“Oh, thank you. They’re more comfortable on the plane. And fall has set in back home.”
One thing I miss about New York City is Central Park in the fall. But I’m sure I’ll be beckoned back to Manhattan by my dad before all the leaves have fallen from the trees.
“I take it we have you two to thank for this adorable outfit.” Lena goes over to Annabelle, smiling at her. “She’s beautiful.”
“Isn’t she?” Saige beams as though Annabelle is her daughter, holding her up in what I’ve been told by the ladies is “blush pink.” The lace dress looks adorable on Annabelle, but she has shoes on that have no purpose since she can’t walk. “He was going to put her in a onesie. A Fury one at that.”
All the women turn to glare at me.
Aiden and Maksim laugh, sharing a look of better me than them.
“That could be cute too,” Lena says.
Cue record scratch. Did Lena Boyd just agree to something I want? Hell must’ve frozen over.
“Maybe we could take some at the game tonight? Do a few poses before you go on the ice.” Lena presses her finger into Annabelle’s stomach as though she expects her to laugh. I want to tell her to stop because I want the first laugh out of my baby girl, but I don’t.
Aiden raises his eyebrows. “Ford’s kind of serious before a game.”
“Of course, we can scrap it.” Lena waves off the idea, never making eye contact with me. I’m unsure why she’s being so agreeable with me at the moment. “Your dad just wants enough to convince everyone you’re happily settling into the role of single father.”
The room quiets and my face heats.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest—”
“I am happy.” My fists tighten at my sides.
“Of course you are. I meant more that the surprise of it all hasn’t shaken you.”
She really can do a good spin job.
The doorbell rings again. I hope this is her crew because I want to get this photo session over with.
“I’ll get everyone in and organized.” She walks down the hallway as though she owns the place. Under other circumstances, I might show her around my place, but I’m already annoyed.
I hear her polite conversation with the people my family hired and/or the people she coerced to write up this story. The next thing I know, in walks a photographer, a videographer, a makeup person, and a smiling man whose eyes bulge out when he sees Maksim and Aiden are here too.
“This is Gavin,” Lena says. “He was my teacher’s assistant at school and does freelance work for a bunch of magazines, including Sports Illustrated, so I called in a favor.”
All I hear is blah blah blah except for when my mind circles around to the fact that he was a TA and these two clearly have some kind of rapport. Maybe Lena isn’t as wholesome as I thought.
I put out my hand. “Pleasure.”
His grip is firm, so I squeeze a little harder to win the battle. What am I winning? I have no fucking clue, but my dad taught me from a young age to be the strongest, most powerful person in the room. Since I opted for a career in hockey, there are times I switch that up to be the most charismatic person in the room and I do just fine.
“You’re probably familiar with Maksim and Aiden. This is Saige and Paisley.” I point toward each person as I name them.
Gavin goes around the room, shaking hands with everyone.
“Let’s get this photo shoot going since Annabelle’s dressed and ready to go. There’s a good chance she could spit up on her outfit at any moment,” I say.
The makeup woman plops down what sounds like a fifty-pound bag and pulls out stuff. She brushes something on my cheeks and puts a small amount of eyeliner on my eyes. I try to be a good sport about it, but I’m anxious to get this over with.
Gavin and Lena have decided that we should shoot in the family room and out on the patio with the ocean behind us.
I pick up Annabelle, who was chillin’ in Saige’s arms. She relaxes into mine like I hoped she would since it’s been just her and me for the past week or so. I’ve lost all track of time. But the fact that Annabelle seems to recognize me makes my chest warm with a strange sensation I’m not familiar with.
Maksim, Aiden, and the girls all rush to leave, wishing us good luck, and I tell them I’ll see them at the game tonight.
I sit on the couch with my daughter in my arms. The photographer snaps a few pictures, having me change positions a few times. Then we’re off to the patio by the pool.
“You know what women love?” Gavin says to Lena. “Those things you wear that carry the baby on your chest.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t have one.” I lean Annabelle on my lap, her back on my chest, and her pudgy little fingers grip my index fingers.
“That’s a shame. They’re a chick magnet,” Gavin says.
I don’t bother asking how he knows. He probably wouldn’t answer me even if I did. He’s only really granted Lena any attention since we started and that’s bothering me. I wish I had an explanation.
“What about him reading her a story? Maybe we can do some shots in her nursery,” Gavin suggests.
Lena touches his arm and shakes her head.
“Why not?” I ask, forehead wrinkling.
“Since this is new, Ford hasn’t had the time to decorate the room,” she tells Gavin.
He tilts his head, then turns to give me his attention. “You knew for months that the baby was coming. I understand you didn’t know about the mother leaving her, but—”
“Let’s just leave it at this. I can get her a book.” Lena glances at me as if I might have a book at the ready that I read to her every night.
She’s four months old, it’s not like she’d comprehend a storybook.
Lena must see my puzzled expression. “There will be more opportunities for those kind of pictures in the future. Let’s just capture these and get this article out.”
Gavin nods as if there’s an underlying agreement between them.
“This is the last pose I’m doing.” I say it in a tone that I’m sure no one will challenge.
Lena’s phone rings and she holds up her finger, stepping back into the house.
“How about you on the floor and her under her jungle gym thing?” Gavin points inside.
“Whatever gets this over the fastest,” I mumble.
They move the lighting back inside, and as I walk into my house, Gavin stops me with a hand on my arm. “Lena’s a great girl. She worked hard to get here. I’d listen to what she has to say if I were you.”
I narrow my eyes and my jaw tics. “She works for my father, not me. I have a game to get to.”
He huffs as though I’m an asshole. Whatever. Lena gave him an oyster nestled with a pearl with this Jacobs’ family heir exclusive and he didn’t even have to fish.
I should put in my notice with Mr. Jacobs right now because the thoughts going through my head about his son are far from professional.
Ford is model hot in a clean-cut, wealthy way. Men like him aren’t usually my type. And although he’s a pompous ass, seeing him with his daughter makes me want to jump him. Makes me wish the one kiss we shared had gone further.