Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
CHARLIE
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples as I stared at the mess of papers scattered across my desk.
A knock on my office door jolted me from my thoughts. “Mr Delacroix?” My assistant’s voice filtered through. “There’s someone here to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment, but she’s quite persistent.”
I sighed, glancing at my watch. I had a conference call in twenty minutes and a stack of contracts to review. “Tell them to make an appointment like everyone else, Tammy. I’m swamped today.”
“Her name is Emma Sullivan. She says you’ll want to see her.”
The name hit me like a punch to the gut, sending my heart into overdrive. Images of dark hair, gorgeous brown eyes, and a smile that could light up all of Hollywood flashed through my mind.
Emma.
Here.
In my office.
“Send her in,” I said, my voice strangled with excitement.
I stood up, straightening my tie. I ran a hand through my hair while I waited, somehow resisting the urge to pace my office. Why was I so nervous?
It had been months since Finn and Abi’s wedding, since that night we’d spent together. I’d tried to push her out of my mind, to focus on work and the endless parade of beautiful people that was my life in LA. Of course, it hadn’t worked all that well.
The door opened and she slipped past my assistant with a small smile, looking even more beautiful than I remembered. Her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail, and she wore a loose-fitting blouse and jeans instead of the knockout dress from the wedding.
But her eyes... those eyes still had the power to make my knees weak.
“What a surprise.” A smile spread across my face and her steps faltered. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
I crossed the room, leaning in to kiss her cheek, enjoying the way she leaned into me. The scent of her perfume — light and floral, just like I remembered — washed over me, and for a moment, I was back on that dance floor, holding her close.
“Hi. I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” Emma said, her voice soft and a little shaky.
“For you? Never.” I tried to keep my tone light despite the butterflies in my stomach, but failed. “Can I get you something to drink? Water? Coffee? Something stronger? It must be, what, noon in New York right now?” I was babbling, and I knew it. But I couldn’t seem to stop myself. “Not that I’m encouraging day drinking, mind you.”
Her lips quirked up in a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Water would be great, thanks.”
I nodded, moving to the small bar in the corner of my office. As I poured her water, my thoughts worked overtime. Why was she here? Had she thought about me as much as I’d thought about her?
“To what do I owe the surprise?” I handed her the glass. “Business or pleasure? Or maybe a bit of both?” I winked, trying to recapture some of that easy banter we’d shared at the wedding.
“I uh…” Emma glanced away, taking a deep breath. “I needed to talk to you about something important.”
Her serious tone gave me pause. “Of course.” I gestured to the sleek leather sofa against the wall. “Why don’t we sit down?”
We sat and still she said nothing. I studied her, happy to just be in her presence for now. She was breathtaking, even with the worry etched across her face. I wanted to reach out and smooth away the lines on her forehead, to free her lip from the torture and tell her that whatever was wrong, I’d fix it.
“You’re starting to worry me here.”
She took another deep breath, her gaze meeting mine. “I’m pregnant.”
The world seemed to tilt on its axis. I blinked, certain I must have misheard.
“You’re... what?”
“Pregnant.” She tilted her head, studying me with narrowed eyes. “And before you ask, yes it’s yours. I know we used protection, but all I can assume is that the condoms were expired. I mean, they were yours, so…”
She continued talking, but her words faded into background noise as my mind raced. Pregnant. Emma was pregnant. With my child. A mix of emotions swirled through me — shock, fear, and underneath it all, an unexpected thrill of excitement. An absurd sense of pride swelled in my chest. I knew it was ridiculous to feel smug about being her only partner in years, but I couldn’t quite squash the caveman-like satisfaction.
Focus, Delacroix. This is not the time for your ego.
“...and I haven’t been with anyone else in years, so?—”
“I wasn’t going to ask.”
But would I have if she hadn’t beat me to it? I’d like to think not, but it hardly mattered now. God knows my law degree scoffed at me for not even asking for paternity.
I trusted her.
But what if I’m not cut out for this? What if I turn out to be just like my old man?
Emma stared at me, stunned. “You... weren’t?”
“No, I wasn’t.” I shook my head, meeting her gaze steadily. “I trust you. If you say it’s mine, then it’s mine.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened, a mix of surprise and something that looked almost like relief flashing across her face. “I... thank you.”
I offered her a small smile. “You don’t need to thank me for basic decency. So, what can I do?”
She blinked at me for a couple of seconds, seemingly thrown by my easy acceptance. “I have something called hyperemesis gravidarum . From what I understood, it’s morning sickness on steroids. I can’t work. My business is collapsing and I can’t afford my apartment in New York. I’ll have to move in with my best friend…”
She filled me in on everything that had happened in the last few days, the words falling from her lips at speed. The vulnerability in her voice snapped me out of my shock. Without thinking, I reached out and took her hand.
“Hey, it’s okay. Whatever you need, it’s yours.”
Relief washed across her face. “Thank you. I was so scared you’d…”
“What? Run for the hills?” I smiled, my thumb tracing circles on the back of her hand. “No, I’m not going anywhere.”
I hope I’m not.
A baby. My baby. Our baby. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once.
“If you could just help with some of the costs, I might be able to keep myself afloat with my savings.”
“But doesn’t bed rest mean you won’t be able to work?”
She nodded and her brown eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
“What if you moved in with me?” The wheels began to turn in my head. “I’ve got plenty of room at my place. We can set you up in the guest room, make sure you’ve got everything you need until the baby comes.”
