imaginings, I’d pictured her running up to me and launching her little body into my waiting arms. We’d laugh and hug, and I’d spin her around and around until we were both so dizzy, after which I’d have to collapse in the nearest chair. She’d call me Daddy, and my heart would fill up with love every time she said that one amazing word.
“Who are you?” she demanded. I blinked several times, unable to construct an explanation.
A little boy came to a stop behind her as if he had her back. He, too, planted little fists on his hips, legs slightly spread, and scowled at me. My son. Dark brown eyes, dark hair with a mind of its own, and a sturdy little body. He was mine, all right. I had no doubt they were both products of my genetics and Caro’s. How had she not noticed sooner? Why hadn’t she voiced her concerns to me as soon as their parentage became obvious? Why had she kept me in the dark? Caro was such a by-the-book person, I found it really hard to believe she hadn’t a clue.
Anger simmered inside me. I’d tamped it down over the weeks, but now it was back full force. These were my children, and I had rights, too. Damn it, and damn her.
“Who are you?” my daughter, Hailey, demanded again and not very politely. She craned her neck way up to see me. I knelt down so I’d be at eye level.
“I’m Easton. I’m—” I glanced up at Caro, who hovered nearby. Her eyes pleaded with me, and I couldn’t bring myself to be the asshole I’d planned to be. “I’m an old friend of your mother’s.”
Hailey’s expression softened slightly, going from hostile to curious. “I’m Hailey, and this is my brother, Heath. We’re twins but we don’t look alike. Not like most twins. There were twins in my old school, and no one could tell them apart. They would pretend to be each other. Heath and I can’t do that because I’m a girl and he’s a boy, and we don’t look anything alike. Were you friends with my father too? He’s gone, you know. Mommy said he’s gone to heaven, and he won’t be back, but he’s watching over us, and we have to make him proud. Do you have a mommy and daddy? Do you have a dog? We want a dog. I want a pony too. Do you like to ice skate? Heath and I ice skate. He plays hockey. I do figure skating. I’m the best figure skater in the world.”
Holy shit. I struggled to keep up with her steady stream of words as she pounded me with a hundred questions and zero time to answer them. But damn, she was adorable, and I fell in love with her at first sight.
My baby girl.
My heart swelled, and I fought to control my emotions. How did a guy do that when he laid eyes on his children for the first time? I blinked back tears and slid my gaze to Caro. She stepped forward as soon as Hailey paused to draw a breath, put her hands on the little girl’s shoulders, and squeezed.
“Caro, slow down. Easton is very busy and regretfully doesn’t have time to answer your questions.”
“Actually, for you, sweetheart, I have all the time in the world.” I winked at Hailey and grinned at Caro with evil pleasure, reveling in the disapproving scowl on her beautiful face.
“Well, we were just leaving, so if you don’t mind, I need to get the kids’ shoes on, or we’ll be late.” Caro attempted to move both children aside and away from me. Hell no, that wasn’t happening, and the kids weren’t budging, and neither was I.
I turned my attention to the boy, Heath.
“Hi, Heath, I’m Easton.” I held out my hand. He stared at it for a moment, seeming to struggle with what to do next. He shook my hand and gawked at me. The kid had a firm handshake.
“We aren’t going anywhere. You said so. You said we didn’t have any money and had to stay home all weekend. Mr. E, would you stay and play with us?” Hailey challenged her mother while Heath continued to gawk at me, reminding me of the starstruck kids I’d met at team events. Did he realize who I was?
I smirked at Caro, having caught her in an out-and-out lie. She glared back at me.
“I’m sure Easton has better things to do with his time.”
“Nope.” I pushed past Caro and followed the kids into the living room. My disapproving gaze swept around the room and landed back on Caro.
“It’s a little messy,” she stammered.
“Junie? Hey, how are you?” I gave her a big hug. I’d met her that summer too. We’d hung out as a group and drunk beer and partied, typical teenage shit, which, if I were honest, I was still doing.
“Big E, you’re looking hot as ever.” She beamed at me, oblivious to the daggers being sent her way by her best friend.
The two kids stood nearby, watching the exchange in silence. Something rubbed up against my leg. I looked down and my grin grew wider.
“Rusty, my buddy!” I picked up the fat orange tabby and held him in my arms. He assaulted me with loud purrs and kneading claws in my arm. I remembered Caro’s cat well. He and I often hung together, him on my lap demanding pets, and me complying. “How old is Rusty now?”
“Ten. Can we have a word?” Caro’s words were clipped and tense. I grinned easily at her, knowing my mere presence was annoying her beyond belief, and my easygoing attitude made her even more irritated.
“Sure, what’s up?” I placed Rusty on the nearest chair and shoved my hands in my pockets.
“Privately.”
“Love to.” I gave her the once-over, knowing she’d be ready to explode after my gaze raked up and down her body. She was madder than hell and stalked toward the open doorway. I leisurely followed her into the room and shut the door. I leaned against the door, my expression impassive.
She spun on me, her face contorted in rage. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting my children, as I have a legal right to do,” I answered calmly.
“I told you tonight wasn’t a good night.”
I merely cocked one eyebrow and crossed one ankle over the other.
“Easton, please, this is difficult.”
“You’re making it so.”
“I’m worried about the twins. You don’t have any idea what they’ve been through.”
I frowned, pushing away a twinge of guilt. She was partially right, and I knew it as well as she.
“I’m sorry. I needed to see them. And I do know what they’ve been through. I lost my dad in a fire when I was ten. Remember?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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