One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(83)
“Hayden . . .” A tear falls from her eye that I quickly wipe away with my thumb.
“Don’t say anything, I don’t need an answer. I need a chance. Let me prove to you the hurt you harbor for me was a one-time thing. This between us is real, Adalyn, and if I have to spend every day of my damn life proving that to you, then I will. Let me prove it to you, will you do that? Will you give me a chance?”
Taking a deep breath, she looks up, her eyes watery and bloodshot. Peering into the distance, she says, “That day, the day you were traded, I remember waking up feeling different, thinking about our little getaway in New York City. I knew I was pregnant. I had a feeling I was, and when realization crashed all around me I’d never felt more alone before in my life. And then”—she buries her head in her hands—“I saw you were dating that morning show host—”
“Listen to me, Adalyn. She was nothing. I was so goddamn lonely out here, you weren’t talking to me, the guys on the team had their own lives, and I needed someone to talk to, someone to keep me from feeling so alone. I never even kissed her, because she was a friend. And when I realized her feelings were different than mine, that I didn’t think of her as anything other than a friend, we went our separate ways.”
Looking at me now, she says, “So then you know what it feels like to feel like you’re facing a new situation all by yourself.” She takes pause. “I know I have no right to be upset about Noely, but it still stung. It still bit me straight to the core, it still does. I never want to feel like that again. Logan might not be who I want, but at least I won’t be alone.” Standing from her crouched position she picks the bouquet up from the bench and tucks them against her arm. “Thank you for these, but I should get back inside, it’s getting late.”
Walking away, her long cardigan blowing in the light breeze, my soul cracks in half as once again she tries to put more distance between us.
Not this time.
Catching up, I stand in front of her, halting her retreat. Tipping her chin up, I step in close, feeling the strong pull between us. “You said Logan is not the man you want, but the man who is there. Who’s the man you want?”
She tries to look away, but I force her to keep her gaze set on mine.
“Tell me, Adalyn, who do you want?”
She bites her bottom lip, wet droplets rolling down her cheeks. “You, Hayden. You’re the man I want but can’t have. The man I need to stay as far away from as possible, because there is no doubt in my mind, you’re the man who can break me, and with a baby on the way, I can’t be broken. I need to be strong.”
Despite her confession at the end, hope blossoms in the pit of my stomach. She wants me. That’s all I needed to hear. There is a chance, and it’s up to me to show her, even though I have a busy schedule, I will always be there for her; I can make our relationship work. I won’t break her. If anything, I will make her stronger.
“No one said you can’t have me, Adalyn.” Stepping in closer, my grip still holding her chin in place, I lean forward, inches from her mouth. “I’m all yours for the keeping, and I don’t mind showing you exactly how much I fit into your world, how you fit into mine.”
“Hayden, I can’t—”
Pressing a chaste kiss across her lips, not lingering, I pull back, silencing her. “Promise me two things. Please, this is all I ask, just two things, after not telling me for so long, give me this chance.” Her heavy lids part open, revealing those whiskey-brown eyes, giving me an opening. So goddamn beautiful. “Answer my phone calls and texts.” Cautiously, she nods her head, swallowing hard. I press another chaste kiss against her lips and lift barely off her mouth when I say, “And don’t let that fuckhead touch you. You’re mine, and I’m going to prove it. Be patient with me, baby. I promise what we have will be night and day compared to any connection you’ve ever had with Logan.”
Placing another light kiss across her lips, I allow myself to linger for a moment longer than anticipated but pull away when she parts her lips.
She’s going to have to wait if she wants more, because we are nowhere near the end of the road for our relationship. No, we just started a brand new trip, and this one is headed for forever.
Game on. Adalyn will be mine.
Chapter Twenty-Three
HAYDEN
I put my car in park and stare at the office building in front of me. I would have preferred to woo Adalyn in private but now that fucking Logan lives with her—which don’t even get me started on—I have no choice but to visit her at her office building because I’ll be damned if I have to stand there, talking to Adalyn with Logan’s shit-eating grin staring back at me.
I pick up the bakery box next to me and head into the building, pulling my hat down on my forehead, hoping I’m not recognized. I don’t want to draw any attention to myself, because all I want to do is say good morning to my girl, tell her to have a good day, and then head off to the rink for some training.
Heading to the second floor for suite 210—thank you, Chris—I turn the corner to a span of glass windows only to see Logan talking to Adalyn in the office entryway.
Spinning against a wall to hide myself, I mutter, “Son of a bitch!” Clutching the pink pastry box close to my stomach, I lean past the corner of the wall, one eye peeking past.
What is he doing here? I swear to God, if he’s working with Adalyn as well, I’m going to straight up chuck these pastries at the glass windows, stomp my feet, and throw a goddamn tantrum. It is not beneath me to do so.