Strollers & Stilettos: A Sexy Contemporary Romance (In Stilettos Book 4) (8 page)

Alec rubbed the back of his neck. Jaya’s belief in him didn’t make him feel better. Just made him feel guiltier, somehow. “Sorry. I’m on edge.”

Caleb nodded. “Yeah, I can imagine. Can’t be easy having a baby around. Are you sleeping at all?”

Alec frowned. “Yeah, actually. She sleeps through the night. Jaya feeds her at around ten, and Alexa sleeps till six, so we’re lucky, I guess. My sleep deprivation is not directly baby related.”

“Don’t worry, Alec, we’ll find this woman and get to the bottom of it.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He shook his head. “Dude, it’s possible that I did this. And I don’t even remember it.”

“Look.” Caleb wiped a hand down his face. “Let’s focus on what we can control, okay? The paternity test is coming. Even expedited, it’ll take about a week. Because we wanted the discretion, I’ve had to go through some other channels, but it’ll prove things definitively. All you can do is stay calm.”

Yeah. Right. Calm
. He was the picture of freaking serenity. “There’s got to be something else I can do.”

“I’m working on finding the baby mama right now,” Caleb said. “So far, the only lead I have is that she stayed at the Westhorpe in Boston for a couple of weeks during the stretch of time you were in town. I have footage of her going in and out of the place. The weird thing is I can’t find any record of her checking in.”

Alec frowned. “A couple of weeks—that would be at least several thousand dollars. Anyone who pays with cash, we make note of.”

Caleb shook his head. “It looks like she probably used a voucher or several. Because there were no cash payments during her stay. Either that, or someone else checked her in and paid, but she’s never seen on camera with anyone.”

Alec leaned back in his chair. He didn’t have time to deal with this shit. He had a mountain of work waiting for him. He had another trip to Vancouver planned at the end of the week. He wanted to spend some quality time with Jaya. He didn’t have time for bullshit allegations and a baby. “This is a set up.”

Caleb scoffed. “Yeah, you think I don’t know that? The real question to ask yourself is why? And how? And what kind of person are we dealing with?”

“Seriously, Caleb, is there any other reason than this person is crazy?”

“You’d be amazed at what a person wronged will think up. I need to determine if she’s disgruntled and wants to get back at you or is crazy and actually thinks she’s your girlfriend or something. You see the fine line I’m dealing with?”

Mentally unstable?
Fuck
. What the hell had he brought into their lives? “This is fucked.”

“I agree. And I hate to say this again, but I’m on it. I’ll get you something to work with. In the meantime, run your empire. Kiss your wife. Deal with your new roommate.” Caleb grinned at him. “How is the kid holding up?”

Alec frowned. How was he supposed to know? She was a baby. A completely helpless baby who needed her mother. He cleared his throat. “Okay, I think. Jaya has the poor little thing on a schedule already.”

Caleb smirked. “I would expect nothing less.” His friend studied him. “Micha’s even in love at this point, and Beckett says it’s hard to get Ricca to come home from your house now.”

“Yeah, the girls have been great.” And he was grateful for their help.
Because you certainly have been useless
. “Micha weirdly has a way with the baby.”

Caleb grinned. “I heard. I keep teasing her that soon she’ll be ready to open a daycare center.”

Alec chuckled. “Yeah? How does she take that joke?”

“Have you met Micha?” Caleb rubbed his belly. “She delivers a mean gut shot.”

“Good point.” Micha wasn’t exactly known for her warm and fuzzy demeanor, but she was an incredibly loyal friend and the first person he’d call if he ever needed backup.

“And how are you doing with the kid?” Caleb asked quietly

You mean the kid I won’t touch?
“Fine. I mean, it’s hard having a baby around. And remembering to be quiet, but I’m home so little right now it doesn’t matter too much, I guess.”

Caleb’s gaze narrowed. “You slipping into the uncle role easily enough?”

Alec adjusted his collar, the heat making him sweat. “You know.”

