Five

Megan sat down at the dining table, glancing warily at the place setting for two. Her dad had been taking his dinner in his study for the past three nights, since she told him that she’d gotten pregnant from a one-night stand. He was understandably angry and disappointed in her. She sighed and smoothed her napkin on her thighs. It probably had slipped Mrs. Chung’s mind that he wouldn’t be joining Megan for dinner.

She was reminded that nothing ever slipped their housekeeper extraordinaire’s mind when her father walked into the dining room and joined her at the table. She’d always prided herself in being brave and bold, but she couldn’t meet her dad’s eyes. Other than thanking Mrs. Chung when she brought out their dinner, neither of them said a word to each other for a long while.

The rice and soup in front of her blurred as her eyes filled with tears, but she inhaled deeply through her nose to hold off the ugly crying. When her dad reached out and placed a piece of grilled fish on her rice, she lost her perilous grip on her emotions and a choked sob escaped from her.

“You need to eat well,” he said gruffly.

“I’m so sorry, Appa.” She finally met his eyes as tears slid down her cheeks.

Her dad nodded solemnly and said with quiet menace, “When I find the bastard who took advantage of you, I’ll tear him apart limb by limb.”

“No one took advantage of me,” she insisted, alarm jolting through her. “It was my choice. This pregnancy is an unexpected outcome, but I love this baby so much, and...and...”

“Now you understand how much I love you.” He squeezed her hand.

“I love you, too.” Megan pushed back her chair and knelt by her dad’s side, resting her head on his knees. “I know this isn’t the way you envisioned becoming a grandpa.”

“I’m an old man set in my ways, but I need to learn how to roll with the punches. I lost so much time with Angie being an obstinate fool. When Umma was diagnosed with breast cancer, I would have moved mountains to save her—and to protect you girls from the heartache—but there was nothing I can do. I let my fear of losing her consume me and I became an overbearing tyrant. I forced Angie to leave the love of her life. I thought I was protecting her... I thought I knew best.” She raised her head to look at him, taking his hand in hers. He smoothed her hair away from her face with his free hand and said, “I’m not going to repeat that mistake with you...especially with the little rascal on his way.”

“Rascal?” She crinkled her nose at him. “He’s going to be a perfect angel baby just like I was.”

Her dad snorted loud enough to startle her. “When you were two, you thought you could fly. Umma and I seriously considered tying you to a chair after an exceptionally adventurous day.”

Umma. What would her mom think if she knew that Megan was keeping the identity of the baby’s father a secret from her dad? Guilt threatened to strangle the relief she felt at having her dad finally forgive her.

“The baby and I... We’re going to be happy,” she said to reassure her dad as well as herself. “You don’t have to worry.”

“Oh, my dear girl. Parents never stop worrying.” His chuckle sounded melancholy. “But yes, you and the baby will be happy. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure of that.”

She believed him. And if he knew Daniel was the father of her baby, he would do everything in his power to force them to get married. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to keep him in the dark for now. This was the only way for all of them to be happy. But knowing the secrecy was necessary didn’t do anything to ease her guilt. Her dad’s love and acceptance made her feel much, much worse about lying to him.

She managed to keep her unease to herself through dinner, then excused herself. She paced the length of her bedroom while wringing her hands. When that did nothing to make her feel any better, she stopped and shook out her hands, arms and legs. It felt as though ants were crawling all over her body. She had never lied to her dad before. Not like this. She wasn’t sure how long she could keep it up.

She wanted to talk to her sisters, but she couldn’t involve them in this charade any more than she had to. They’d promised not to say anything to their dad until Megan was ready to tell him herself. Even so, they didn’t feel too great about it. No, she couldn’t burden them with her turmoil. But who else could she talk to?

The answer was obvious. Still, she hesitated. Not because she didn’t want to talk to Daniel. She hesitated because she desperately wanted to. They had met all of five times. He was a virtual stranger. But he didn’t feel like one. She trusted him in a way that was all but impossible to explain. And she wanted his understanding and solace more than anything. She wanted him.

She grabbed her phone off her nightstand and stood with her thumbs poised over the keyboard. He felt bound to her by duty. He was attracted to her, but he didn’t want anything real with her other than to coparent their child together. Reaching out to him tonight would be emotional self-sabotage.

She nearly dropped her phone when it pinged with a message from Daniel.

Was this a courtesy text? If he was really worried, why didn’t he text her three nights ago after their miniature golfing adventures? By the time they parted ways that evening, he’d grown quiet and distant. She chalked it up to him being tired or preoccupied with work after spending a rare day away from the office. But in all honesty, she’d instinctively understood that he was reinforcing the do-not-cross line between them. So why was he texting her now?

