Because This Is Forever (8 page)

Mia
frowned. “What?”

“I’m
at the motel,” he said, a hard edge in his voice.

Mia’s
stomach dropped. Panic seized her and she stood frozen in the middle of the
room. She was not prepared for this, but she had no doubt that he would bang on
every door until he found her.

“What
room are you staying in?”

“Room
238,” she finally whispered.

“I’m
coming up.”

He
ended the call before she had a chance to say anything else.

“Mommy,
I almost forgot,” Mikey said, jarring her out of her trance. “A man called for
you.”

Mia
turned to her son who was now using the hotel pens and notepad to draw with.

“What
man?” Deep down, though, Mia knew. Nate’s sudden presence couldn’t be a
coincidence.

Mikey
shrugged as a hard knock came at the motel door. They both stared toward the
direction of the sound. Mia walked to the door, each step as heavy as the
beating of her heart.

“Who
is it?” She felt like a fool for asking. She knew who stood behind that door.

“It’s
me.” Nate’s muffled voice held an edge that immediately had her draw her back
up. She opened the door and was unnerved by her reaction to him.

Nate
had always been handsome but now that didn’t seem adequate to describe him. His
hard jaw and sensual lips were set in stern, stubborn lines and his rich, dark
brown hair was cut stylishly. His tall, once lean, frame was broader than she
remembered and was covered in dark slacks, a silk button-down shirt, and dark blazer.

She
didn’t miss the way his dark, deep-set eyes ran down the length of her. Her
face flushed at the heated once-over. The man standing before her, filling the
doorway appeared untouchable. No, he was too striking for mere handsomeness.

“May
I come in?”

His
low whisper held all the seductive qualities she remembered. She slightly shook
her head, breaking the hypnotic spell she found herself under and steeling
herself against the cosmic effect he still had on her and, this time, she had
to make sure her heart was protected from him.
 

Without
a word, Mia stepped back to let him in. The motel room wasn’t spacious and with
his presence, it appeared even less so.

Nate
stopped in the middle of the room and stared down at their son, who was also looking
up at him with newfound curiosity.

Mia
didn’t know what to say to break the heavy silence as father and son stared at
each other, but the tension was killing her.

“Mikey,
baby, come say hi.”

He
scrambled off the bed and walked toward them. Mikey wasn’t normally shy but for
some reason, he wasn’t exhibiting his usual brazenness. When he stood directly
in front of Nate, he held out his small hand. “Hi mister,” he murmured.

Mia’s
heart broke a little at the awkward situation she had placed them in.
This is my fault.
A son should know his
father but because of her selfishness, her son was now greeting his father like
a stranger.

With a
gentle smile, Nate crouched down and took the small hand offered to him. “Hi
Mikey. We spoke on the phone earlier. You remember?”

Mikey
nodded.

Nate
leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Mia couldn’t hear what he was
saying but she picked up something about dirt. Whatever it was, it made her son
scrunch his face and nod. “I told you,” Mikey said, giggling.

 
“Yes you did,” Nate agreed, his eyes softening
as he regarded their son. “Why don’t you go finish drawing while I talk to your
mom?”

Nate
rose to his full height as Mikey ran back to the bed.

“How
old is he?”

Mia
didn’t look at him when she replied, “He turned four this January.”

Nate
continued watching Mikey then said in a deceptively mild tone, “He’s mine,
isn’t he.”

It was
more a statement than a question. He turned to face her when she didn’t respond
and she was taken aback by the rage and…hurt that simmered in his dark eyes. There
was nothing she could say, nothing she could do, that would soothe those raw
feelings.

She
simply looked back at their son and nodded.

Chapter Seven

His son.

Nate’s
heart twisted as he looked at the little boy whose small features were a unique
blend of his and Mia’s. Mikey had her wide eyes and the McArthur stubborn chin,
though it was soft with youth.

Nate
had used the time during his drive here to get his shock and temper under
control, but he was still reeling with the realization that he was a father. He
turned his attention to Mia who stood beside him, carefully avoiding his gaze. She
looked beautifully tragic with her hair pulled back in a loose bun at her nape,
her large dark eyes eclipsing her smooth, angular face. Even in her simple gray
skirt and white cami, his sexual attraction to her was unwavering. Motherhood
had filled her out nicely.

Even
now, with all her lies and secrets, he still wanted her.

Right
now wasn’t the time to think about that, however. They needed to talk but first
he needed to get them out of this shitty motel room.
                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

“Get
your things,” he said curtly.

“Why?”

He moved
closer to her and said in a low voice so Mikey wouldn’t overhear. “I said, get
your things. You two aren’t staying here tonight.”