Caleb leaned against the wall like he had all the time in the world. “So you’ve been helping Jaya out. With diaper changes and stuff?”

His skin prickled with the heat of shame. “Like I said, I haven’t really been around much, and I’m not good with kids. Terrible, in fact. Not like Micha or Ricca will let me anywhere near the baby anyway.” Except, the other night when he’d spent the better part of an hour staring at Alexa in her crib. The fierce need to protect that baby had terrified him then and it terrified him now. He sure as hell wasn’t examining that shit with Caleb. “It’s fine.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“Leave it alone, Caleb.”

“You’re really going to make me say it?”

Alec’s stomach flipped. He knew what was coming. But knowing it was coming and hearing the actual words were two different things. “Mind your own business, Caleb.”

“I hate to break it to you, Alec, but our little unit, we’re a family, like it or not. When I see bullshit, I’m gonna call you on it.”

“Fine, say it. You’re gonna say I’m acting like my old man. You’re right. I’m just like him.”

“Alec,” Caleb’s voice was low and barely audible.

Alec stood and planted his hands on his desk. “No, go ahead. You brought this up. So let’s have it out. You think I’m Royce Westhorpe all over again. You think that kid is mine. You think I want nothing to do with her like the old man wanted nothing to do with me. I’m an asshole, leaving my wife to deal with this shit. Don’t you think I know that?”

Caleb scrubbed a hand over his face. “You done yet?”

“Nah, you wanted—”

“Shut up, Alec. When are you going to realize that I’m on your side? All I’m saying is that kid needs you. Your kid or not, she’s only a baby. I know you’re freaked the fuck out. And you’re nothing like your old man because you weren’t going to put the baby back on the street or leave her with CPS. That’s not who you are. You’re a better man than that. But I get that you’re scared. I get it.”

Alec jabbed a finger into the desktop as an invisible band tightened around his chest. “I am not my old man.”

“I know that.”

“I’m not him.”

“I know. But why does she scare you so much?”

Good fucking question. “I don’t want to be capable of that kind of cruelty. If I’d fathered a kid, I would have done the right thing. I would have stayed and been in her life.”

“No one thinks you wouldn’t have. Least of all Jaya. Cut yourself some slack, man. Just remember that baby needs more than money thrown at the problem. She needs people to care about her. You can’t let your fear immobilize you. Not to mention, from the looks of Jaya last time I saw—”

A knock at the door interrupted them.

“Yeah, who is it?” Alec called out.

The door swung open, and Jaya pushed the stroller through. “Alec I—Oh, Caleb, hi.” She stopped short. “Sorry. I didn’t realize I was interrupting. Corrine wasn’t at her desk.”

Alec smiled at his wife, already feeling marginally calmer. “No, it’s okay. What’s up?”

She shifted on her heels and slid a glance toward Caleb. “I, um, sorry to do this, but I have a conference call in twenty minutes, and Adele’s assistant Abigail was supposed to watch the baby, but there was a problem with some shipment or something, and now she can’t, and I really have to do this call. I’ve already put it off for two days, and I can’t risk Alexa will wake up and cry. Do you think you can watch her for a few minutes? She’s already been fed, but there’s another bottle in the bag. It’s only for an hour.”

Adrenaline-fueled panic flooded his veins.
Him
.
Alone
with a baby. With
this
baby. “I—” What could he say? Not like he could say no.

In the end, Caleb saved him.

“Of course we’ll watch Alexa. You go take your call. While you’re at it, why don’t you head to the spa after too? You look tired, like you could use a break.”

Alec ground his teeth. She
did
look tired.
Because she’s been doing everything by herself, you moron.
“Caleb is right.”

Jaya raised an eyebrow and looked like she was contemplating launching herself at him for an attack, but he put up his hands. “About the you taking a break thing. Not about you looking tired. To me, you’re always beautiful.”

Caleb grinned at the two of them then beat a hasty retreat. “While you two fight this out, I have a mystery woman to ferret out.”

Alec watched his best friend abandon him and considered strangling Caleb the next time he saw him.