While she studied his question from all sides, her phone lit up with a new message.

The truth. She could just answer his question with the truth. There was no need to overthink it.

Ellipses immediately began scrolling across her screen. She waited, nibbling her bottom lip. His message popped up at last.

Her heart stuttered in her chest. God, she wanted to see him.

She stared at her phone.

She shook her head as she typed.

But she also didn’t want to fall apart somewhere public. She tapped out her suggestion before she could regret it.

His place turned out to be in one of the high-rise condos in Downtown LA not far from Jigu Corporation headquarters. She valeted her car and was shown to the penthouse elevator. He must’ve already added her to his guest list because keys were turned and buttons pressed without delay. The ride up to the top floor was smooth and fast, and the doors slid open before she felt ready.

Daniel stood a few feet away from the elevator with his hands in his pockets. He was still in a pair of slacks and a dress shirt, but with the top couple buttons undone and his sleeves rolled past his elbows. He looked gorgeous as hell. But that wasn’t what had her throwing herself into his arms. The undisguised concern and sympathy in his eyes crumbled her defenses, and she couldn’t hold herself back any longer.

His strong arms circled around her and held her close. She burrowed her face into the crook of his neck and pressed herself against him. She would just stay like this for a minute. There was no need for her to fall apart in front of him. She would accept the support he offered with dignity.

“I’m here,” he said simply, his warm breath ruffling the hair by her temple.

She wished he’d stayed silent. She wished his words hadn’t melted her heart into a puddle.

“No fair,” she managed to choke out before she burst into tears. She was making his shirt all soggy, but she couldn’t stop crying. “Sorry. Pregnancy hormones.”

“You don’t need to blame the hormones.” His chest expanded and contracted with a heavy sigh. “Anyone dealing with what you’re going through would be having a good cry.”

She leaned back to meet his eyes and sniffed loudly. “Please stop saying all the right things.”

“I’m saying all the right things?” His eyebrows crested above the bridge of his nose. “I should blurt out the first thing that pops into my head more often.”

She huffed a watery laugh and moved to step away from him. He was slow to drop his arms—his hands skimming down her back in a way that made her shiver. Her gaze skittered away from his.

“Nice place,” she said, glancing around the foyer painted in muted burgundy and gray. “At least what I can see of it.”

“Hell, sorry.” He scratched the back of his head. “I obviously don’t have people over much. Let me show you to the living room.”

She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. She didn’t know why she wanted to smile, honestly. Who cares if he doesn’t have people over often? She certainly didn’t. He could invite women to his place as often as he’d like. It wasn’t like they were romantically involved or anything. Megan trudged after him. Suddenly, she didn’t feel like smiling at all.

“Make yourself comfortable.” Daniel held out his hand toward a dark brown sectional to one side of the large living room, then headed toward the open kitchen on the other end. “Would you like something to drink?”

“Sure.” She lowered herself onto the sofa and brushed her hand over the soft leather. “Tea would be nice.”

“Yes, of course.”

She watched him wander around the kitchen opening a cupboard here and a drawer there. She decided to give him a break when he started cursing under his breath. “Why do I get the feeling you don’t come here often either?”

“What?” He spun away from the refrigerator, closing the freezer door. She didn’t question why he was looking for tea in the freezer. “I only moved in a few months ago. I honestly don’t do much here other than catch a few hours of sleep most nights.”

A small frown pinched her forehead. As she’d suspected, Daniel was as much of a workaholic as her dad. But at least her dad had a family to provide some balance to his life. The thought of Daniel being lonely made her heart ache a little.

“On second thought, I don’t need any tea,” she said, patting the seat beside her. “Come join me.”

Daniel felt like an idiot as he sat down next to Megan. He couldn’t even give her a cup of tea. But offering her what he had in his freezer instead—and explaining why he had so many cartons of different flavors of ice cream—would be much more mortifying.

“Do you have family back East?” she asked, tucking her legs up onto the couch.

He stiffened reflexively at her unexpected question, but forced himself to relax. “Just my father.”

“So you’re an only child.” She didn’t phrase it as a question, so he didn’t offer a response. “I can’t imagine life without my sisters.”

“I got used to being alone. You can’t miss something you never had,” he said with a matter-of-fact shrug. His mother had left him and his father when he was so young that he didn’t remember her at all. It was as if he’d never had a mother.

