Chapter 51

Ally

I sat beside Faith’s bed and yawned, stifling it with the back of my hand.

She was sweaty and exhausted, but the first genuine smile I’d seen from her ever stretched her lips damn near from ear to ear. She held a blue bundle in her arms, and had one of her breasts out to feed the baby who’d latched on for dear life.

He was a cutie pie. A red-faced, wrinkled, screaming little Moreno.

Faith cooed and tickled his forehead, then met my gaze. “Thank you,” she said, looking like she meant it.

“Those meds haven’t worn off yet, have they?” I asked, narrowing my eyes. She was lucky the birth had gone smoothly and quickly. By the time we’d gotten to the hospital, she’d already been eight centimeters dilated.

“Not entirely,” she said, then chuckled. “But hey, I owe you some gratitude. You helped get me here and you didn’t leave me alone.” Faith blinked and readjusted her son in her arms.

“I’m pretty sure anyone would’ve done the same in my situation.”

“Not true. Donovan didn’t.” Faith’s smile wavered, but affixed itself a moment later. “I really love him, you know. I didn’t want to involve Gabe in this, but Donavan… well, he’s domineering and proud and he can be very persuasive.”

Awkward silence parted us. I didn’t know how to respond to her admission. Or her gratitude. She’d messed with Gabe’s head and mine, tried to break us up and make my life hell for the past month. One positive encounter and a shot of the truth didn’t change that. It didn’t change who she was or what she’d done.

Hopefully, having the baby would mature her a little bit.

I shifted in the hospital chair. There was a TV over her bed, but I didn’t want to switch it on in case it bothered the baby whose eyelids had fluttered closed.

“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered. “It’s no problem, I guess. I won’t say it was a pleasure.”

“No,” Faith replied, “it definitely wasn’t a pleasure for either of us.” She grimaced, most likely in reference to her labor, the contractions and utter chaos that had ensued since we’d left my bakery.

“Do you need me to call your mom and dad?”

“No, they don’t take calls from strange numbers and they screen their calls at home. Honestly, you probably wouldn’t be able to get through to them.” Faith swept a damp strand of red hair from her forehead and tucked it behind her ear.

“Snobbery without limitations,” I observed.

“I know we’ll never be friends, even though I’m open to it, but I just wanted to… I don’t know, I guess there’s no hard feelings between us?” Faith inclined her head in my direction, shrugging her shoulders.

I opened my mouth, then shut it again.

“I’m sorry for being so rude,” she said, “I just didn’t want anything to ruin my future or his future.” Faith stroked her son’s forehead lovingly. “You can understand that, right?”

“Apology accepted,” I replied, “and yeah, we’re definitely not going to be friends. But I’m sure we’ll see each other from time to time since your son is Gabe’s brother. Does he have a name yet?”

Yeah, Faith and I wouldn’t be sharing croissants and coffee anytime soon. But we could be civil. I might even name a cupcake after her.

The Frisky Faith. Pure white vanilla. All innocent and beautiful on the outside with a molten hot, red center.

She sighed and settled the little one, grinning at his cute sucking noises and moaning complaints. She had something to focus on now, other than Gabe. Thank God for that.

The door to the maternity ward swung inward and Donovan Moreno entered, carrying the scent of expensive cologne and Cuban cigars. Perhaps he’d ‘celebrated’ in his limo on the way over.

“Donny,” Faith cried out and her son mewled, clutching at her hospital gown with his tiny fist.

“Faith,” he murmured, his cheeks coloring. He made eye contact with me for the briefest moment, and the posh façade slammed back into place. “I came as soon as I heard.”

That had to be bullshit.

“You do care.” Faith teared up and swiped at the wetness beneath her eyes. “I was worried that you didn’t. That I’d have to do this on my own.”

“That would never happen, baby. Forget what I said before. I want us to be together, a happy family.” Donovan strode toward her, a frog march that didn’t suit his verbal sentiments.

I’d be damned if this man knew what a happy family was. Most likely, he planned on keeping his son’s true identity a secret. Probably announce that Gabe had abandoned Faith and the baby, and he’d taken them in out of the goodness of his solid coal heart.

My heart beat lumpy custard for this poser. I loved Gabe, but that love didn’t have to translate to his father.

I rose slowly.

“I know you from somewhere, don’t I?” Donovan asked, extending a hand and turning on the charm. He did it with his back to Faith, to his credit.

“Yeah, you do. Your front doorstep. I’m Allegra, Gabe’s girlfriend.” I waited for Faith to chime in about me being a slut or the like. She didn’t.

Donovan snatched his hand back and wiped it on his suit jacket, his charm dissipating. “Oh,” he said, “what are you doing here?”

“Well, sir, I was with Faith when she went into labor. She was hysterical because you insinuated that you wanted nothing to do with her or your child. Any of this ringing a bell?” I smiled and my gaze flicked to Faith, who returned a faint grin. I just felt pity for her again. She loved this man?

“I came as soon as I heard.”

I pouted and beckoned for him to come closer. He walked around the bed and I led him further across the room, out of Faith’s range of hearing.

“You came because I told your son to send you here,” I whispered fiercely and poked him in the chest. “And you’d better damn well stay and look after her, because if you don’t I’ll make your life a living shit storm, do you hear me?”

“That’s the second time I’ve heard that same ugly threat in the last half hour. Donovan Moreno doesn’t take kindly to ultimatums. I’ve already discussed the matter with Gabe.” Donovan readjusted his sleeves regardless, and I got the feeling his fingers were itching to loosen that designer collar. The heat was on for Mr. Moreno, who obviously loved referring to himself in the third person.

“Good,” I said, then stepped even closer and poked him again. Holy crap, his suit was as soft as an angel’s wings. The Devil truly did wear Prada. “Don’t abandon your son.”

Okay, so I didn’t have that much ammunition, but whatever I had would have to do it. I’d never been so fiercely protective over another human being in my life.

“Where is Gabe, by the way?” I asked, butterflies bonking around inside my tummy. The thought of seeing him still got me excited the same way it had on our first date. Hopefully, this honeymoon phase would last damn long. The rest of my life. Or longer.

Donovan narrowed his eyes at me and scowled. “He was on his way over here when we hung up.”

I patted him on the arm. “Sounds good.” I walked past him and waved to Faith. She’d be fine now that she had another adult to torture. I stopped at the door to the room and looked back at Donovan. “Oh, I almost forgot. Congratulations.”

Baby Moreno yowled a big healthy cry. Moreno Senior gave me a stilted nod.