Page 57 of Hot Momosa
“You saw the way he reacted when Ella hugged you. Like you were his—” She clamped her mouth shut and closed her eyes.
“Father?” My thoughts drifted back to the decisions we’d made while she was still pregnant. I’d screwed up big time. Not only had I let my fear cheat me out of a relationship with her, I’d missed every fucking one of Gunnar’s milestones.
“Leo, why are you doing this now?” Tears streamed down her face and seared their way through my soul.
“I should have done it long ago.” I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. “I stayed away from the hospital when Gunnar was born because you didn’t want to upset your dad.”
“You think I wanted to go through labor alone?” Her voice rose. “We agreed it was best—”
“No, you made the decision, and I honored your wishes.” I clasped my hands and mentally prayed for the strength to say what I needed to say despite the fact it’d hurt us both and quite possibly end with us on opposing sides of a custody battle.
“I don’t understand what this has to do with what’s going on now.”
“You will if you’ll let me finish.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “I saw my son for the first time through glass. The nurses wouldn’t let me in the nursery because my name wasn’t on the birth certificate.”
Dahlia turned her head.
“I didn’t complain when you started traveling for work and taking him with you, even though it made it impossible for me to spend time with him.” Memories of checking my phone every hour or so in hopes she’d sent me a pic or text flooded me. The loneliness had worn on me, but I’d kept my mouth shut because I’d trusted her. Trusted us.
“Why didn’t you say anything then?” The accusation in her tone hurt.
“Because I was afraid I’d lose you both if the people who killed Joe found out about you.” Shaking my head, I added, “Funny thing is, I lost you anyway. But I’m not going to lose Gunnar.”
“I waited years for you to want me,” she whispered.
“I’ve always wanted you.”
How can she think otherwise?
Dahlia frowned. “If that were true, you would have made room for me in your life. Look at your brothers. They were in the same situation as you were, but Gabe and Maggie made it work. Marco and Nicolina are a different story, but Enzo was willing to walk away from the mafia and your entire family for Shanna.”
She’s putting this all on me?
“I wasn’t the only one who had a family that needed walking away from.”
“This is pointless. There’s no sense in going around in circles about the past. It’s time we both move on.” She stood and shoved toys into a duffle bag.
I was sick to death of her dodging the subject of her father. “Do what you need to do, but I’m through pretending Gunnar isn’t mine.”
She froze in place. “I agreed it was time we told your family the truth.”
“That’s a start, but it’s not enough.” I drew a deep breath and laid it out there for her. “I’m going to speak to my attorney about establishing legal paternity.”
“Now? Why?” She balled her hands. “What’s changed?”
“Our relationship has changed.” I pushed myself to my feet and locked my knees to keep them from buckling. The woman was killing me, one glare at a time.
“I can’t believe this! You’re using our child to blackmail me into staying with you?” She scoffed and continued packing. “That’s worse than Harry trying to push me into a loveless marriage.”
I’m screwing this up.
“No.” Dragging my hands over my face, I said, “Will you stop and listen to me for half a second?”
She ignored me.
Risking life and limb, I moved behind her and rested my hands on her shoulders. Between the warmth of her skin and the sweet scent of her hair, I was a goner. Argument or not, I’d never wanted a woman more than I wanted her. I never should have stayed away, but there was no way I could have done the friend-thing with her without the hope of more. It would have been like cutting off pieces of my soul every time I saw her.
Dahlia sighed and hung her head.