“I guess that’s true.” She rested her chin on top of one of her knees. “What about your father? Do you miss him?”

“We aren’t...close.” He shifted in his seat. The understatement almost felt like a lie, but he couldn’t exactly tell her that his father wished he’d never had Daniel.

“I’m beginning to think it’s a good thing you have me and the baby in your life,” she said in a voice so quiet he wondered if he’d misheard her. But his pounding heart and the slight tremor in his body assured him that he’d understood her correctly.

“I didn’t realize I got to have you in my life, too.” And why did he say that? She probably didn’t mean anything by it. He should’ve laughed it off instead of hanging on to her words as though they were the only things keeping him afloat.

Her eyes widened and a deep blush rose to her face. He wanted to brush his lips across her cheekbones to see if her skin felt as hot as it looked. “Well, since the baby is inside of me right now, we...the baby and I...kind of come in a package? For the time being?”

“I’m glad you come as part of it all,” he said huskily. A jolt of fear shot through him at how happy the package deal made him. They were having a child together, but she didn’t plan on being with him. She would leave like the others. As a reminder to himself, he repeated, “For the time being.”

She nodded absently and drew circles on the couch with the tip of her index finger. Hell. What was he doing? He’d asked to see her so he could comfort her. The last three days must have been tough for her.

“I’m sorry your father took the news of your pregnancy so hard.” He gently picked up her hand. “Was he very angry with you?”

“Very.” Her sad smile felt like a punch in the gut. “But I expected that. And when he was angry with me, I felt a bit indignant and self-righteous. I thought to myself ‘I’m a grown woman and I can do whatever the hell I want with my body.’ The hard part—”

He squeezed her hand when she paused to swallow the emotion swelling up in her.

“The hard part came when he offered me his love and support, because I couldn’t hide from the truth anymore. He was only angry because he was worried and scared for me. I can’t believe I put him through that.” She scoffed and shook her head. “I can’t believe what I’m about to put him through by lying to him about who the baby’s father is.”

“It’s not too late to tell him the truth.” He gulped. Getting fired from Jigu Corporation was the last thing he wanted, but he couldn’t bear to watch Megan hurting. “We could tell him together.”

“Daniel, my father respects and trusts you, but if we tell him now that you are the baby’s father and we refuse to get married, then he will fire you. My father is a relic from the Joseon Dynasty, when it comes to duty and honor. In the heat of the moment, he would think firing you is the only way to protect our family’s honor—my honor.” She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. “His pride and temper often get the best of him, but once he comes to his senses, he’ll regret losing you. I can’t let him make that mistake. And it’s not fair to you or our baby. We have no choice but to carry out our plan.”

“I understand.” He nodded. She was right, of course. “Is there anything I could do in the meantime to ease your burden?”

“No. Not unless you have ice cream,” she said with a wistful smile.

He groaned and placed his head in his hands.

“What’s wrong?” She scooted close to him and put her hand on his shoulder.

“What flavor do you want?” he growled.

“What? Oh...” She laughed. “I was just kidding. You don’t need to conjure any up for me.”

“Just...” He huffed and sat up straight. “Just humor me. Tell me what flavor you want.”

“Um, cherry vanilla?” she said hesitantly.

“What else?” He wearily pushed himself off the sofa.

“Butter pecan?” She cocked her head to the side and regarded him curiously. “Are you seriously going out to get me ice cream right now?”

He stomped to the freezer without answering and grabbed a pint each of cherry vanilla and butter pecan. He pulled open a few drawers until he found a spoon and returned to the sofa.

“Ice cream,” he announced unnecessarily and plunked down the cartons on the coffee table.

Megan’s jaw dropped, and the shock on her face made him feel a little better. “How did you know I was going to ask for these flavors? Wait, how did you even know to have ice cream handy in your freezer?”

He sighed and sat back down on the couch. He might as well get this over with. “Do you remember how I volunteered to deliver whatever food you were craving?”

“Yes...”

“You mentioned that you might crave ice cream one of these days, but I had no idea what kind you like, so I bought one of virtually every flavor out there.” His words ran over each other in his rush to get them out. “I like to be prepared. I didn’t want to go jumping from store to store, searching for a particular variety of ice cream. Who wants to keep a pregnant woman waiting? A damn fool. That’s who.”

He stopped talking because he knew he was rambling like a...damn fool. He thought Megan would be rolling around the floor laughing by now, but she didn’t make a peep. He finally turned to glance at her. The tenderness in her expression nearly undid him.

“You did all that for me?” she whispered.

