One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(37)

He’s shown me my worth. But what about him? He makes it impossible to not feel satisfied, adored. But what does he need from me? Am I giving him everything he needs? I don’t want him to feel as though I don’t give. But how?

“I know, I know.” Hayden is sitting on his couch, pulling on his hair, shirtless, shorts hanging low on his hips, with a boyish smile lighting up the room. “I miss you too, Mom, but I’ve been a little pre-occupied lately.”

Our game of Boggle was put on hold when Hayden’s parents called. Cringing, he apologetically said he had to answer since he hadn’t spoken to his parents in a while. It was cute watching him dodge their questions, sidestep his mom.

“What has been consuming my time?” He looks directly at me and smiles openly, not even hiding his happiness. “A girl.”

From his phone, there is a lot of chatter, like his mom is freaking out in excitement, but it’s muffled, and I can’t quite decipher what she’s saying.

“Yes, a girl. Is it serious?” Scratching the back of his neck, he answers, “Yeah, it is.” He pauses. “She lives in Binghamton, yeah, where I am right now.” Another pause. “Racer introduced us.” His smile grows; his eyes soften. “Incredibly beautiful, Mom. You will love her.” Licking his lips, he motions with his finger for me to come closer. I shake my head no. “Great personality. Super smart. She’s a nurse and she’s actually sitting right next to me. Want to talk to her?”

What?

Uh . . . no.

I shake my head fervently and stand to collect our dishes from a classic Kraft Mac and Cheese lunch with peas, but before I can move out of the way, Hayden snags me around the waist and brings me down on his lap. Turning the phone on speaker, he says, “Say hi to Adalyn, Mom.”

“Oh Adalyn, it’s so nice to speak with you.”

Eyes wide, feeling so incredibly awkward, I say, “Mrs. Holmes, what a pleasure. You’ve done such a wonderful job raising Hayden. He’s the perfect gentleman.”

“He better be or else his father and I will have something to say about that.”

“Don’t worry, Mom,” Hayden pipes in. “You taught me very well.”

“That’s right I did.” You can hear the smile in her voice. “Now Adalyn, what do you like to do for fun?”

Relaxing into the couch, Hayden places his spare hand on my thigh and leans back, happy with himself, even though I still feel incredibly awkward.

Does she know we haven’t had sex? Does she know her son has been walking around shirtless all day, driving me crazy with his taut abs, thick pecs, and forearms that seem to ripple with every word he writes on his answer pad? Does she know he struts around the cottage—swagger in every step—his shorts so low on his hips I’m practically panting for them to fall all the way down? Does she know he loves cooking meals for me and likes doing it shirtless, that he smells masculine and fresh, like he’s been hanging out in mountain rain for three days straight?

Is Mrs. Holmes aware that when Hayden is around me, or when I talk to him on the phone, or when I shamefully use Google to search him, I turn into a lustful puddle of hormones, desperate and needy for one touch, one look, one kiss?

Probably not . . . and we should keep it that way.

“What do I do for fun?” I think about that. Well, before Hayden, nothing really, but now that he’s around, my fun is whatever we decide to do together, or whatever he surprises me with. “Is it sad to say relax?”

Before his mom can answer, Hayden cuts in. “Like I said, Adalyn is a nurse and has a hectic work schedule. I covet every minute she can spend with me, because the work she does at the hospital is constant.”

Gently, I run my fingers over his chest, loving the appreciation he has for my job. For me.

“Oh, I can’t even imagine. You work at the hospital? That must be stressful and tiring.”

“It is, but there are a lot of rewarding days when you see a patient walk out, healthy and ready to take on the world again. Those are the days I try to remember when I’m having a low moment.”

Comforting me, Hayden pulls me closer into his chest and holds me tightly.

“So relaxing really is your fun, clearing your mind from everything you’ve seen during the week. I can’t imagine. I really hope Hayden has helped you forget some of the real you see on a daily basis.”

“He does.” I rest my cheek against his chest and press my body into his, seeking his warmth, seeking his coziness. “There are days that take a toll on me and when I reach the nurses’ station, there’s lunch waiting for me, or flowers, or even a box of cookies from a local bakery . . . all from your son.”

Mrs. Holmes gasps as if she is surprised someone recognizes she created the most beautiful human being ever and is validating it.

I have to be honest, I think she did. He might very well be the most beautiful human being.

“My, my, my, Hayden, you must really like this girl.”

A scarlet heat warms my cheeks, my body igniting in an inferno when Hayden squeezes me and says, “I like her a lot, Mom.” He likes me a lot. He just told his mom he likes me a lot. Simple words, yet coming from Hayden, they mean so much more. Will I ever not be surprised by how I feel around this man?

Chapter Eleven

ADALYN

“Thanks for coming with me, Adalyn.” Hayden pulls his Porsche into a parking spot right in front of the arena marked off for him. There is a barricade around the entrance to the arena with security personal surrounding the area, blocking off the fans and media who have come to watch Hayden walk into a building.