Page 6 of The Sweetest Mistake

Connor cast his eyes downward for a moment, but he didn’t have time to respond because Cam and Ava came back into the room.

“I guess you two have a lot to talk about. We should probably go,” Cam said.

And then it happened again. Julia’s mouth opened, and the words just tumbled out. “Or you could leave Ava here for a little while. I’m sure you have some errands to do or something.”

Cam eyed her disbelievingly, and Connor’s expression morphed from shock to gratitude.

“You know what? I wouldn’t mind a little more time with Ava so we can get to know each other,” he said.

Cam looked like she was about to protest, but then she decided not to. “Okay, I guess. Since we just changed her, she should be good for a while.”

“What about food?” Julia asked.

“There’s a bottle in the fridge. If she seems hungry, you can just warm it up.”

“Great. Is there anything else we should know?” Julia said.

“I don’t think so. She’s pretty easy. As long as she’s fed and dry, she should be fine.”

“Must take after me,” Connor joked, but neither of the women laughed. Cam was attempting to juggle the baby while putting on her jacket at the same time, and Julia stepped forward to help.

“Here. I’ll take Ava,” Julia offered, holding out her arms.

Cam hesitated for a moment before reluctantly transferring the baby to Julia. Connor held the front door open for Cam, who said a quick goodbye and promised to be back within an hour or two. After Cam left, Julia felt some of the tension drain out of her. And with Ava’s sweet little face staring up at her and her pliant, warm body nestled against her, how could she be uptight?

A baby. Something she’d always wanted. Soft, cuddly, and adorable and—not hers. She would do well to remember that.

Chapter Two

Shortly after Cam left, an uncomfortable silence settled over them. Well, except for Ava, who seemed content in Julia’s arms, babbling and cooing at nothing. They sat back down on the couch, but Connor didn’t make a move to take the baby, so Julia continued to hold her and waited for him to speak.

“God, this is overwhelming,” he said, shoving his hands through his hair.

Julia felt the same way, and there were still nagging questions that she wanted answered.

“Do you think you’ll be able to prevent Cam from taking Ava back to Colorado?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what my rights are in this situation.”

“Me either since the two of you aren’t married.” Imagining him and Cam having sex was bad enough, but thinking about them getting married…

“That’ll never happen,” Connor said adamantly.

“I wonder if that’s what Cam’s hoping for.”

“Doesn’t matter. It’s not going to happen.”

Julia nodded, but she still felt uncertain. If he and Cam were married, there wouldn’t be a custody issue. The way things stood, what was to prevent Cam from taking off with the baby if she really wanted to?

“Ahbahbah,” Ava cooed, disrupting Julia’s train of thought.

Turning her around, Julia held Ava up and took a long look at her. How was it possible that she could already see so much of Connor in her? His steely blue eyes, his perfectly oval face, and his straight nose were all evident. Ava didn’t have much hair yet, but what she did have was light brown, the combination of her parents’ hair colors. Regardless of what her final hair color turned out to be, she was sure to be a stunner. Even though Julia hated to admit it, Cam was a strikingly beautiful woman, and Connor, well...

“What are you thinking?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“Oh, just how pretty she is.”

“Yeah,” he said, “she is, isn’t she?”