Her
eyes widened in surprise then she swiftly glanced away. “Look, I know there’s a
lot for us to discuss but—”

“You’ve
got that right,” he snapped. “And tonight we’re going to, just not in this shithole.”
He read the protest in her eyes and stopped her before she could say anything
else. His patience was already stretched thin. “Don’t argue with me right now,”
he said through gritted teeth. “Just get your things.”

* * * *

An
hour later, they finally made it to his high-rise apartment. Mia had forgotten
how terrible the traffic was in Chicago, especially on a Friday night. She now
carried a sleeping Mikey into the condo as Nate brought in their bags. When he
turned on the lights, Mia was stunned by the luxury that greeted her. The high
ceilings and rich, dark wood floors held beautifully decorated artwork with
modern furniture that was as untouchable as the man. The abstract artwork
decorating the white walls resembled something out of an art gallery but they complimented
the stylish, elegant decor. Large windows at the far end of the spacious
apartment overlooked the city and added to the condo’s grandeur. From the large
windows, the sun painted the sky in a dark orange glow as dusk began to
descend.

Mia had
only been to his apartment once while they’d been dating but this was certainly
new. Nate had been careful in keeping a casual, rather modest appearance around
her. Now looking at him, there was nothing casual about the tall, composed man
standing beside her.

Uncertainty
ate at her as she realized, for the first time, how far outside her domain she was.
How could she just come out and ask for money without looking like…an
opportunist? She immediately quelled the feeling. It was too late to turn back.
She came here for a purpose and would see it through.

Her
sleeping son began to weigh heavily on her tired arms and Mia turned to Nate
who had been silently watching her survey his apartment.

“Where
can I put him?” she asked in a low voice.

Nate
nodded behind her. “There’s a guest room in the back,” he said, also keeping
his voice low. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

Mia
followed him down the hall to the first door on the left. It was a small,
simple bedroom with a single bed, nightstand, and dresser. Nate turned on the lamp
and she gently placed Mikey on the bed. He didn’t stir once. She changed him
into his pajamas and sat beside him on the bed, rubbing his back. Mikey was
normally a heavy sleeper but today had been especially wearing for him with the
drive and all. She, herself, was exhausted but still had a long night ahead of
her. She tried to put it off by hiding out in here with her son but with the
determined look on Nate’s face that wouldn’t happen.

“Is
he okay?”

Mia
turned around to find Nate standing by the door. He had removed his blazer and
stood there looking completely relaxed with the first two buttons of his pale
blue shirt undone. She nodded, glancing back down at their sleeping son.

“He’s
just tired,” she whispered. “We’ve had a long drive.”

Nate
walked slowly into the room and looked down at Mikey with gentle yet watchful eyes.
The look on his hard face tugged at her heart. Confusion and guilt began to
shape in her.
I should have told him.

“Come
on,” he whispered, holding out his hand to her. “It’s time we talked.”

Mia
let out a ragged breath. She didn’t want go anywhere with him. Not out of fear,
because she knew in her heart he would never become violent with her, but his
nearness was too much for her frayed emotions. She was too tired to resurrect
any mental or emotional defenses against him tonight.

He was
angry that much was clear, even though he tried to hide it behind cool,
unreadable eyes. She didn’t have the energy to deal with a heated confrontation
tonight yet he deserved some answers and from his unwavering stance, he wouldn’t
be put off.

She sent
another glance down at Mikey then she let out a small sigh. She placed her hand
in his and he immediately closed his fingers around hers, pulling her off the
bed. He led them into the living room and Mia concentrated on everything but
the warm, rough hand that held hers.

When
they neared the sofa, she immediately pulled away from him though her hand
still tingled where he’d touched. She took the nearest seat, keeping her eyes
averted as she willed her nerves to settle.

He said
nothing as he sat across from her and ran his hand through his hair repeatedly,
an indication of his own agitation.

“Why
didn’t you tell me?” Despite his cool, steady gaze, his voice was harsh and
grating. His angry confusion only intensified her mounting guilt.

“I
should have,” she said quietly. “But then, I didn’t think it would have made a
difference.”

His
eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Of course it would have made a damn difference.”

“You
said you didn’t want kids, remember. And I didn’t want to be with someone who
didn’t want me or my child.” Mia looked down at her hands, unnerved by the
intensity in his dark eyes. “I figured I’d let you off the hook.”

After
a short, painful silence, he asked, “So what’s changed? Why tell me now?”

Is that all he has to say?
 

Well, what did you expect him to say?
Another voice chided her fiercely. That he
hadn’t meant what he’d said? That if he could do it all again, he would marry
her and make them a big, happy family?

Mia
shook her head, disgusted with herself. Despite her cold encounter with
reality, she was still a romantic fool. She took a deep, shaky breath and gave
herself a hard, mental shake.

“I’m here
because I need your help.”

