The Billionaire's Baby by Paige North

Author:Paige North [North, Paige]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Favor Ford Publishing
Published: 2017-09-12T18:30:00+00:00

As we walk down the halls in the hospital, Cole is quick, his steps hard and assured. He’s pissed. Angry with his father for ruining his own health. I believe his dad would stop drinking if he could—if only he could summon the will power, or get the proper help. But when he tries on his own, he fails…which probably makes him drink more. A terrible cycle.

Finally, we arrive in his room and I have to stifle a gasp.

Charlie Frost looks thin and frail. His skin is the color of ash. He’s hooked up to monitors, and a nurse is checking on his vitals when we enter the room. His eyes turn slowly toward us as we enter the room, and it takes a moment for the recognition of his own son to flash in his eyes.

“Hi, Mr. Frost,” I say. “How’re you feeling?”

“Well, pretty damn good now that you’re here,” he says. “And don’t you dare call me Mr. Frost. It’s Charlie. Cole, who is this pretty young thing?”

“Jessa,” he says. “You remember her, Pop. You’ve met her half a dozen times over the years.”

His father frowns. “I’d never forget a face as pretty as this. I think you got your facts mixed up.”

Cole rolls his eyes. “Sure I did,” he mutters.

I move closer to him. “It’s nice to see you,” I say, smiling. The truth is, I have met Cole’s father before, but he was usually drunk or badly hung over. Sometimes he just seemed distant, like he couldn’t be bothered.

And I haven’t seen him lately, probably not since Cole left town.

“This place is the goddamned worst,” Charlie Frost growls, as the nurse checks his IV.

Cole stays by the door as if he’s readying for a quick escape. I rest my hand on Charlie’s shoulder. It’s bony, and cool even through the thin hospital gown.

“But you know,” Charlie says, his voice scratchy, “maybe I wouldn’t mind being laid up in the hospital more often if it got me visits from pretty girls like you.”

“How’d you end up here?” I ask.

“Ah, it’s nothing. Your uncle Dan is a boring old bastard,” he tells Cole, who will not look at Charlie. “Trying to tell me what I can and can’t do in my own home. He’s lucky I let him stay there.”

“He’s there to help you,” Cole says.

“He’s being nosey,” Charlie says. “Listen,” he says to me, softening his tone. “How’s about you go out and bring me a burger from Rusty’s? The food here stinks. Bring a six pack too, and we’ll be bad together.”

He’s joking—maybe a little bit—but it’s not funny. To Cole, though, it’s the last straw.

“Listen old man,” he says, finally looking at Charlie. “You leave Jessa out of this. I shouldn’t have even brought her in to see this.” He sweeps his hand toward Charlie himself, laid out in the bed.

“Doc says I need protein,” Charlie says, not picking up on the fact that Cole is about to bust a gasket.

“And what does he say about the beer?” I ask.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.