Page 30 of Solid Ground

Zoe frowns. “I have to say I’m surprised.”

“You’re not the only one.”

She runs her gaze over my face before she meets mine again. “What does that mean?”

Reaching for her hand, I run my fingers down hers before I give them a squeeze. “I can’t stop thinking about us raising our child together. I want to try.”

Her rapid blinking tells me I’ve really caught her unawares. This isn’t what she was expecting. But am I really surprised? I’ve reacted to this in a way I never saw coming either.

“I was thinking maybe we could spend time together?”

One of her eyebrows arches and she pulls her hand back.

Holding up my palms, I lean back. “Platonically. I’m not expecting us to just jump into a relationship—we don’t really know each other. But …”

“I don’t know.”

I blow out a long breath. “It’s just … all these years, I never thought I’d be a father. When I wasn’t working, I was partying. And now I’m at the end of my career, and this is my chance.”

She chews on her bottom lip.

“There’s so much I want to experience, and I didn’t realise how much I wanted this until you … until you told me you were pregnant.” I lean forward. “I want to be there for you through this pregnancy. I want to be there for the scans. Maybe even be there when the baby’s born? But clearly I can’t do it without your agreement.”

Setting her jaw, she crosses her arms and seems to consider me. “I guess you could push the issue legally.”

“Maybe. I haven’t looked into it. I’d rather keep this amicable and work with you on it. I know—I know you said you don’t need anything from me, but I want to offer you my full support through this. No one should go through it alone.”

She hesitates. “I’ll consider it.”

“That’s all I’ll ask.”

She’s a smart woman. She knows that I could work through my lawyer, but I don’t want that. I don’t want this to turn into some kind of legal transaction. I’ve had paternity claims before, but this is different. She literally wants nothing from me.

I’m not sure I have much to offer.

I’m a hollow wreck of a man who has been on a slide for a very long time.

Maybe it’s selfish, but I think this could make me feel whole again.

“I’ll go and find a hotel room nearby, and give you some time tothink about it.”

She shakes her head. “I’m not sure how long I’ll need. Maybe it’d be better for you to go home.”

“I’ve got nothing but time right now, sweetheart. I’ll stay close if that’s okay.”

She nods, and I cheer inside.

I’d much rather be near for her, and even this concession feels like a win.

EIGHT

ZOE

I’m notsure what to do.

I’d resigned myself to bringing up my baby alone, and now Declan has thrown a spanner in the works.

A very good-looking, sexy spanner, but a spanner nonetheless.

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