His ringtone came through his earbuds. After work, Paige planned on going out with her mom. She’d promised to call afterward, so he doubted it was her calling now. Slowing down, Scott checked the smartphone strapped to his arm. The name Nicole greeted him. She’d called him Monday afternoon too, but he’d been too busy to answer. When he’d tried returning the call, it had automatically gone to voice mail. He hadn’t tried again. He figured if she needed to talk so badly she’d call him back.
Scott pulled out his earbuds and moved off the jogging path. “Hello,” he said, winded from his run.
“Hi Scott, it’s Nicole.”
Using the back of bench for support, he stretched out his left calf. Since he had to stop anyway, he might as well work on the cramp in his leg. “What’s up?”
“Are you still traveling or are you home?” The same nervous hitch he’d detected in her voice during their last conversation came through the phone today.
“At the moment, I’m in Central Park.” He switched legs. His right leg wasn’t bothering him but when he stretched he liked to do both sides. “But I can cut my run short and head home.”
“I’d appreciate it. I’ll be over in thirty or forty minutes. You haven’t moved, have you?”
“Same place. I’ll tell security to let you up when you get there.”
“Thank you, Scott. See you soon.”
He put his earbuds in again and headed back the way he’d come. Other than right after her first call, he hadn’t wasted his time wondering what Nicole could possibly want. He had more important things to concentrate on. Now, though, his curiosity kicked in. Not to mention his gratitude. Friday afternoon Paige arrived for the weekend, and he’d prefer not to have his ex-girlfriend stopping over no matter what she needed.
Showered and dressed, he grabbed some leftover pizza and checked his e-mail while he waited. After dating Nicole for five months, he knew thirty to forty minutes to her was more like fifty minutes to everyone else. While he waited, he might as well get some work done and empty out his in-box, maybe saving himself some time tomorrow.
His phone chirped before he answered the first e-mail. Miss you, the message read, bringing a smile to his face.
Can’t wait to see you Friday. Paige’s second message read.
Call me when you get home. He typed the message while he ate.
Okay, love you.
Before he typed a response, the doorbell rang. In one motion he tossed the pizza onto his plate and stood, typing a reply as he walked.
Until four years ago Nicole Sutton had been a little-known actress who played small roles in movies and on television. After playing Mia Troy’s sister in a summer blockbuster, Hollywood really took notice, and her career skyrocketed. Since the movie with Mia Troy, she’d landed the leading role in three others. They’d met at a premiere party for one of them. He’d been talking with his friend Anderson Brady, Nicole’s costar, when he noticed her standing by the bar. She’d had on a skintight, bottom-skimming dress with mile-high heels. He’d watched her while she flirted with the guy next to her. Then she turned her ample cleavage, on display for all to see, toward him and smiled. He hadn’t hesitated to join her.
The woman standing at his door now resembled the one he remembered from that night a year ago. Except today, she wore shorts so short the bottom of the front pockets hung below the hem, and a tight yellow T-shirt with a deep V-neck. Not at all what he’d expected. He’d read somewhere the woman was pregnant. While she looked perhaps a little heavier than the last time he’d seen her, she didn’t look pregnant.
“Hi Scott,” she said. Today she didn’t give him the well-practiced smile she usually gave people. In fact, she appeared nervous.
He stepped back so she could enter and tucked his phone into his back pocket. “Come on in.” Scott watched her walk past him. Yep, everything about her remained the same except her voice. “Can I get you anything?” Playing a proper host was just another one of those things drilled into him by his parents.
“A glass of wine would be awesome.” She tossed her long hair over a shoulder before slipping her hands into her back pockets.
He’d been thinking more along the lines of coffee or water, but he had wine too.
“You haven’t changed anything,” she said, looking around the apartment.
“I don’t spend enough time here to change anything,” he said from the kitchen. After pouring a glass of Moscato and grabbing a beer for himself, he joined her again.
Accepting the drink, she took a sip of the white wine. “You remembered,” she said, smiling for the first time. She moved closer to him, and he caught the scent of her perfume. Something flowery he’d always found too sweet.
“I’ve got a good memory. You said something about needing to talk to me?” He moved away from her and sat in the leather chair across from the sofa.
She took in a deep breath and sat opposite him, pulling at the loose threads on her shorts rather than look at him. “I’m not sure how to even say this, but I might need your help with something.”
Nicole drank from her glass, the light reflecting off the emerald and diamond ring on her right index finger, the only jewelry she wore. It was something else he found odd. He knew he’d read she was engaged.
“You probably know I was engaged to Jordan Lee.” She finally looked up at him as she spoke.
He picked up on the “was” in her sentence. He hoped she wasn’t here hoping to get back together. Even if Paige and he hadn’t been involved, he wouldn’t have any interest in seeing Nicole again. They’d had some fun together, but she wasn’t the type he could ever be serious about. “I read it somewhere. And I thought I read you two were expecting a baby.”
“We were. I had Cooper four weeks ago.”