He reached out and ran the back of his hand down her cheek. “I wanted to do something for you... anything. I can’t even imagine everything you’re going through. How can I help? What can I do?”

She leaned into his touch, cupping her hand over his. “This. I think everything you’ve done tonight is exactly what I needed.”

He couldn’t look away from her. She was so close and so beautiful. He felt his head tilting toward her. He couldn’t stop himself, but he moved as slowly as he could so she would have a chance to turn away from him. She didn’t turn away. Her mouth parted on a shaky breath and her eyes tugged him closer yet.

It was barely a touch—a brush of parted lips against parted lips—but his world seemed to stop. He drew back only enough to search her face, but she gasped with outrage and promptly brought his lips back on hers with her hands buried in his hair. With a helpless, desperate groan, he kissed her the way he’d been starving to kiss her.

He nipped at her full bottom lip, then licked it. He tilted his head to one side, then the other, tasting her from all angles. When she moaned, he plunged his tongue into her hot mouth and wrapped his hand around the back of her neck, steading her against his onslaught. She pushed closer to him, her breasts pressed against his chest. It wasn’t close enough.

Daniel leaned back on the sofa until Megan was lying on top of him, kissing him as though she couldn’t get enough of him either. Straddling his waist, she sat up long enough to tear her shirt off, then he dragged her back as though kissing her was the only way he could breathe. Their lips moved against each other’s, wild and clumsy.

His erection strained against his trousers and he hooked his thumbs into the top of her pants, tugging impatiently. She sucked in a surprised breath and scrambled off him. He rose onto his elbows to find her sitting with her knees drawn to her chest on the other end of the couch. Bewildered, he sat up and clawed his hands through his hair. Shit. He’d gotten so caught up in his desire, he must have pushed her too fast.

“Megan, I’m sorry,” he panted, trying to catch his breath.

“No. No, don’t be.” Her chest was still heaving. “I just...”

“You don’t need to explain.” He held up his hand. “Shit. I shouldn’t have done that. We had an agreement and you’re vulnerable right now. I crossed the line—”

“Just shut up and listen for a minute,” she commanded. He snapped his mouth shut. She took a deep breath and continued, “I’m wearing maternity pants.”

“Why does...? Pardon?”

“When you tugged on my pants, I realized I was wearing maternity garb.” She stretched her legs out so he could see them more fully. “It has this stretchy, elastic panel and...it’s not very sexy.”

His eyes dropped to her waistline and he noticed the soft curve of her stomach for the first time. Emotion rose up to his throat and heat spread through his chest. She was so beautiful. Then a thought made his blood drain from his face. “Oh God. Did I hurt you? The baby—”

“Stop it. I’m fine. We’re fine.” She buried her face in her hands. “I’m just embarrassed. Okay? It’s like getting caught on a date wearing a pair of granny underwear.”

Incredulous laughter huffed out of him.

“Are you laughing at me?” Megan’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I happen to value my life.” He grinned and picked up her top from the ground. He pulled it carefully over her head and helped her slide her arms in. He smoothed down her shirt and placed both his hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have any idea how beautiful you are, do you?”

“Who looks beautiful in maternity pants?” She turned her head to the side.

He gently grasped her chin between his fingers and made her look at him again. “You.”

She stared at him as though she wanted to call his bullshit. He held her gaze because he meant what he said and he wanted her to know that. A soft blush stole across her face. Her eyelashes fluttered and she smiled shyly at him.

“Sorry for halting things so abruptly,” she said at last.

“It’s for the best.” He didn’t necessarily believe that at the moment, but he should. Megan was guilt ridden enough without adding another thing to hide from her father. And he knew better than to touch the CEO’s daughter when things were quite tangled up as it was. Too bad his intelligence became questionable every time he was around this woman. “We shouldn’t do anything we might regret. Coparenting partners, remember?”

Some of the light left Megan’s eyes and he wanted to take back his words. But it was for the best. If he told that to himself enough times, he might even believe it.

“Oh, the ice cream,” she said, reaching for a carton. “I almost forgot.”

“I can get you some different ones if those melted.”

“No, they’re still good. I like mine a little runny.” She scooped up a generous mound of cherry vanilla and licked it off the spoon. “Mmm.”

“Happy?” he asked as euphoria filled her face.

“Happy,” she said around another mouthful.

“Good.” He leaned back on the couch and quietly watched her decimate two cartons of ice cream.

This had to be enough. He would provide her with ice cream, accompany her to her prenatal appointments and offer his support when things got difficult for her at home. If he didn’t get greedy, this might be enough for him. It had to be.