Mia
went on to tell him about the upcoming foreclosure and the limited time frame
in which she had to make the payment.

“How
much is owed?” he asked when she finished, his expression even more stoic, more
unreadable.

She told
him the amount. He didn’t even bat an eye. The amount she was asking from him
would cover the mortgage and take care of Mikey for the next twelve months,
while she looked for permanent work. And she told him all this, wanting to be
completely transparent with him.

“The
last thing I wanted was to come to you for this,” she continued. “But I had
nowhere else to turn. You’re my last resort in making sure Mikey has a home and
I promise you’ll never hear from me again.” She fell silent. It was hard being
in this position and his cold, silent regard didn’t make it any easier.

Nate
leaned forward in his seat, holding her gaze with his. “Tell me,” he began
softly. “If you didn’t need the money, would you have ever told me about him?”

Mia
didn’t know how to answer him. She looked down at her hands, not knowing how to
best respond. She wanted to think she eventually would have, but she had been
so caught up with her own emotional turmoil, wanting nothing to do with him,
she couldn’t be sure.

He
sat back in his seat. “I guess I have my answer.”

Her
eyes flew up to his. “Nate, I’m not here for child support if that’s what
you’re thinking.”

His
eyes flashed. For a second there was a rage and pain in them even he couldn’t
conceal. She had to look away.

“You’ve
made it clear why you’re here but that doesn’t matter to me right now. What
matters is that I have a four-year-old son who doesn’t even know who I am.”

Mia was
already consumed with guilt. She didn’t need Nate making her feel worse than
she did already. Yes, she should have told him about Mikey, but how dare he
pretend as if being a father had mattered to him before.

“Don’t
you dare make me out to be the bad guy here,” she said sharply. “You didn’t
want the responsibility and I wasn’t going to force you into it. I’m not gonna
have my child feeling abandoned.”
Like
you made me feel after you left.
Those words, however, were kept hidden in
the deepest, darkest part of her.

“Just
because I didn’t want kids, doesn’t mean I would have turned my back on the one
that I have,” he snapped. “He’s my son too. You should have told me about him.”
His words bit out with barely suppressed rage.

Mia placed her fingers on her temples, trying to soothe the headache
pulsating there. “Yes, I admit I should have. I’m sorry. But that doesn’t
change the fact that I have him to worry about now. And if you really care then
you’ll help us keep our home.”

Nate
glared at her, saying nothing. She knew an apology would not make up for what
she’d done, but she didn’t know what else he wanted her to say.

“Mommy?”

They
both started at the small voice coming from across the room. Mia was the first
to her feet. “Yes, baby?”

“I
have to potty.”

She
turned to Nate.

“I’ll
take him,” he said, brushing past her.

A few
minutes later, they both came back to the living room where she still sat. An
animated Mikey was going a mile a minute as Nate paid close attention to their
son’s excited chatter.

When
Mikey finally noticed her, he came running to her side. “Mommy, guess what?”

She
smiled down at his excited face. “What?”

“I
have a daddy!” he exclaimed.

Mia’s
eyes shot up to Nate’s.

“Someone
had to tell him,” Nate said with a shrug, his tension and anxiety obvious.

Mia
brought her attention back to Mikey but couldn’t stop the moisture that gathered
in her eyes. “That’s right, you do,” Mia said with a soft smile.

“Can
I keep him?” her son asked with anxious excitement. “
Please
.”

The tears
that threatened clogged Mia’s throat. She didn’t trust herself to speak.
Instead, she placed a quick kiss on his forehead and brought him up to her lap.

“Yes,
of course,” she whispered thickly, avoiding the dark gaze that bored into her
from across the room.

* * * *

Nate
watched the excited energy that boiled over his son’s little body and livened up
his quiet condo.

He
glanced over at Mia, who watched their son with calm patience. There was still
a lot for them to discuss but tonight, he’d let it rest. Partly because of the
fatigue etched on her face and partly because he still needed to digest and
process everything.

He was
a father.

That
knowledge was something he was still getting used to. He had always been careful
to protect himself and the woman he was with. With Mia, however, their lovemaking
had always been wild, intense. It could be the reason why their birth control
hadn’t been effective.

If
Mikey’s birthday was in January, that meant he had gotten her pregnant around
April. In Galena. Memories of that week came flooding to him. It had been a
nice getaway from the city, one he had been disappointed to see end. Before the
trip, he had spent weeks traveling across the country for his own company and
at his father’s request. Not being able to see or touch her had been
frustrating. He never made a big thing about his birthday, but Mia had wanted
to do something special for his big three-oh and he could think of nothing
better than to hide away somewhere with her, where they could eat, relax, and
make love. He had rented a vacation home and for one week, they had lived in
their own private oasis.