Page 15 of A Baby for the Billionaire Cowboy

Her mouth twisted. “I’d rather not talk to William again if I can avoid it. Besides, what if he tried to claim custody? He’s older and owns his own business. He wanted to marry me, and I ran away on my wedding day. How would that look in court?” She shivered.

“We won’t let him take your baby.” After a moment of hesitation, Xander gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

She flashed him a grateful smile. “Carly is helping me, but not with child support. We decided not to do anything unless William makes a move first, but if he tries to get any custody, Carly will work against it.”

Xander couldn’t believe William hadn’t tried to track down Daisy and make things right. What kind of father wasn’t interested in his own baby? Or had he tried and not been able to reach Daisy? She’d said she’d blocked his calls. Still, surely her family knew she’d stayed with her aunt Rhonda. Xander wouldn’t want to go up against Rhonda, but he’d do it if it meant a chance to see Daisy and meet his baby.

“Would you like to feel?” she asked.

“What?” Xander jerked his gaze upward. Shoot, he’d been staring at her belly. That probably wasn’t appropriate in the workplace, or anyplace. And touching her belly? That sounded like sexual harassment or something.

Daisy rolled the chair a little farther from the desk and turned toward him. She patted the side of her belly. “Right here.”

Xander stared at the spot and then met her gaze again. “Are you sure? It doesn’t feel quite polite.”

She laughed. “You would not believe the number of people who have had their hands on my big pregnant belly. Anytime I go somewhere with Auntie Rhonda, we run into friends of hers who want to feel it. Apparently a pregnant woman’s belly becomes public property.”

“That doesn’t sound right.”

She shrugged. “It can be annoying, but I tell myself it’s sweet. They’re excited about the baby. It’s pretty much always women, or health professionals when I go in for checkups.”

Xander took a step back. “I’m not either of those things.”

“No, but you are my friend.”

He frowned. “And your boss. Well, maybe that’s Mama.”

She rolled her eyes. “Believe me, being my boss hasn’t kept your mother’s hands off my belly. It’s part of our daily greeting. She says hi to me, and then she leans over and talks to the baby while patting my belly.”

Xander chuckled. “She’d stop if you asked her to.”

“I don’t mind. It’s not like I have my own mother here... Look, if it makes you uncomfortable, you certainly don’t have to. I just thought you might want to feel the baby kick.”

“I do. I totally do.” He slowly knelt next to her and placed his palm where she indicated. For a moment he felt nothing but her warmth through the fabric of her dress. Then it felt like a part of her belly twitched. He looked up at her. “That’s the baby.”

“Yes.”

They grinned at each other like a couple of fools. “I see what you mean,” he said. “It does make it more real. You’re having a baby. There is an actual human being growing inside of you right now.”

“I know!” Then she was laughing and crying.

Xander didn’t think. He shifted closer and put his arms around her as she leaned against him, letting the emotion spill out.

A minute later, Daisy straightened in her chair and reached for a tissue. Xander stood up.

She dabbed at her eyes. “Sorry. Pregnancy hormones, I guess. Did you know that if you blame pregnancy hormones, you can get away with almost anything?”

“Huh. That’s not really something I’ll get to take advantage of.”

“No. Do you want to see the ultrasound?”

“Yes please.”

She brought up the image on her computer. “It kind of looks like an alien, but they assure me this is what a healthy baby looks like at this stage.”

He put one hand on the desk and leaned closer, pointing with his free hand. “There’s the head, with the nose and mouth. Oh, look, this must be the spine.”

“Of course. You’re used to seeing ultrasound images, I guess.”

---