After a few hours of running around the pumpkin patch, William falls asleep in the car. He’s a log by the time the car pulls up in front of the house.

Adam turns off the ignition and looks over his shoulder at the little guy asleep on the backseat. His green eyes light up like he’s in love. Street lights spill into the car, making the moment feel surreal with their yellow glow.

It feels like time has stopped. Except I can hear our breathing.

“Let me carry him inside,” Adam says finally, in a soft voice. “I don’t want to wake him up.”

I nod. It’s incredible. Only a few days ago, the thought of letting him into my house again seemed so crazy. But now, after just one day out, it feels so natural to have Adam remove the straps from William’s car seat and lift his son into his arms.

I walk ahead to unlock the door then show Adam to William’s room. He lays William down in his crib and even tucks him in. Despite myself, tears start to sting my eyes, and I have to look away to compose myself.

“Thank you, Katie. Today has been incredible,” Adam whispers with a big, satisfied smile as he gets up to his feet.

He looks so genuinely happy I can’t help but return his smile. “You’re welcome.”

Maybe, even if he’s a terrible human being, he can be a good dad to William, after all. I know some guys who are complete assholes, except to their own offspring. He may be one of those guys.

Adam faces William’s little crib and takes a deep breath as he watches William’s chest rising up and down.

“Wow,” he says as he slowly shakes his head, his voice cracking slightly. “I can’t believe that’s really my son.”

Not too long ago, I would’ve insisted he was mistaken.

But now, the way Adam’s been with William all day—patient, attentive, kind—I want him to be William’s dad. I mean, he is; that’s a fact. But I don’t hate the fact that he is anymore.

If Adam’s behavior today is indicative of how he’s always going to be with William, then I want him in my son’s life. I want someone to love William the way Adam seems to love William.

“Yeah, he’s pretty amazing,” I whisper.

The look on Adam’s face as he gazes at our son puts a lump in my throat. I’ve never been able to share these private, quiet, little moments with anyone before. I mean, Sawyer’s an awesome uncle, but it’s not the same.

Both Adam and I draw a deep breath at the same time, then we share a look. I can’t stop my lips from curling up. My chest feels full with something warm and comforting.

Adam gestures at the door. “Shall we? Before we wake him up.”

I turn off the light and shut the door.

As Adam and I walk down the hallway, he says, “I’m really happy today, but I feel like I’ve missed out on a lot.”

He touches me on the shoulder and looks at me with puppy-dog eyes. I stop to listen.

“This may be asking for a lot, after what you’ve already allowed me to experience today. But if you don’t mind, would you tell me everything about William?”

“Everything?” I ask, a smile on my lips. There’s nothing I love more than talking about my son. “That might take a while.”

“I have time,” Adam says quickly.

Maybe this is a bad idea, but I can’t say no when all he wants is to hear some stories about his own son. After today, I can’t deny him that.

I can tell he actually cares about William, and that can only be a good thing.

* * *

Adam listens intently to every word I say, as if afraid he’s going to miss something crucial, even though I’m just telling him about William’s favorite colors.

William loved yellow for months, and now suddenly, he hates yellow with a passion and loves blue with about the same amount of passion. He won’t even let me put on a yellow shirt on him anymore.

“Sounds like the two of you have been through a lot together.” Adam’s sitting on the couch beside me, leaning one arm against the back as he faces me.

This is the first time I get a chance to take a good, close look at him. And my eyes keep getting drawn to the tiny, inconspicuous details of him.

His leather jacket is resting on the arm of the couch. The top couple of buttons of his Henley are open, and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. The veins in his forearms pop against his skin, and he has a long, strong neck.

“William’s completely changed my life,” I say. “Now, I don’t even remember what it used to be like before him.”

“You must be the strongest, bravest person I know.” Adam stares at me with so much honesty I can’t even laugh at his grandiose statement.

“You must not know a lot of people,” I say gently, thanking him with a smile for the compliment.

Adam chuckles. “That’s actually true,” he says. “That’s what my mom says all the time.”

“You’re close with your mom?” Somehow, I find that surprising.

In my mind, over the past three years, I’ve built up this image of Adam as some filthy monster. But today, he’s challenging all my opinions about him.

“Yeah. She says I work too much.” Adam takes a deep breath as he continues to gaze at me. “Was it a big surprise, when you found out you were pregnant?”

I fall silent. I didn’t expect him to ask a question about me. So far, I’ve just been telling him about William.

“It was,” I say finally.

“Yeah. It must’ve been. I remember distinctly that we used protection.”

“That’s not all.” I used to hate having to tell people about this because I didn’t want anyone to pity me. But since I had William, I’ve loved telling people about what a miracle he is. “I thought I couldn’t have children.”

Adam’s eyes widen. Instead of pity, his face softens with sympathy and understanding. “That’s why you decided to keep him.”

“That was a big part of it, yeah,” I admit. “Maybe it was strange and superstitious, but I felt like, if I didn’t keep the baby and raise him, the universe would never again give me another chance . . . you know?” I laugh nervously. “I didn’t think I could live with that kind of guilt and regret.”

Adam nods. “I should’ve been there for you. I’m sorry.”

“No, we never . . . It wasn’t like that between us, was it? I mean, it wasn’t like you promised me anything . . . I just didn’t think—”

“Katie, I was besotted with you that night. You have no idea the lengths I’ve gone to, just to find you.” Adam levels his gaze at me. “If you’d only asked, I would’ve done anything for you.”

I give Adam a flat stare.

Really? We’ve been getting along so well all day, and now he pulls out this nonsense?

“Come on,” I say. “Now you’re just mocking me. We both know it was nothing like that. It was just dirty fucking with some girl from the sex club.”

“What? It was nothing like that.” Adam frowns. “Dirty? Sure. Fucking? Yeah, definitely. Sex club? Ditto. But you weren’t just ‘some girl.’”

“You can tell me the truth. I’m not going to cry about it. I’m a big girl. I can take it.”

“Why did I keep coming to the club, looking for you, then? I know you have no way of knowing if I really did that, but you are aware that I had Sawyer looking for you for two years, right?” he asks.

“Like you said, I have no way of knowing if you really went looking for me. And as for hiring Sawyer, I don’t really care. You probably have so much money it’s burning a hole in your pocket anyway.”

“Someone’s been Googling me.” Adam smirks.

“I didn’t have to. You got into The Succubus. Only rich, powerful people did.”

“Okay. Fair enough. But also, rich, powerful people don’t have time to waste on unimportant matters.”

“Maybe it was a hobby to you, like some kind of a fetish to buy women with your money,” I blurt out.

“Just because I paid your brother, you think I’m trying to buy you? Aren’t we getting a little too overexcited?” Adam asks. “I had no idea you were his sister, by the way. So it was literally impossible for me to use him to get to you.”

“I don’t have to go that far to reach that conclusion. The money you left me was proof enough,” I say.

“What money?”

“The bills you left on the nightstand in the private room that night?” I can’t believe he’s trying to pretend it didn’t happen. I mean, show a little respect for my intelligence.

“The money on the nightstand . . .?” Adam frowns, looking like he’s straining to remember.

Wow, he’s a pretty good actor.

“Oh,” he says, his face a mask of horror and comprehension. “That’s what you thought the money was for?”