Page 27 of Almost Paradise

“What about his mother?” she asks. That question takes me by surprise. I’ve never given Scarlett any reason to believe I’m not in this.

Other than not setting a date, right?

I’m not the type of man who cheats on a woman. My father warned me about that. He says that will bring nothing but trouble. He told me to find someone I love, who I’m passionate about.

And you know Scarlett is not that person. I push the thought aside.

“His mother is not a concern. I’m engaged to you. I only want to be a father to Carter.” Even as the words leave my mouth, my mind flashes back to the last weekend we shared. It was before I had to leave for Berlin, and we were desperate for each other. We didn’t leave the penthouse all weekend. I couldn’t get enough of her. I couldn’t stop touching, kissing, or making love to her. I know that’s when we conceived our son. It had to be because she had her period the week before.

“More,” she whispers against my mouth. “Deeper.” I give it to her deeper and she sinks her head into the pillow and says my name. “I want to be able to feel you until I can have you inside me again.”

Scarlett rushes to me and takes both my hands, pulling me out of my thoughts of Nia. I take a small step back. I don’t want her to feel or sense my arousal. Her brows are creased as if she’s deep in thought, and I wait for her to speak.

“I want us to get married now. We can drive down to Providence tomorrow and get married.”

Her words are like a physical blow. Married to Scarlett. That has a finality that I don’t think I’m ready for. Nia’s face comes back to the forefront of my mind, and I push it away.

“Tomorrow? Providence?” I ask, too stunned by her request to put together a cohesive sentence.

“Yes. Rhode Island has no waiting period. We can go and get it done in an hour. No one needs to know, but I want to be your wife now. You owe me this, Drake.” Her last words come out forceful, and I wonder if she’s been putting together this plan all weekend. “I feel as if you’re slipping away from me. I won’t lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Scar.” I cradle her face and stroke her pale cheek with my thumb. “We’re getting married in a few more months. We’ve set a date,” I remind her.

“You owe me this. I never make any demands of you, but I’m making one now. Marry me. Tomorrow. That’s the least you can do.” She throws herself in my arms and wraps herself around me. My own arms hang by my side until I reluctantly wrap them around her.

I close my eyes and wonder why the hell my life is unraveling.

Chapter 19

Nia

This is the fifth day in a row he’s come here. Like always, Carter holds both our hands until we get to his classroom. Then he drops mine and shows off his father to his friends. He’s done this for the past five days, and each day, his friends act excited to meet Carter’s new daddy. Throughout it all, Carter looks behind him to make sure I’m okay. When it’s time to go, he wraps his little arms around my legs, and I tell him I love him.

He does the same to Drake, and each time he tells Carter he loves him, I feel something inside of me. I just don’t know what it is, but the urge to bash his face hasn’t gone away. So, I’m guessing whatever I’m feeling is not good.

I’ve decided I’m done being angry. My anger takes a lot more out of me than Drake. He’s a self-absorbed narcissist who thinks the world revolves around him. He doesn’t give a shit about me or my anger. Any person who can abandon their child, come back years later, and rewrite history doesn’t consider other people’s feelings. It’s all about him all the time.

“Nia,” Drake says when we get outside the preschool doors. I stop my brisk walk to my car and count to ten before turning around to face him. “I want to take Carter for a few hours this weekend.”

The wind blows, and it’s akin to a slap in the face. There’s never any asking when it comes to him. It’s always a command. Never a request. Like the time he demanded my phone number or bulldozed his way into my apartment and my life. I should have run as fast and as far as possible. But if I had done that, I wouldn’t have Carter. That’s the one thing I don’t regret. I just wish his father wasn’t such a jackass.

“He’s not ready for that,” I tell him. “You can visit him at the house whenever you want.” I keep my voice as level and calm as possible. I don’t want him in my space, but the things I will do for my son.

“I only want to take him to get lunch. Maybe to an indoor playground. I’m not going to kidnap him and take him outside the country.”

I can feel all color drain from my face. I hadn’t even considered that, but I should have. That’s what he had his father tell me.

“Then why did you say it?” I ask. “It sounds awfully familiar to what you had your father tell me.”

His face turns red, and his head rolls back as if I just slapped him.

“I would never—”

I interrupt him before he spews more lies. “I would feel more comfortable if you visit him at the house,” I reiterate. He stares into my eyes as if he’s weighing his next words. I brace myself and wait for him to threaten me, but he doesn’t. He walks away and gets in the back seat of his fancy car without another word.

“Good night, baby. I love you.” I run my fingernails over his scalp. He’d normally giggle, but his eyes are heavy.

“I love you, Mommy.” He yawns and closes his eyes. I watch him for a few minutes and marvel at how much he looks like his father. It’s amazing how much I can love Carter but loathe Drake like I do.

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