Screwball by Linda Morris

Author:Linda Morris [Morris, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Hard Hitters
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2015-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Paul reached for the doorknob just as Willow held the door to her duplex apartment open for him. It was an awkward gesture, considering she stood half in the doorway, half out.

Fitting. An awkward gesture for one hell of an awkward situation. She’d called him three hours ago to tell him Kendra was here with Jack. Their flight into Louisville had been delayed, and he’d waited until she called and told him the baby was here. He’d announced he’d be right over, but she’d objected, explaining with an edge to her voice that Jack needed to rest up from the trip. Apparently traveling made babies grouchy and tired.

But how was he supposed to know that? It wasn’t like she’d given him a chance to be in his child’s life.

In the front room, an attractive dark-haired women sat on the couch reading.

“Paul, this is my friend Kendra. She brought Jack here for a visit.”

She looked up from her book and smiled. “Nice to meet you.” He nodded at her, in no mood for a cordial greeting to any friend of Willow’s.

Like many guys, Paul had at least occasionally thought about being a father someday. He hadn’t exactly dwelled on it, but when he had considered it, he’d figured it would happen after a couple of years of marriage, at least, to give them time for fun before responsibility set in. That was how it worked, right? They’d throw away the birth control and have a few weeks of untrammeled, carefree monkey sex while they tried to conceive. Then he’d have a nine-month pregnancy to get ready for it. He’d paint a nursery and his wife’s girlfriends would throw her a shower. The big moment would take place in a hospital delivery room, with him watching and helping every step of the way. Well, he’d help as much as any guy could at such a moment, which probably meant not very much.

Never had he imagined a woman telling him, “Hey, you know, by the way, this baby you’ve never laid eyes on? He’s yours.” On the way here, he’d made every turn and stop by rote, his mind racing to make sense of what he’d learned, but having little success.

He knew only one thing: He was mad as hell at the woman who’d done this to him.

“He should be waking soon.” As she said it, a weak cry came from above.

He pushed past her and climbed the stairs. He needed to see Jack. Needed to see him now.

A hand brushed his arm, but he shook it off, so intent was he on getting upstairs yesterday.

“Don’t frighten him.”

“I’m not going to frighten him.” He went up the stairs and turned at the top, following the soft whimpers. In the doorway, he stopped. A travel crib was set up in the corner. Through the mesh side, he could see a baby lying flat on his back, wearing a green sleeper. His chubby legs waved as he fussed, his face screwing up and turning pink.

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