His Best Man's Baby by Tressie Lockwood Page B

still big enough to have floor space and visitor chairs this side of the desk. The walls were lined with bookshelves, all crammed full of books, magazines, and manuals. On top of that, there was an incredible view of uptown Charlotte from the window. Tae enjoyed relaxing in Zerita’s office, and her friend had told her she was welcome at any time to unwind, but right now, Tae couldn’t get rid of the tension between her shoulders.
    “Tae, are you keeping the baby?”
    “Yes.”
    “And?”
    “Why does there have to be an and?”
    “Girl, I know you, and I can feel it. There’s more.”
    “Okay, Miss Cleo.”
    Zerita pursed her lips. Tae gave in and told her about Daniel and Jax, their interest in her and how they’d fallen into a physical fight over her the night before.
    “And how did that make you feel?”
    “Are you my therapist now?”
    “Don’t make me come over this desk.”
    Tae laughed. “Frustrated, angry…”
    “Flattered.”
    Tae stiffened. “I’m not pitting them against each other if that’s what you’re getting at.”
    “Octavia Croft, lie to yourself, but don’t lie to me.”
    “I’m not lying to you or myself. I didn’t ask for this.”
    “But you’re not ending it either.”
    “How can I? Neither one of them will listen to me.”
    Zerita scraped her chair back and stood. Her pinched mouth and eyes shooting sparks meant she was pissed at Tae. She turned toward the window as if looking at Tae would make her ready to fight. “You say you’re not playing Daniel and Jax off each other, but you still haven’t told Jax he’s your baby’s daddy. Why not?”
    “I—”
    “What kind of signal do you think you’re giving Daniel by not telling Jax the truth? That you want him to be the daddy. Or did you sleep with him and don’t want to admit it?”
    Tae surged to her feet. “Of course not! I thought you of all people would—”
    “Come off the high horse, Tae. I believe you. That doesn’t change the fact, from what you’ve told me, you let him come around and play daddy. You’re going to tell me he doesn’t have expectations after that?”
    Tae didn’t try to respond. She knew Zerita was right. Leave it to her friend not to bite her tongue and to lay everything out the way it was. Why hadn’t she told Jax? Because it would mean he’d know his rights and stick around? Was she hoping for Daniel to be the daddy no matter what? She thought about her time with Jax and their grocery shopping. They had both been so ignorant but willing to learn. She admitted they had a lot of fun together, the way they had in the past, laughing together, taking nothing seriously. Her relationship with Daniel was different. Daniel cared for her like a delicate flower, and she loved him so much. What he had wanted in the past was happening now, although she hadn’t planned it.
    “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I do want what I threw away. I know you’re going to say what about Alise, and I’m trying to think about her, but I can’t. I hated her from the start.”
    “If you liked her, would it have made a difference?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Zerita appeared calmer. She sat down again and faced Tae. “Let’s look at it logically. If you tell Jax the truth, will things change between you?”
    “He might hate me for keeping it from him for so long.”
    “So?”
    Tae blinked at her.
    Zerita sighed. “You like the attention. You want both of them to want you. The fact is you never would have slept with Jax if you didn’t feel something for him. You’re not the type of woman who sleeps around and definitely not without some type of emotional tie. It’s not just physical pleasure with you.”
    Zerita knew her too damn well. Sometimes she wondered if her friend knew her better than she knew herself. “I don’t have feelings for Jax. I like him. He’s a lot of fun, and I see him trying. It’s sweet.”
    Zerita eyed her.
    “Fine. I’m attracted to him. That’s it. I’m not getting off on