She didn’t look like a woman who’d just had a baby. “Congratulations.”
Nicole drained her glass. “Do you mind if I get some more? I remember where everything is.”
Actually, he’d rather she say what she’d come to ask, but he’d play the good host. “Help yourself.” Scott took a swig from his bottle and waited while Nicole refilled her glass. When she joined him again, he spoke, intending to get to the point. “What do you need my help with?” He’d learned from their time together that sometimes Nicole needed help staying on topic.
“Jordan was thrilled when he found out I was pregnant. And since I’ve never had regular cycles, I assumed the baby was his.”
Scott groaned. He did not want to hear about her or anyone else’s monthly menstrual cycle.
“When I took the pregnancy test, I guessed I’d just gotten pregnant because up until then I’d felt fine. I only took the test because I hadn’t had a period in six months and my nipples had been sore. When I told my trainer, she said that can be a symptom of pregnancy. Since Jordan I never used condoms, I took one of those home pregnancy tests.”
Considering she sat in his apartment, he didn’t like where this story was going.
“I guessed my due date was the end of July or the beginning of August. After the ultrasound, the doctor said considering the size and development of the baby it was probable. So we went with it. Cooper was born four weeks ago. One week before my estimated due date.” Nicole took another healthy sip of her wine. “Everything was great. Jordan flew in from Italy where he was working on a movie for the birth, and I was only in labor for eight hours. Or at least great until his parents visited from Japan. They immediately pointed out how much Cooper doesn’t look like Jordan.”
Scott pinched the bridge of his nose and refrained from commenting.
“And it’s true. Cooper doesn’t look anything like Jordan or me. He has brown hair about the color of yours. Jordan’s hair is jet-black and mine’s naturally blonde.” She pulled at a strand of her dark red hair. “And Cooper’s eyes are blue, although I’m told a lot of babies are born with blue eyes so they might change. His skin tone doesn’t match either of us. Jordan’s skin is more of a pale brown, and without makeup, I’m white as a ghost. Look.” Nicole handed him her smartphone, which displayed a photo.
He couldn’t argue with her. While cute, the baby looked nothing like Jordan Lee, who’d been born in Japan and only moved to the United States to pursue a movie career or Nicole. He handed the smartphone back to Nicole. “Why are you telling me?” Scott asked, fearing he already knew the damn answer.
“After his parents’ visit, Jordan demanded a paternity test. We should have the results soon.”
In a similar situation, he might do the same, even though babies didn’t always look exactly like their parents.
“I have a feeling the test is going to come back saying he’s not the father.” Nicole cringed when she said the words. “And it is possible Cooper is your son, Scott.”
Since pictures of her and Jordan on vacation together had appeared less than a week after they’d broken up, he’d suspected Nicole had started seeing Jordan while they were still together. It hadn’t bothered him. Back then he’d taken his lack of emotion on the matter as a good indication he’d never cared much for her.
“Jordan and I started sleeping together in September. You and I didn’t end things until November. ”
Yep, she’d cheated on him. Big shocker. Still, he felt nothing.
“You were always away for business. Jordan and I got together after we guest starred on the same episode of Code Red. It sort of just happened.”
“Nicole, you don’t need to explain. I don’t care. But we used protection.” Her cheating on him no longer mattered. However, having a child with her did. He’d made it a point from the beginning to always use a condom with Nicole.
“Don’t you remember it broke one night?”
He hadn’t thought of it until now, but yeah, he remembered. It’d happened the night he’d returned from Germany. He’d spent a week in Berlin on business, and when he came home, he’d found Nicole waiting for him in a leather corset and thong. “So if the test comes back and Jordan’s not the father, Cooper’s my son?” Someday he wanted children. He didn’t want them at this moment, and he definitely didn’t want them with her.
Nicole looked away. “Well… maybe.”
Not the answer he expected. “Christ, how many other men did you sleep with when we were together?” He’d guessed she slept around but hadn’t realized she was that loose.
She blushed, something he’d never seen her do before. “Besides Jordan, only one other. I’ve wanted to work with…. Well, his name isn’t important. He made it clear the part in his movie was mine in return for a few nights together. It didn’t seem like a big deal. And I didn’t think anyone would find out. So I spent a weekend at his house in the Hamptons.”
At this point, he didn’t care how many men she’d been with. “Let me make sure I got this. If Jordan isn’t the father, the baby’s either mine or this other guy’s?”
Her bottom lip trembled. “If he’s not Jordan’s I am hoping Cooper’s your son. That’s why I came to you first.” She sniffled, and he thought she might actually cry. “Of course I hope Cooper is Jordan’s son. But, well, I don’t think he is.”
No wonder she’d insisted on a face-to-face conversation. You didn’t drop this kind of news on a guy over the phone. “What do you need from me?”
“If Jordan’s results come back negative, will you go for a paternity test? It’s a simple test. It doesn’t even require any needles or blood. They collect cells by swabbing the inside of your cheek. The results are back in five to seven business days.”
