Mountain Daddy: The Single Dad's New Baby (A Baby for the Bad Boy Book 1) by Layla Valentine & Ana Sparks

Author:Layla Valentine & Ana Sparks [Valentine, Layla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Serena

December 15. I stared at the date as it flashed up on my computer at work, hardly able to believe it. It had been over two months since I’d returned home from the cabin in the mountains—over two months since I’d had Ethan’s arms wrapped around me.

We’d had hardly any contact since, just the occasional text message, the occasional “Hope you guys are well.” Ethan wasn’t exactly great at responding, usually offering a “You too” after a few days. I didn’t blame him. He didn’t live in the modern world of the internet and social media.

Sometimes, I hated myself for searching for any online presence of him, wondering if he’d revealed himself in any small way. Posted on a message board, or asked questions about building a cabin in the mountains. But of course, as Ethan was a professional, he hadn’t revealed anything. He was hidden. And now, he was a part of my past.

I had to remind myself of that, over and over again. We were nothing to one another. Only memories.

Monica, a coworker, crept past my desk and leaned against it, giving me a broad smile. She tapped her nails against the desk, shrugging slightly.

“Daydreaming again?” she asked. She could always see straight through me.

“Not about him,” I said, my nostrils flared. “It’s over. I know that. I’m not delusional.”

Monica chuckled. “I’ve never seen you more caught up on anyone in your life. Don’t you think it’s time you headed back to that mountain of yours and see if it could be real love? It’s not something you can shake…”

Gathering my papers into a folder, I gave her an ominous look. “You know I have too much work to do.”

“Around the holidays? Things always slow down,” Monica said, almost pleading with me now. “And I don’t want you to have to spend all the next year alone.”

“As if being alone was so terrible all the years before?” I asked, laughing sadly.

I remembered, with a jolt, what it felt like to have Gracie’s hand wrapped around my fingers. I remembered what it felt like to be included, to be loved. Now, I spent nearly every evening alone on my couch, burying myself in work papers. I spent the hours nibbling at takeout from the nearby burrito shack, wondering if I’d have time to cook a meal again.

“Just consider it,” Monica sighed. Leaning forward, she gazed into my eyes, as if trying to stare into the depths of my soul.

“What is it?” I asked her, growing perturbed. I wasn’t accustomed to being stared at. I brought my fingers through my hair, untangling a small coil. “Is there something on my face?”

“You’re just looking a little green, is all,” Monica said, placing her hand on my shoulder and jostling it slightly.

“Just haven’t eaten yet,” I lied, feeling my stomach twist and turn within me.

Truthfully, I’d tried to eat lunch a few hours before. But the sandwich had seemed all dried up and sour-looking, despite consisting of fresh bread, vegetables, and cheese.

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