Jaya slid Alec a sidelong glance, looking unconvinced. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, I can handle this.” All he had to do was do the one thing that terrified him the most.

Chapter Eight

It’s only a baby. It’s only a baby.

Alec stared over into Alexa’s stroller. Wide, blue eyes blinked back at him, and she cooed. A tiny dimple appeared on her right cheek, and he froze. Goddamn, she really did look like him. From the dark tufts of hair on her head to the ridiculously long lashes and those bright blue eyes. He remembered the only baby photo he’d seen of himself. He’d looked just like her. But then again, didn’t all babies look alike in the end?

Fat cheeks, gummy, gassy smiles. Big heads?

He tried to focus on the monitor in front of him. All reports for the building came to him. He hadn’t gone over yesterday’s, but he needed to focus on them today. There was too much work to do, and he knew Jaya was right. He really had to delegate better. But to whom?

Once he’d stepped into this role, he’d gone all-in, given up the
Rolling Stone
lifestyle. To be with Jaya, he needed to do the regular job thing. As long as he still got to spread his wings from time to time, he could deal. He hadn’t regretted it, ever. What he regretted was not getting to spend as much time as he wanted with his new wife. Instead of enjoying a prolonged honeymoon phase, he’d turned into the classic working-too-hard guy with barely any time for his family. And to be fair, Jaya was working just as hard. Maybe what they needed was a date night. Something he didn’t have his assistant book. But something that would be fun and take them outside. He could do that.

Alexa cooed again.

He eyed her. “Oh, so you think a date night is a good idea, do you?”

She giggled and waved a tiny, dimpled fist in the air. Yeah, okay. All things being equal, she was pretty damn cute. “Since you have such an opinion, what do you think we should do?”

Alexa kicked her feet in the air and clapped her hands together.

Alec frowned. “Um, you’re gonna have to give me a better hint, kid. I don’t really speak baby.”

A loud stream of gibberish filled the silence of his office, and Alexa kicked her feet again, more insistently.

Damn. “Okay, okay. So maybe a moonlit stroll on the beach followed by dinner?”

She only made a car motor sound with her lips, sending baby drool and spittle down her chin.

“Um, I take it that that’s a no.” He thought another guess. “Maybe taking her race car driving?”

Alexa squealed and said, “Bah.”

Was he actually crazy enough to ask a baby for advice? It certainly looked that way. “You know, kid, I’m not entirely sure you’re that helpful. I mean, you don’t know her. She might enjoy opening up a Bugatti on the open road.”

More spittle.

He rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine, how about a romantic picnic followed by a sunset hot air balloon ride?”

Alexa clapped her hands, and the happy kicking started again.

“I’ll take that as an approval.” He shook his head. “You’re a tough one. And resilient too. You might not know it now, but we’re going to take care of you and find your mommy, okay? You don’t need to worry about anything.” Not like him. He’d been both old enough and aware enough to know that his father hadn’t wanted him. His mother was gone, and he’d been all alone. What the hell kind of life would he have lived if Adele hadn’t insisted they take him in, like Jaya had with Alexa? He’d done the same thing his father had done.

Shame washed through him. Regardless of how Alexa had ended up in his care, he needed to show her some love and kindness. He studied her. “I’ve been a bit of an as—” He slammed his mouth shut. He couldn’t be sure, but he was pretty certain that saying ‘asshole’ in front of a baby would be considered bad parenting. And if he was getting the practice in now, he better get it right.

Something warm spread though his chest. He and Jaya had talked about children in the vague sense. They’d always said that a couple of years after they got married they’d start trying. He’d never given much thought to having kids, one way or another. But managing to make Alexa smile put him pretty much in the definitely-maybe category of things.

Unfortunately, that sweet smile quickly morphed into an enraged howl when she chucked her little crinkly birdie out of her stroller.

He sprang up. “No. No, no, no. Don’t cry. It’s okay. See, Uncle Alec got your birdie for you. No harm, no foul. Everything’s okay.”