“I’ll go, but what if Cooper is my son? Then what, Nicole?”
Nicole’s face brightened. “We were good together. At least when you were around and not in some other country. And Jordan called off the engagement. We could try again. Cooper and I could move in here.”
The woman’s tight shirt was cutting off the blood supply to her brain. It was the only explanation. How else could she think he’d get back together with her after she’d admitted to cheating on him? “I’m with someone.” Christ, how am I going to tell Paige about this? “And we’re happy together.”
“Oh, well.” She shrugged, a good indication she didn’t really care about him either. “We could share joint custody of Cooper. I’m hoping Jordan and I work things out anyway. Although the engagement is off, we’re technically still together but taking some time apart.”
Damn right they would share custody if Cooper turned out to be his son. “When will you know if Jordan’s the father?”
“He had the test done Monday before he flew out to Los Angeles. So I think the results might be back tomorrow or Friday. I can call you when I hear from him.”
“Do that.”
***
Paige considered being able to visit her parents and grandparents often a perk to living near them. In fact, she made it a point to do something with her mom once a month or so. Since the auction back in June though, she hadn’t seen either her parents or grandparents. Between extra shifts at work, seeing Scott, and then her trip to Virginia Beach, she hadn’t had the spare time. When her mom invited her along to ladies’ night at the pottery studio in Woonsocket, she’d immediately accepted. She found painting relaxing and since her visit with her brother she’d been wound up tight.
When it first opened on Diamond Hill, the pottery studio had contained only three tables. Since then it had tripled in size. Tonight every table in Paint Me was occupied by women of all ages and backgrounds. Right away, Paige spotted her mom and Aunt Tonya, her mom’s older sister, at one. They’d each selected the pieces they wanted to paint and were chatting away. Waving at them, she walked to the back of the store so she could select a piece herself.
“Hey, stranger,” Aunt Tonya greeted when Paige joined them. “Where have you been hiding? You know you’re always welcome to come over and enjoy the lake.”
Each year her aunt and her uncle, who lived on a large lake, put on a huge Memorial Day cookout. Paige hadn’t seen her aunt since then.
“I know, Aunt Tonya. I’ll come over soon.” She hugged her aunt who sat closest to her before moving toward her mom. “Thanks for the invite tonight, Mom. I haven’t been here in ages.”
Nora paused in her painting and kissed her cheek. “I’ve missed you. We don’t usually go so long between visits.”
A healthy dose of guilt smacked her in the gut. “I know.” Paige grabbed the sponge from the water bowl so she could wash down the ceramic frame she’d chosen to paint. “I’ve been working a lot of extra shifts and stuff.”
“It’s the ‘and stuff’ we’re interested in hearing about,” Nora said before she added more paint to her dish.
“Nora’s right, Paige. I couldn’t believe it when she told me Bebe bought you a man at the bachelor auction,” Aunt Tonya said as she stenciled flowers on her vase. “That woman’s always had spunk. Kind of wish she was my aunt too.”
Things may have worked out well, but she’d still rather not be reminded of that embarrassing night.
Nora paused in her own work to look at her. “I’ll admit when you told me what Bebe did, I wasn’t happy. And I certainly didn’t expect it to lead anywhere. Seems I was wrong.”
Her mom had been more than unhappy when she broke the news to her. Rarely did her mom swear, but when Paige called after the second picture appeared in the paper and told her everything, she used every swear word she knew.
“So tell us about him. I know he met you in Virginia last week, so you must care for him a lot, or you wouldn’t have invited him on vacation.” Mom went back to painting as she spoke. “But I think your dad and I should’ve met him before Joe and Trish.”
“I didn’t know you were so serious already.” Aunt Tonya couldn’t help but add her two cents. “Moving pretty fast.”
Her brother had a big mouth. “What else did Joe say?” She’d gotten the impression he liked Scott, but she hadn’t spoken with him so she didn’t know for certain. And she was more than a little curious about what he thought. After all, Joe did have a good track record when it came to determining the outcome of her relationships.
“Not much. Both he and Trish liked him. Said he appeared to treat you well and that you seemed happy together. Joe was shocked Gabby let Scott hold her.” Her mom looked up at her again. “Your brother said we’d like him.”
A bit of relief snaked through her body. “Everything Joe said is true. Scott’s… well, he’s perfect.” She realized no one was perfect, but it was the only word she could think to describe him. He treated her with love and respect. He made her feel cherished and special. Not to mention the sex was like none she’d experienced before. What more could any woman want?
Her aunt and mom exchanged a look before her mom spoke again. “Perfect, huh? Sounds like someone’s fallen hard. So when do we get to meet Mr. Perfect? Your dad and I are both curious.”
“Soon, promise. This weekend I’m going to see him in New York, but maybe the weekend after.” Or maybe never. She loved him, but he’d made it clear he wanted a family someday, something she may never be able to give him. She’d rather know this weekend if he could live with that possibility before she got in any deeper. Paige just hoped she had the nerve to say the words when the time came.