Blindsided (Indigo Love Spectrum) (4 page)

“I think you know.”

“But we used protection.”

“No birth control is infallible. Plus, I provided the
condoms, making sure some of your swimmers had extra
freedom.”

Norris saw so much of himself in the young woman’s
picture. He couldn’t deny she was his if he wanted to. His
gaze met Gail’s. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want you to know.”

“And now?”

“And now I realize keeping Reese from you was
wrong. It was unfair to you and her.”

“Reese? That’s her name?”

“Yes. I wanted to name her after you. I decided to use
the last half of your first name and came up with Reese.”

“You should have told me.”

“No, I shouldn’t have, not then. What I did was
wrong, but I did it for the right reasons. You were twenty
years old, Norris. I didn’t want nor expect you to have a hand in raising her. I wanted Reese for me, and I didn’t
want to share her.”

Norris glanced from the photo to Gail. He’d been a
father for sixteen years and never had a clue, because
she’d thought it was best. He clutched the armrests,
trying to settle the anger threatening to erupt in him.
“How could you keep her from me?”

“You’re upset.”

“At a bare minimum!” Norris said in a clipped voice. He sucked in a breath. “She’s my daughter.”

“Yes, she is, and that’s why I called you. It may be six
teen years late, but I want you to know her now.”

Norris watched her closely. Her words were sincere,
he knew that, and it calmed him a degree, but there was
something else. Something she wasn’t telling him.
“There’s a reason you’re doing this now,” he said. “What
is it?”

Gail’s nervous chuckle broke the tense silence as he waited for her response. “You still read me well,” she said.

“You taught me how.” It was a gift he’d been able to
use with a lot of women, and not just in the bedroom. “Why are you telling me about Reese now?”

“Like I said, I want you to know her.”

“I get that.
Why now?
” he repeated.

“I’m getting married in a couple of weeks.”

“And?”

“I’ve been fortunate to have career and financial suc
cess, good health, a beautiful daughter, and now a wonderful man in my life. I have a lot to be thankful for, but
there are so many people in this world who don’t have
basic human needs. People in Uganda. My fiancé, Ben, is
a doctor, and he and I want to help those people. To pro
vide them with things we take for granted.”

“That’s very admirable, Gail, but I still—”

“In providing this help, I need your help,” she broke in.

“You want a donation?”

“
Yes, but of your time. Ben and I want to leave for
Uganda right after the wedding, and while I’m away I
want you to get to know Reese.”

“Get to know her?” Norris leaned closer to her desk.
“What are you asking?”

“This is your time, Norris. I want you to be Reese’s
dad.”

“You want me to take over raising an almost-adult
child I have yet to even meet,” he rephrased. “You must
be kidding.”

“I think you know the answer to that. I’ve thought a
lot about this, Norris, and I think it’s for the best.”

“Whose best? Mine? Our daughter’s?”

“Both of you, and for me, too.”

“Does she even know about me?”

“Not specifically.”

Norris grunted. “I’ll take that to mean no.”

“I wasn’t ready to talk about you when she asked. She
knows you and I had a brief relationship and then parted
ways.”

“How much does your trip to Uganda have to do
with your sudden need for me to know Reese?”

“A little and a lot. Norris, I’m not leaving Reese to go
to Uganda; I’m going to Uganda to accept leaving her
with you. Not telling you about her wasn’t my best move,
but like I said . . .”

“You wanted a baby for yourself and I was just a
means to an end.” Norris groaned and walked to the
office window. Two young children traded swipes with
each other while a man and woman followed behind
m
outhing what appeared to be demands they stop
fighting. They were probably a family. Parents and chil
dren. He’d been a parent for sixteen years and had never
known it.

“What are you thinking?” Gail asked.

Norris turned to her. “So many things.”

Gail leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
“Give me your worst, Norris. I want to know what you’re
feeling.”

“What I’m feeling? Okay. I feel angry to have missed
sixteen years of my child’s life. I feel proud and I’m in awe
of her. Reese is a beautiful girl, and to see some of myself
in her . . . It’s a joy I can’t put into words.”

“She’s a wonderful young woman, and you can get to
know her. I’ll be honest, Norris. The reason I feel the
need to leave while you’re getting to know Reese is
because I have been selfish when it comes to her. To see
her bonding with you, and loving you—I don’t know if
I’ll be able to take it, but I understand it needs to happen.
The time I’m away will give you both the time you need
to form these bonds, and give me time to accept it’s hap
pening and also help those in need.”

“You make it sound like it will be so easy.”

Gail shook her head. “Oh, no, I don’t believe for one
second it will be easy for any of us, but I have faith we
can make it happen. You and Reese need to know each
other.”

“She’s going to be living with me?”

“If you both agree. If not, I have someone in mind to
be her guardian. Regardless, Reese will be available when
ever you want. She is your daughter.”

Norris expelled a long breath. “My daughter.”

“I gather you don’t question it, but if you want to
have a DNA test done, I can arrange it.”

“That’s not necessary, Gail. I have all the proof I
need. I just . . . Everything else is so . . . I need time to
think.”

