AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Here,” he says, passing me the baby. I start to protest, but before I know what’s happening, I’m cradling the baby in my arms.
“Be gentle now,” he cautions.
“I know how to hold a baby,” I scoff at him, and then drop my eyes to gaze at the precious child. His eyes are open, full of wonder and intrigue. Dark eyes that are somehow soft. His lips are curled into an irresistible smile; just the cutest damn little guy in the world. I look back to Hunter. “I’m terrible with kids.”
“You look like a natural.”
“You’re a natural. I’m…” I don’t know what I am, but I’m not a natural.
“I can’t wait to have kids of my own,” he murmurs, and I almost wonder if it was meant to be a private thought. “I can’t wait for the day I come home to someone that is and will always be mine.”
“You want to be a father?” I question.
He shrugs. “To be honest, I’ve always had a hard time imagining myself with one woman for the rest of my life, but babies have always been on my mind.” He reaches across the short span of distance between us and brushes the baby’s cheek lightly with his finger. “I’m close to my brothers but my dad, even though we know he loves us, he was always a bit distant. We were rich growing up, he gave us everything we ever needed, but he wasn’t exactly the type of guy to play ball in the yard with us. He’s still not. When I have kids, I’ll do it differently.”
That’s it. The tears come, slow at first but I’m unable to wipe them away because my hands are tied holding the baby. “Take him,” I say softly, choking on emotion.
“What?”
“Take him, please.”
He takes the baby boy back into his hands and I swipe quickly at my eyes.
“Dani, what—”
“I have to go. Can you make sure Chad gets a ride home?”
“What the hell is going on? Dani!”
I rush away from him. From the party. From the knowledge that no matter how much I’ve enjoyed getting to know Hunter lately, he’s the type of man I can never have.
The type of man who deserves a whole woman, and that’s something I’m not.
