The Baby Arrangement by Samantha Chase Page B

should never sign something without reading it first.”
    Looking up, she stared at him.  “Is there anything else?”
    A small smile played at the corner of his mouth.  “As a matter of fact there is.  But before I give it to you, I want you to pay close attention to it before signing it.”
    “Sure; whatever.”  She just wanted to be done with all of this and leave.  He could have the damn designs for all she cared.  She had dozens more and with any luck, some other firm would appreciate her talents and not take advantage of her as Derek had.
    Watching her intently, Derek slid a contract across the desk to her.  “Make sure you read it; including the fine print.”
    Sitting back in her seat, Kayleigh took the paper from him and began to read.  It didn’t take long for her to look up at him, confusion written all over her face.  “I…I don’t understand.”
    “Keep reading,” he said softly.
    She did and by the time she got to the bottom, she was crying.  “When…?  How…?”
    “Did you read the fine print?”   Kayleigh quickly scanned the document down to the fine print and her heart felt full to bursting.  “Are those terms agreeable to you?” he asked as he stood and walked around to the front of the desk.
    She was shaking.  This couldn’t be happening.  The papers dropped to the floor beside her as she stood.  “Why did you do this?”  Her voice trembled as she spoke and she had to fight the urge to reach out and touch him.
    “Are you going to sign that?” he asked, motioning to the papers.
    “Derek, those are adoption papers.  I don’t understand what’s going on.”
    Taking her by the hand, Derek led her over to the sofa on the side of the room where they both sat. “After you left that night, Brian and I sat down and had a long talk.  Not just about Emery; but about everything.  This company is my dream; not his.  He has no interest in it.  I guess I knew that for a long time, but didn’t want to fully acknowledge it.  He likes living abroad and he’s made some business contacts over the years during his travels and apparently he has the opportunity to get involved with some resorts.  He enjoys numbers and financing and he seems pretty good at it.  Either way, he doesn’t want any part of Sloan’s.”
    “What does that have to do with…?”
    “We came to an agreement and rather than buy him out, he signed over his share of the company to Emery.”
    “Is that legal?” 
    Derek nodded.  “He also signed over his parental rights to me.”
    “But…but what about Melissa?  She’s Emery’s mother!”
    Just the thought of the woman made Derek sick.  “She never wanted Emery.  She was hoping to get money from Brian.  She also signed away her parental rights.  To me.”
    “So you’re…you’re Emery’s father now,” she said shakily.  “Wow.  When did all of this happen?”
    “It’s been a fairly busy week,” he said with a sad smile.  “My grandparents came to visit and they are spending time with Emery and helping take care of her, but she’s not doing well.”
    “Who?  Your grandmother?”
    He shook his head.  “No.  Emery.”
    “Why?  Is she ill?  Is she cutting a tooth?  The books all said that teething can be…”
    “She’s not sick and it’s not a tooth,” Derek interrupted.  “She misses you.”  He waited a beat until Kayleigh’s eyes met his.  “I miss you.”
    “Oh,” she sighed.
    “Come home.”
    “But…”
    “Sign the papers and come home with me.  Make a family with me.  Marry me.”
    It was all happening so fast that Kayleigh wasn’t sure she wasn’t actually dreaming this.  “ I don’t know, Derek.  That night, you said…”
    “I know what I said and I’m sorry.  I was devastated by the thought of Brian being back and actually taking Emery away.  I had to detach myself because I didn’t want to feel the pain.  I know that I was horrible to you and I’m so sorry.  Please say that