CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
The shock of Riley’s news followed Sam into the shower and then back into the kitchen where he half-heartedly made himself a sandwich. He wasn’t all that hungry, his mind too preoccupied to let him know that his stomach was empty, but he forced down a few bites before giving up and tossing it into the trash can.
Riley is pregnant.
And it’s mine.
A baby, and it was his. This was no false alarm like when a crazy fan claimed that he was the father of her kid. That had happened a few times and there’d even been a close call once with a model who had texted him that she was “late” and then a few hours later had said “never mind.”
But this was real. Riley wasn’t some nutty stalker and the way she’d placed her palm over her belly was pure mother-bear instincts. When he’d watched her do that it had been like taking a roundhouse kick to the solar plexus.
After Trish, he’d vowed never again. He’d failed her so deeply and that last day was ingrained in his brain so he wouldn’t forget. He needed to remember that he hadn’t been there when she’d needed him.
Now here he was facing fatherhood again. Could he do this? Should he do this? Did he even really have a choice, if he were honest?
Sam could be selfish and self-involved. He was in the most narcissistic industry in possibly the entire world except for politics, but he simply didn’t have it in him to walk away from his own child.
This was a second chance and he might not deserve one but dammit, he was going to grab it with both hands. It didn’t hurt that the mother of his child was a woman that he liked and cared for. He could be a partner with Riley, raise their child together, and create a family. He was lousy at it and she deserved far better but he’d do the best he could. At least financially, she and the baby would want for nothing.
That was one thing he was good at. Making money.
He needed her and the baby where he could take care of them, watch over them all the time, and New Hope wasn’t that place. He could take them with him when he worked until the baby started school or better yet, he could just not work for the next few years once he finished this picture.
What would her reaction be to his proposal? They got along well and they liked each other a great deal. They were friends and that was a decent basis for marriage. Plus the sex was out of this world. It was more than many couples had when they started out.
All he had to do was convince Riley to give him a chance, and hope they didn’t both regret it.
* * *
Riley had slept fitfully after her conversation with Sam. It hadn’t been easy to tell him the news, especially as she didn’t know him well enough to know how he would react. She’d learned many details about the man in the week they’d spent together but how he would react to an unplanned pregnancy? That took a little more time.
At first, she’d been miffed that he wanted to think about things. There was a part of her that wanted him to sweep her off her feet, declare his undying love, and carry her away for some happily ever after that was so amazing she couldn’t even imagine it. It was not to be. Sam hadn’t been pining for her these last seven weeks, writing bad poetry and love songs.
Now that she’d had some time to think about it she was glad that he hadn’t made any quick decisions. It showed a certain maturity that he’d wanted to think things through, mull all the options and figure out what he really wanted. This was better, although it wasn’t easy to wait.
They’d picked up Paula this morning and brought her back to the house. Sam had fussed over his mother and tried to make her rest, but Paula wasn’t having any of it. She’d been lying down for too long as far as she was concerned. She wanted to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine. No way was she going to bed in the middle of the day.
Sam eventually gave in and set up a small table next to Paula’s lawn chair with everything she could need. A cool drink, her cell phone, the latest bestseller, and her iPad if she wanted to play games. Paula had shooed them out of there, suggesting the two of them get some lunch. She’d said it with a gleam in her eye, clearly not giving up on the idea of them as a couple.
If she only knew. They were going to be in each other’s life for a very long time.
They’d grabbed some takeout and ended up at Riley’s home, wanting the privacy to talk. All they needed was to end up on social media or be overheard by the waitress while speaking about pregnancy and babies.
Riley studied the contents of her refrigerator while Sam unpacked the food. “I have caffeine-free soda, milk, lemonade, and water. Sorry, there’s no caffeine in the house. I cleaned it all out. The less temptation, the better.”
Actually, tossing her tea bags and the coffee had been rather traumatic. She loved her iced tea and her morning coffee, but from what she’d read the science was mixed as to how good it was for the baby. If she could give it up, she probably should. It wasn’t forever. It just felt that way.
“I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
That would be lemonade. It was a poor substitute but it would have to do.
She poured two glasses and sat down at the table across from Sam, who was parceling out fries onto their plates. She’d ordered a grilled chicken sandwich and her stomach was gurgling with anticipation. She was starving. She’d scarfed down half of her lunch before she realized they hadn’t talked yet. Food was becoming increasingly important in her life.
“So…”
Placing his cheeseburger back on the plate, he wiped his mouth before speaking.
“I gave this a lot of thought after you left, and I’m sorry if I seemed so surprised last night.”
“You were shocked. I was too when I found out, so it’s okay.”
“I was shocked,” he conceded with a grimace. “I probably should have handled the news better, though.”
“You were fine.”
Her expectations and fantasies weren’t his problem. He’d reacted like a normal human being.
“I want to be part of the baby’s life. I know that. I don’t know if I’ll be a good father, but I can’t turn my back on this child.”
The room spun for a moment as relief suffused every nook and cranny of her body. She hadn’t even realized she’d been holding her breath waiting for his answer. She was fully prepared to do this alone, but honestly, she hadn’t wanted to. However, the question still remained as to how involved he wanted to be. Just because he wanted to acknowledge his child didn’t mean he’d be going to birthing classes with her and reading baby name books.
“That’s good,” she replied, getting her lips to work finally. “I think we can do this, Sam.”
They’d been friends before, they could be again. She was sure that eventually she’d stop being attracted to him. Once she got to know him better. There were probably dozens of annoying habits that she didn’t know about. She did know he snored and that was pretty annoying, although she’d been so exhausted she’d fallen right asleep.
There seemed to be relief in his expression. “I think we can, too. I know it’s going to take some compromises on both our parts but I’m willing if you are.”
“I can do that.”
It might mean some travel for her, taking the baby to see Sam, but it would be doable.
Sitting back in his chair, he appeared happy for the first time since she’d first seen him at the hospital.
“Mom is going to be so excited. She’s wanted grandkids for years and is always bugging me to settle down. She’s going to be thrilled it’s with you. She already loves you like a daughter.”
Wait…what? He was settling down with her? Riley must have spaced out and missed something in the conversation. Something really important.
“I’m not following you. What do you mean?”
The pregnancy book had warned her about feeling foggy at times because of the fatigue, but right now Riley felt wide awake.
“She’s going to be thrilled about us. You have to know she was trying to push us together.”
Riley knew and she’d assumed that Paula was nudging her son as well, this was just confirmation. But his statement raised more questions than it answered.
“Together? Sam, why don’t you describe for me how you see us doing this.”
Us. That word was powerful. They’d both been throwing it around but what did it actually mean to Sam?
“I think we should do what’s best for the baby.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his gaze intent. “I think we should create a family for him or her. A real home where he can feel safe and secure.”
“A home?”
He nodded, obviously warming to the topic. “A mother and a father. Hell, when the baby is older we can get a dog, too. If I travel you and the baby come with me. I don’t know what the rules are in Florida about getting a marriage license, but I can find out. If you want a big wedding, we can do that as well. I’m open to that. But we should probably do it before the baby is born.”
She ran his words through her brain over and over again but kept coming up with the same conclusion. He wanted to get married.
Now that was something she hadn’t expected.
“You think we should get married?”
She was acting like a parrot, repeating what he said but she was having trouble forming words and sentences.
Sam Collins wanted to marry her.
Those people in hell might want to put on a parka.