launched into his arms.
“Daddy!” he proclaimed.
Sabine watched Gavin hold his son as fiercely as if someone were going to snatch him away. She understood how he felt. And then she saw the glassy tears in the eyes of her powerful CEO, and her chest tightened with the rush of confusing emotions. It hadn’t taken long, but Gavin was completely in love with his son.
She couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Seven
“D amn you for always being right.”
Gavin stood on Sabine’s doorstep holding a bouquet of purple dahlias. She had opened the door and greeted him that way, stealing his “hello” from his lips. Fortunately she was smiling, so he did the same.
He held out the bundle of flowers with the nearly black centers that faded to bright purple tips. “These are for you. They reminded me of your hair.”
Sabine brought the flowers up to her nose and delicately inhaled their scent. “They’re beautiful, thank you.”
“So are you,” he added. And he meant it. She looked lovely tonight. She was wearing a fitted white dress with brightly colored flowers that looked like one of her watercolor paintings. It was sleeveless and clung to every curve of her body.
She smiled, wrinkling her nose with a touch of embarrassment. The movement caught the light on the tiny pink rhinestone in her nose. It was the same bright color as her lipstick and the chunky bracelet on her wrist. “Let me put these in some water and we can go.”
Gavin nodded and stepped across the threshold into the apartment. It was Friday night and as predicted, they were having dinner. Everything had gone smoothly. The paperwork had been filed in family court to add Gavin’s name to the birth certificate. Along with the addition, Jared’s last name would be updated to Brooks. He’d suggested making Jared’s middle name Hayes, but she said the name Thomas was more important to her. He’d thought Sabine would pitch a fit on the subject of Jared’s name, but it hadn’t concerned her.
The custody proposal Edmund put together was approved by both of them on the first draft. He hoped that he would see Jared more than required, but this established a minimum they were both comfortable with.
He noticed Marie’s coat hanging by the door when he came in, so he knew she was already there to watch Jared. Gavin looked around the apartment, but he didn’t see Marie or Jared anywhere. “Where is everyone?”
Then he heard giggles and splashing from the bathroom. He smiled, knowing Marie was probably soaked. After they’d told Jared that Gavin was his daddy, he’d insisted Daddy give him his bath that night. Gavin had gotten more water on him than the toddler in the tub, he was pretty certain.
Aside from that, the night had gone pretty smoothly. Apparently toddlers didn’t angst about things the way grown-ups did. Gavin was his daddy— great. Let’s go play.
“Marie is giving Jared a bath, although I think they’re probably having more fun with the bathtub paints than actually washing.”
Gavin wanted to peek in and say hello before they left, but he resisted. He’d gotten Sabine to agree to this dinner and the babysitter he provided. Right now, Jared was happy. If they went in to say goodbye, the giggles might disintegrate into tears. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, the luxurious black waves of her hair gracefully swaying along her jawline. “I already told Marie goodbye a few minutes ago so we could slip out. She seems to have everything under control.”
Since it was just the two of them tonight, he’d opted for the Aston Martin. He held the door for her, noting the elegant curve of her ankles in tall pink pumps as she slipped inside. Gavin had no clue how women walked in shoes like that, but he was extremely thankful they did.
They had seven-thirty reservations at one of the most sought-out, high-end restaurants in Manhattan. He’d made the reservation on Monday, feeling confident they would come to an agreement in time,
“Daddy!” he proclaimed.
Sabine watched Gavin hold his son as fiercely as if someone were going to snatch him away. She understood how he felt. And then she saw the glassy tears in the eyes of her powerful CEO, and her chest tightened with the rush of confusing emotions. It hadn’t taken long, but Gavin was completely in love with his son.
She couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Seven
“D amn you for always being right.”
Gavin stood on Sabine’s doorstep holding a bouquet of purple dahlias. She had opened the door and greeted him that way, stealing his “hello” from his lips. Fortunately she was smiling, so he did the same.
He held out the bundle of flowers with the nearly black centers that faded to bright purple tips. “These are for you. They reminded me of your hair.”
Sabine brought the flowers up to her nose and delicately inhaled their scent. “They’re beautiful, thank you.”
“So are you,” he added. And he meant it. She looked lovely tonight. She was wearing a fitted white dress with brightly colored flowers that looked like one of her watercolor paintings. It was sleeveless and clung to every curve of her body.
She smiled, wrinkling her nose with a touch of embarrassment. The movement caught the light on the tiny pink rhinestone in her nose. It was the same bright color as her lipstick and the chunky bracelet on her wrist. “Let me put these in some water and we can go.”
Gavin nodded and stepped across the threshold into the apartment. It was Friday night and as predicted, they were having dinner. Everything had gone smoothly. The paperwork had been filed in family court to add Gavin’s name to the birth certificate. Along with the addition, Jared’s last name would be updated to Brooks. He’d suggested making Jared’s middle name Hayes, but she said the name Thomas was more important to her. He’d thought Sabine would pitch a fit on the subject of Jared’s name, but it hadn’t concerned her.
The custody proposal Edmund put together was approved by both of them on the first draft. He hoped that he would see Jared more than required, but this established a minimum they were both comfortable with.
He noticed Marie’s coat hanging by the door when he came in, so he knew she was already there to watch Jared. Gavin looked around the apartment, but he didn’t see Marie or Jared anywhere. “Where is everyone?”
Then he heard giggles and splashing from the bathroom. He smiled, knowing Marie was probably soaked. After they’d told Jared that Gavin was his daddy, he’d insisted Daddy give him his bath that night. Gavin had gotten more water on him than the toddler in the tub, he was pretty certain.
Aside from that, the night had gone pretty smoothly. Apparently toddlers didn’t angst about things the way grown-ups did. Gavin was his daddy— great. Let’s go play.
“Marie is giving Jared a bath, although I think they’re probably having more fun with the bathtub paints than actually washing.”
Gavin wanted to peek in and say hello before they left, but he resisted. He’d gotten Sabine to agree to this dinner and the babysitter he provided. Right now, Jared was happy. If they went in to say goodbye, the giggles might disintegrate into tears. “Are you ready?”
She nodded, the luxurious black waves of her hair gracefully swaying along her jawline. “I already told Marie goodbye a few minutes ago so we could slip out. She seems to have everything under control.”
Since it was just the two of them tonight, he’d opted for the Aston Martin. He held the door for her, noting the elegant curve of her ankles in tall pink pumps as she slipped inside. Gavin had no clue how women walked in shoes like that, but he was extremely thankful they did.
They had seven-thirty reservations at one of the most sought-out, high-end restaurants in Manhattan. He’d made the reservation on Monday, feeling confident they would come to an agreement in time,
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