Chapter Nine – Max

I dropped Riley off at Mom’s and went to work, still thinking about the night before. I was going to propose paying Lucinda to marry me and have my baby today at our lunch – something I swore that I would never do. The scary thing was that the idea of having her in my bed to make love to – to impregnate – was one of the hottest things that I could think about.

If she agreed, we could start immediately. I was blinded by my lust for her as I walked into my office for a moment of peace.

I worked through a few more appointments before I left for the diner. I’d cleared an hour and a half just in case she wasn’t easy to convince. I even told Liam to sit at a nearby table in case I needed him for anything. I was prepared, but I couldn’t get the kiss out of my head as I walked down the street.

I entered the diner a few minutes early and found a booth in the back. My eyes searched the room for Lucinda. I saw Liam sitting across the room with a computer in front of him. I nodded at him and kept looking, not seeing Lucinda yet. Maybe she refused the car after all, though Tony sent me a text when he was on his way there.

I heard the door chime and looked up to see her walking in. Lucinda brushed her hair back and looked around, seeing me as she adjusted her shirt over her skirt. She looked beautiful as she walked over. I made eye contact with Liam and he gave me an encouraging smile. Lucinda was perfect for this, with her clean appearance and even the awkward way that she approached me. “Thanks for coming,” I said as she slipped into the booth and looked at me.

“It sounded important. I figured I should give you a chance to talk, particularly since you suggested somewhere public. I can’t even think when we’re alone,” she admitted as a waitress stopped by, staring openly at me.

“Would you like anything to drink?” I asked her as she looked at the raven-haired girl.

“Iced tea,” Lucinda replied. I ordered the same. I handed her a menu and she stared at me before reading it. “So, what is this about?”

I made sure we ordered before leaning forward and resting my arms on the table. “I mentioned my divorce to you in passing, didn’t I?”

“Yes,” she replied, frowning at me.

“Riley’s mother is something of a free spirit. I caught her cheating on me while Riley slept in her crib in the room across from ours. I asked for a divorce immediately. At first, she was happy with the occasional visit and alimony. I agreed to it just for the sake of peace for my daughter. Given my job, it was very generous – it should take care of her just fine for the next ten years that I’m required to pay her.” She gave me a shocked look and I shrugged. “I just wanted my daughter. I didn’t want it to drag out or get ugly. It’s just money. I agreed to it and I have been raising Riley ever since along with help from my family. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“What does this have to do with me?” Lucinda asked. I paused for the waitress to place our food in front of us.

“Recently, she’s started a case to take Riley from me. She has a one-bedroom apartment that isn’t nearly large enough for a little girl, but she won’t move to another area and pay less for a bigger place. She lives just at the edge of Manhattan in the busiest part of the city. It’s no place for a kid, but she’s coming across as someone that misses her daughter and wants the chance to raise her. She’s claiming to have a job and have her feet on the ground now – that she’s a different woman.” I watched Lucinda’s face as she picked at a fry on her plate.

“Maybe that is all true. Riley is beautiful and she might want to be a mother again. Can’t you two agree on joint custody for Riley’s sake?” Lucinda asked. I sighed.

“She gets child support if she gets full custody. That’s her focus: her living a better life that does not involve caring for Riley. I know Blake, and while I might have spent some time blind to her selfishness, I know now that she’ll never get Riley. She won’t nurture her. She’ll use the money for herself.”

“That’s a tough place to be in,” Lucinda sympathized, pulling a tomato from her burger. “Is she going to hurt Riley?”

“I don’t want to think that she’d abuse her own daughter, but I do think that Blake might neglect her. She’s young and wants to go out a lot. She doesn’t want to bond with her daughter,” I explained as I glanced over at Liam. He was watching us. I looked back at Lucinda. “I might agree to supervised visits if she were happy with that, but she’s after money more than anything. I can’t just hand Riley over.” I felt emotion wash over me and was surprised by the raw sympathy that crossed her face. “I love my daughter more than anything. I can provide for her and raise her the right way.” I picked up my sandwich and took a bite, trying to sort through my thoughts. “My attorney is well-aware of the fact that New York favors mothers in these cases most of the time, and he’s made a few suggestions to me.”

“What?” Lucinda asked. I licked my lips.

“I need to be married when I go to court. I need to be with a safe, caring wife that will be everything that Riley needs so the judge can see that. He even suggested that I should be expecting a new baby so that Riley will have a family with me.” I stared into her eyes as she blinked a few times. “I have a contract drawn up that promises you one million for marrying me as well as another million to have my baby. That can get you a new lab, Lucinda. That can make your life easier. And you’ll save my daughter.”

“You want to pay me to marry you?” She asked as the blood drained from her face. I looked around, wanting her to keep her voice down. Liam caught my panicked look. Thankfully, people were busy talking around us. I reached a hand across the table to cover hers.

“It’s not that calculated, Lucinda. I like you and so does Riley. We both know that. I just need to do this fast and I want to offer you some incentive. You’re in a tough place right now, and we can help each other.” Pain flashed over her face as she pulled away from me and rested her head in her hands. “I have no intentions of hurting you in any way. Everybody will be safe.” I leaned back as I wondered what was going on inside of her head.

“I know how much you love your daughter. Anyone can see that,” Lucinda said softly as she held her chin in her hand, looking pained. “Maybe the judge will be smart enough to know it as well. I can’t do this.”

“Wait, Lucinda,” I said as she stood up to leave the diner. I reached for my wallet and dropped a couple of big bills on the table, abandoning my food. Liam did the same. I told the waitress that the money was on the table as I rushed out, no doubt getting the attention of the other patrons in the diner as I pushed the heavy glass door open. She was walking down the sidewalk. I reached her and grabbed her shoulder. She stopped walking.

Her eyes were flashing as she turned to face me. “Ask the blonde to do this for you. She seems like she’d be willing to please you.”

I had to think for a moment about who she was referring to. The night played back through my mind as I clutched her shoulders and stared at her. “You saw me that night?”

“Yes, I saw too much of you that night.” She looked disgusted for a moment. I wondered how long she had watched us. “If I say yes to this, will you get to have company over as you wish?”

“I have not had anyone over or gone to their house since I met you,” I assured her as she looked suspiciously at me. “That was only when I didn’t have Riley over. I have been a little bitter about the divorce – I haven’t acted great.”

She looked at me with so much honesty before she laughed bitterly. “I am a virgin, Max. I have never had sex, and I can’t even wrap my mind around the idea of someone paying me that much for my first time. I think your daughter is one of the sweetest children I’ve ever met, but I can’t agree to this. I’m saving myself for someone special.”

Lucinda was a virgin? I knew that she displayed some kind of fear when it came to me, but I never would have guessed that. “How? You’re gorgeous.” I told her as she widened her eyes and pain passed through them.

“I’m just a girl. I am sure you can find someone to do… this for you. You’re gorgeous, too.” Lucinda turned to walk away and I watched her, trying to imagine the woman that masturbated for me as a virgin. She must have done something with some man in the past. I scratched my head as I felt someone approaching me.

“Did she say no?” Liam asked as I looked at him with a smirk.

“Yeah. I don’t think she’s into the idea,” I replied as I stared into the sky.

“She’d be perfect for the court and she’s beautiful. Is there something between you?” Liam asked as I tried to think about what to say.

“Attraction,” I admitted as I turned to head back down the sidewalk. “But I guess not enough. I’ll figure out a Plan B.”

I didn’t want a Plan B. I wanted Lucinda.