Her eyes widened, but I interrupted before she could refuse.
“I’m not taking no for an answer. It makes the most sense.” I squeezed her hand, keeping my voice gentle but firm. “I’ve got the space, and this way I can make sure you’re taking care of yourself. And the baby.” The word felt foreign on my tongue, but not unpleasant.
“Are you sure?” She bit her lip, looking uncertain. “I don’t want to impose. This is all so sudden, and I know it’s a lot to take in. If you just want to support me with the medical bills, that would be enough.”
“You’re not imposing. I’m offering. Insisting really.” I squeezed her hand. My smile faltered as a thought struck me. “If you hadn’t needed help, would you have ever told me about the baby?”
She looked away, guilt flashing across her face. “No, probably not.”
An awkward silence fell between us. Emma started to apologise, but I cut her off.
“It’s okay. I understand. But I’m glad you did tell me. I want to support you both.”
Her shoulders sagged and tears shimmered in her eyes again. “I would find a good guy to drag into this mess, huh? I’m sorry.”
“You’re not dragging me in. I want to help. But let’s focus on you.” I flashed her a smile, hoping it would calm her down. “Tell me more about your condition. What do we need to do to keep you both healthy?”
As she explained the details of her condition, I hung on her every word. The way her hands moved as she talked, the little furrow between her brows, it was all so achingly familiar and yet new at the same time.
“... and the doctor says I’ll need to be careful about reducing my stress levels, staying hydrated and keeping food down,” she was saying. “It’s all a bit overwhelming, to be honest.”
“We’ll handle it.” A list had already begun to form in my mind. “I’ll make sure you have everything you need. We can set up a home office for you in the guest room, so you can still work on your wedding planning stuff. And I’ll be there to help with anything else you need.”
She blinked back tears again. “Charlie, I…” She swallowed. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. I was so scared to come here, to tell you all this.”
I reached out, gently wiping a tear from her cheek. “Hey, no more tears, okay?”
She nodded, still looking slightly unsure. Her face paled and she clapped a hand over her mouth, looking panicked.
“What’s wrong?”
Alarm shot through me. Was she having some kind of complication? Oh god, what if something was wrong with the baby?
She shook her head, eyes wide. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
For a split second, I froze, my mind racing. Sick? Was this normal? Should I call a doctor?
Right. She literally just told me her morning sickness was worse than normal.
I sprang into action, grabbing the wastepaper basket from beside my desk and thrusting it into her hands just in time. As she retched, I gathered her hair back with one hand, rubbing circles on her back with the other.
“It’s okay,” I murmured. “I’ve got you. Just let it out.”
When the wave of nausea passed, Emma sat back, looking embarrassed. “I’m so sorry. This is mortifying.”
I shook my head, reaching for a box of tissues on my desk. “Hey, none of that. It’s not your fault you’re dealing with morning sickness.” I glanced at the clock. “Although I guess it’s more like all-day sickness.”
She laughed weakly, accepting the tissues. “Yeah, whoever came up with the term ‘morning sickness’ clearly never experienced it themselves.”
She dabbed at her mouth, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The need to not let her down burned inside of me with a fierce and terrifying desperation.
“I know this isn’t how either of us planned things.” I hesitated, then gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “But I want you to know that I’m here for you. For both of you. It might take some time to adjust, but whatever you need, I’m in.”
She met my gaze, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and something else I couldn’t quite place. “Thank you. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t come around.”
I grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “What, you mean if I’d fainted dramatically or tried to escape out the window? Not my style, darling. Though I can’t promise I won’t freak out again a little later when it all sinks in.”
She laughed, the sound warming me from the inside out. “Fair enough. I’m still freaking out myself, to be honest.”
“Well, we can freak out together then.”
Emma smiled, and for a moment, it was like no time had passed at all. We were back at that wedding, sharing jokes and stolen glances across a crowded room.
Just this morning, my biggest concern had been negotiating a new contract for one of my A-list clients. Now, I was preparing to become a father and let an almost-stranger I couldn’t stop thinking about move in with me.
It was surreal, and I’d need days, maybe weeks, to get used to it.
But what if we didn’t work out? What if I screwed it up?
And what if, after the baby was born and the hormones settled, she didn’t want me? I’d be devastated. I’d lose them both.
I was grasping at straws, trying to protect myself from... what? Responsibility? Commitment? Or maybe from the terrifying possibility that I might actually want this?
Maybe it was better this way. Keep her at arm’s length. Don’t get too attached. It’s safer that way, right? For both of us. But why did the thought of her walking out that door limit the air in my lungs?
“I don’t want you to feel pressured into anything, especially with everything else you’re dealing with. Maybe we should keep things platonic, at least for now.”
For a second, she stiffened and something flickered across her face, but then I blinked and it was gone. She smiled at me. Had I imagined it?
“Right, platonic. Of course. I understand.”
O nce she’d left, I collapsed back onto the sofa with my head in my hands. I’d screwed up already. But what else could I have done?
She was vulnerable, pregnant with my child. The last thing I wanted was for her to think I was trying to take advantage of the situation.
The memory of our night together came rushing back too easily. I could shut my eyes and be there again effortlessly. Remembering the way she’d felt in my arms as we danced, the spark in her eyes when she laughed at my terrible pick up lines.
Platonic. Right. Because that was totally going to work when I was already halfway in love with her.
One step at a time.
First, get her settled.
Then figure out how to co-parent.
And maybe, just maybe, I’d figure out how to navigate these feelings without screwing everything up.