“I understand.” Gail extended a business card with all
her numbers. “Just remember I’m leaving in two weeks.”
Norris moved over to the desk and took the card.
“Right, two weeks.” He picked up the picture. Reese. His
daughter. And he thought he had issues dealing with his
unexpected feelings for Dahlia. “You’ll be hearing from me.”

* * *

Norris drove aimlessly about the city, trying to come
to terms with the changes that had occurred in his life. Dealing with the idea of falling in love was one thing, but
to learn he had an almost adult daughter . . . His body shivered. A daughter.

Two hours into his mindless travel, Norris remem
bered his dinner plans with Ryan and Lara and shot off
to the Oceanside Grille. He arrived at the restaurant just
as drink orders were being placed.

“Scotch on the rocks,” Norris said to the waiter, sliding
into the empty seat across from his friends and breathing
in the smell of fresh seafood and charbroiled steaks.

The man scribbled the order and went about his way.

“Scotch?” said Ryan. “You don’t drink anything
stronger than dry wine.”

“
It’s been a long day, and I need a stiff drink.” Norris
smiled at Lara. He had a lot on his mind, but his best
friend’s wife glowing with the beauty of impending
motherhood was a sight to behold. “How’s the gorgeous
mama feeling tonight?”

“Like I’m carrying two little ones who seem intent on
using my womb as a kick ball,” Lara said, looking down
at her tummy. “But it’s just to remind me they are happy
and thriving, and that’s what matters.” She smiled, rubbing her distended abdomen. “Ten more weeks.”

Ryan’s hand joined Lara’s on her belly. “They’re so
glad to be around their Uncle Norris again they can’t stay
still,” he said, looking at Norris. “It’s been forever since
we’ve spent quality time together.”

“We still see each other all the time,” Norris said. “We
had dinner the other night.”

“Yeah. But all you do is eat and leave.”

“Tax season,” Norris said, which wasn’t a complete
lie. Between work and Dahlia he had time for little else,
but managed to squeeze time in for Ryan and his family.
“April fifteenth was yesterday, but folks are still scrambling. It’s a busy time of year.”

“Is it just work?” Ryan asked. “You seem distracted
right now, and I know something’s been on your mind
for a while.”

The waiter returned to the table with the drink
orders, rescuing Norris from his friend’s questioning blue
eyes. He drained the iced dark liquid in one swallow. The
p
otent whiskey burned a fiery pathway from his throat to
his belly, reminding him why he didn’t drink scotch.

“Another?” asked the waiter, placing glasses of orange
juice in front of Ryan and Lara.

Norris shook his head. “No, thank you,” he croaked, reaching for his water glass and taking several big gulps.
“Are you ready to order?” the waiter asked.

“We’ll need a few more minutes,” Lara said.

The man nodded and left.

“You gonna tell us what’s on your mind?” Ryan asked.
“And don’t say it’s nothing.”

“Okay, it’s something.” Norris closed his eyes,
thinking of Gail’s bombshell. “It’s really something, but I
can’t talk about it right now. I will soon. I promise.”

“You sure, Norris?” said Lara. “You seem a bit scattered.”

“I’m good, Lara.” He gave her hand a reassuring pat.
“Really, don’t worry.” He drank more water.

“So, how did things go with Dahlia today?” Lara
drank some juice. “This audit has her on edge. Did you calm her at all?”

Norris smiled. Did he ever. Dahlia had an amazingly
calming effect on him, too. He lowered the glass.
“Uh-oh,” said Ryan. “There’s the look.”

Lara’s brown eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What’s
with the grin on your face, Norris?” she asked.

“Grin?” Norris pressed his hand to his chest. “Me?”

“Yes, you. Dahlia’s a beautiful woman. You’re not
sizing her up for the kill, are you?”

Norris clicked his tongue in mock outrage. “Lara, I’m
shocked. Norris isn’t a predator.”

“Is that a no?”

“Yes, that’s a no.” He was sizing Dahlia up for a lot
more than the kill. The more he thought about it, the more the idea of longevity appealed to him, especially
after hearing he had a daughter. “Dahlia has nothing to
fear from me.”

“Good, because she’s still getting over a painful
divorce. She’s only been back in Denburg a little over a
year, and my hair will not be happy with her being gone
again. The last thing she needs is the Norris Converse
treatment.”

“The Norris Converse treatment?”

“I don’t have to explain it to you.”

Norris nodded. “You’re right, you don’t.” ‘Love ‘em and leave ‘em’ had been his mantra for a long time, but
now he was ready for a new tag line. “Your friend is safe,
Lara.” He checked his watch. Seven-fifteen. Dahlia was
probably home now, and he really needed to see her. “I
hate to cut out, but there’s something I have to take care
of.”

“Something to take care of?” said Ryan. “Norris, you
just got here.”

“I know, but this can’t wait, and you two never get any time alone.” Norris stood, smiling as he gazed at Lara’s belly. “Well, you manage to find some time, but
you know what I mean.” He laughed. “Order whatever
you want, it’s on me.”