Page 36 of His Fake Fiancé

“Wait.”

She stopped, but refused to turn around. Looking at him, with his gorgeous body and puppy dog eyes, would crumble her resolve. And she was done with being a pushover.

Olivia gave another wail and Claire winced. Her heart hurt, for so many reasons. “Go get your daughter, Jake.”

“What?”

She turned around at his confused tone. He was standing there, all half-naked and sexy, looking more than a little lost. She could relate. She was feeling a little out of her element, too. And if by a little, she meant the distance from here to Texas, then yes, she was feeling a little out of her element.

It suddenly felt like a full-grown bull was making himself at home smack dab in the middle of her chest. The ache was growing to unbearable levels. She needed some time to herself, to sort through everything. “Your daughter needs you. I’m going to bed.” The steadiness of her voice surprised her.

Yay, point for Claire. Too bad the score was so far out of reach, the game should have been called a long, long time ago.

Olivia gave another squawk. Claire walked down the hall, into her bedroom and shut the door. Only then did she let the tears she’d been holding back, silently fall.

Jake stood there, staring at Claire’s retreating form. The click of the bedroom door closing was like a jab to the throat. What the fuck just happened?

He ran his fingers through his hair, and winced when his side protested. Shit, everything hurt. Another crying yell came from Olivia’s room and a wave of something that felt an awful lot like fear swamped him.

Part of him wanted to go knock on Claire’s door and ask her to forgive him for whatever stupid thing he’d done this time. And then, maybe ask for her help with the baby. He had a feeling that would probably get him punched in the nuts.

He slipped on his t-shirt with another wince, and marched down the hallway. A little twinge of something weird flared in his chest when he walked by Claire’s door, but he ignored it. Why the fuck was he so all over the place today?

Shaking his head, he pushed open Olivia’s door. The room was bathed in a soft glow from the nightlight. Olivia stood at the side of her crib, her fists wrapped around the railing. Her face was red and tear stained, her dark curls all over the place.

She made a whining noise and reached her chubby arms out toward him. His heart lurched, smacking into his ribs so hard it hurt.

“Hey, baby girl,” he said, keeping his voice low. He picked her up, holding her close. She stared up at him for a second and then reached out and smacked him in the face with her little hands. He laughed and she grinned at him, all big and gummy and cute as hell.

He sat down in the rocking chair, feeling awkward and huge. The baby was so small and delicate. Part of him was afraid he was going to hurt her. Or do something wrong. Screw her up for the rest of her life.

The fear he’d pushed aside moments ago came roaring back, making sure to drag a healthy dose of panic along with it. He was so out of his league it wasn’t anywhere near funny. What did he know about babies? He was the youngest, so there’s never been any babies after him.

Olivia was the first time he’d been up close and personal with a baby, and even then, he hadn’t really done much. Mama swooped in, and he’d let her. He told himself it was because she knew what she was doing, but if he was being honest, it was because he’d been terrified. The women in his life had fussed and cooed and embraced the chaos. And because it was easy for him, he’d let them.

Olivia rubbed her hands over the day-old scruff on his cheeks, clearly fascinated by the feeling. And then she gave the biggest, cutest yawn in the history of the entire world. She leaned against his chest, her head under his chin. Her soft curls tickled his skin and his heart swelled so big, he thought it might burst. She stuck her fingers in her mouth, and her eyes fluttered closed.

He started rocking, soaking in the feel of her little body tucked against his. The love he felt for her in that moment was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before.

“Oh, baby girl,” he said, placing a soft kiss on the top of her head. “I’m s-so s-s-sorry it took so l-long for me t-t-to realize…” His voice cracked, but he didn’t care.

As if she understood, Olivia snuggled closer. He patted her back gently with his free hand, not sure he could fully describe the way he felt. The feeling was so sharply sweet and all consuming, he didn’t think there were words in the English language to describe it. So, he didn’t try. He just rocked in the silence, soaking in the moment, safe in the knowledge he’d never be the same again.

Chapter 11

An obnoxious buzzing woke Claire, and it took her fuzzy brain way too long to piece together the noise was her phone. She sat up and rubbed her sore eyes with one hand, while fumbling for the phone on the nightstand with the other. Once again, she’d slept like shit thanks to Jake.

Okay, so that wasn’t quite fair. She’d been an eager and willing participant in last night’s make out session. Far too eager and willing, actually. As to him treating her like a doormat, well yes, that was still true, but she was the one who let him get away with it all these years. Which meant, she was still partially responsible for the Twilight Zone episode her life had somehow turned into.

She hit the answer button without looking. “Hello?”

“What took you so long?”

“KC?”

The partially annoyed, partially forlorn sigh that sounded over the line could only come from her friend. “The one and only. Besides, who else would it be?”

Claire snorted. If there was one thing KC lacked, it was modesty. The girl considered herself the shit, and made sure everyone knew how awesome she was. “I do have other friends, you know.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. If she counted her brothers as friends, and the rest of the Callahans. Maybe the Baptistes. She’d just never really been that outgoing. It was a good thing Kase had glommed onto her in the first grade or she might not have had any friends outside of Jake and her family.