Page 27 of Alpha's Secret Baby

The sensation of his hand on my skin sent a ripple of desire through me. Again the realization hit me that I’d been the one holding back from my relationship with Carl. Itwastime for me to commit to him. Also, I couldn’t help thinking of the fact that Dylan had gotten under my skin so much back in Seattle. Ihadkissed him back, but I needed to move on from him. I needed to let him go completely. What better way was there than committing myself fully and intimately to Carl?

I answered in a meaningful tone, “I want to be with you completely, Carl.”

I knew he’d understood as his eyes dilated and trailed down my body.

Carl’s regard left a trail of heat down my body, and it was a relief when he found a parking space on my street and turned his attention to me. His passionate kiss told me how much he wanted me. “When?” he asked breathlessly as we broke apart.

With my skin still heated from his touch and his breath on my lips, I said, “Let me confirm a time with Lara, and I’ll let you know.”

He nodded, his hair even more mussed from my hands as I kissed him. I couldn’t help imagining it even more disheveled than it would be in bed.

“I won’t come up,” he said, “because I don’t think I can control myself with you looking at me like that.” A disarmingly sexy smile wound across his face, and my skin tingled with anticipation. I realized it wasn’t yet three, and Fern wouldn’t be home from school yet, so Carl’s not coming up was probably a smart move.

“Call me soon, all right?” His bright eyes glimmered hopefully, and I nodded, a pleased smile on my face.

After Carl got my suitcase out of the car, he stole another quick kiss from me, and a few minute walk took me to my building. I lugged the suitcase up the two flights, grateful that I traveled light, then arrived at my door, only to be met byDylan.

He leaned against the wall by my door as if it was no big deal that he was there. He washere. My heart raced violently in my chest, and he smiled, coming forward as he offered, “Let me take that for you.” He took my suitcase easily as I stood frozen on the steps.

As he deposited my bag in front of the door, he asked with a crooked smile. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

My heart raced with panic, and then I remembered that it was only just three. Fern wouldn’t be home yet.

Flustered, I got out my keys from my pocket and stammered, “I’ve got no coffee, and I’m so jetlagged. Let’s go downstairs to the café.” I managed to open my door and left my suitcase in the hall.

“Sure,” Dylan said, sounding pleased.

I turned around, still feeling dazed by the sight of him looming in the doorway. I kept thinking that he’d disappear as if he were a figment of my imagination, but nope, he was really here. His tall, muscular body, which I’d pressed up against in the last few days twice, was very much here. His ruggedly handsome face and dark eyes held me with such attention that it threatened to take my breath away.

“Coffee?” he asked, a crooked smile curving his lips.

Heat flushed my cheeks, and I realized I’d just been staring at him. “Sorry, jetlag,” I murmured lamely, hurrying out and following him down the stairs.

My nearest coffee shop was just next door, and both Dylan and I were soon seated at a circular table with steaming mugs in front of us.

I noticed Dylan still took his black as he had when I lived with him while I sipped on a hazelnut latte. I needed as much caffeine and sugar to get me through the shock of Dylan’s sudden appearance. With difficulty, I finally wrestled back the memories of how intimate we’d been over the last few days and Dylan’s declaration. Fixing him with a serious stare, I asked. “Why are you here, Dylan?”

He took a swig of his coffee, the cup looking so small in his big hands, and fixed me with his own serious gaze. “I’ve been waiting here a while, Cherry. Before you arrived, I think I saw your nanny and daughter in the garden outside your apartment.”

My heart tripped over itself. He knew I had a daughter. My swirling thoughts snapped to Bert as I realized he must have told Dylan about my daughter. So, that’s what he was doing here. He thought he could lay claim to what was mine. My expression hardened.

Curiously, Dylan’s sober expression became gentler. “The girl looked just like me when I was a kid.” He held my gaze, and his voice dropped to a murmur. “Is she mine?”

Uneasiness took hold of me, and I shook my head emphatically. “No,” I choked out. “No… Fern’s father’s human.” I stared down into my mug, unable to look at him.

“Fern,” he said softly. “It’s as pretty a name as her mom’s.”

My eyes flew to him, and again my breath hitched in my throat as I was startled at the tenderness on his rugged face. When I’d lived with him, I would have given anything to see such an expression on his face.

Thoughts of the past had me rightly hardening myself again, and I asked for the second time, “Why are you here?”

He sat back in his chair and said, “I needed a suit.”

My lips twitched. “You don’t need to come in person to get a suit.”

An affectionate smile wound across his face. “I do if I wanted to see the beautiful designer of said suit.”

I couldn’t fight the heat that surfaced as he stared at me. I could feel my face turning crimson, and my stomach seemed to be doing cartwheels as the full force of Dylan’s attention swept over me.