Chapter 31
BLAKE
Iwatch Danielle sleep, my heart aching at the situation we’re in.
The chances of the baby being Issac’s are slim—but I’m still terrified that he could be the father.
I’ve been up all night researching it, and there is a way of testing the baby before it’s born, but I worry how safe it is.
I don’t want to risk anything happening to the baby or Danielle.
But I’ve read about non-invasive testing. They test our blood and compare it to the baby's DNA found in Danielle’s bloodstream.
I don’t care if the baby isn’t mine—I’ll love him or her regardless.
My eyes trail over Danielle’s stomach, and her fingers that lay protectively over it.
This is her first experience of being a mother. I’ll be here every step of the way, but I just want to know whether it’s my first experience as a daddy.
Danielle stirs, and her sleepy gaze falls on me as she smiles. She’s so fucking cute with her excitement at seeing me first thing in the morning, her hands reaching out for me like she needs me.
I get it. I need her too.
“Hey,” Danielle whispers as I kiss her mouth, dotting kisses down to her bare stomach as she giggles. “Are you okay?”
I can’t lie to her.
If anything, we need to be honest with each other, right? No bullshit.
“I hope you’re not mad with me,” I begin, looking up at her. Her expression doesn’t change as she cocks her head to the side. “But I’ve been looking into DNA testing.”
Danielle blinks, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand. “Why would I be mad with you?” she asks softly, reaching out to stroke my cheek.
I turn my face into her hand, inhaling her sweet scent as I sigh. “Because it’s your body. Your baby, regardless of anything else.”
Danielle nods. “And you’re my husband. The man I love. Of course, this is important to you, Blake. I get it.”
Danielle drags herself up to a sitting position, her eyes meeting mine.
She still takes my breath away.
How did I ever exist without her?
“Is it something that can be done while I’m pregnant, or do we wait until after the baby is born?”
My heart swells with love for this woman, for wanting to give me answers regardless of anything else.
I explain the process of non-invasive testing to her, and she sucks on her bottom lip, her eyes glazing over.
My breath catches in my throat as she nods, blinking her attention back to me.
“Honestly, Blake, I think this is a great idea. I don’t want either of us worrying about paternity for nine months.”
“No,” I agree, kissing her hands. “But I meant what I said, you know I’ll love your baby regardless.”
Tears fill her eyes as I drag her into my arms, burying my head in her coconut-scented shampoo.
I mean it. Whatever the outcome, I’m not going anywhere.
But if this baby is Issac’s, I may well fucking kill him.
I just don’t need to tell Danielle that.
“I love you so much. If someone would’ve told me that I'd be married to you and expecting a baby a year ago, I would have laughed at them. Let alone not knowing who the father of my baby is.” Danielle moves back, shame filling her features.
I stay silent because I can’t reassure her more than I already have. But as a tear rolls down her cheek, I rest my forehead on hers. “Hey, look at me.”
She does, letting out a deep sigh.
“Let me arrange the test. Whatever the result, we’ll feel better. Then we can focus on things like the nursery and what stroller you want.”
Danielle nods, pulling me into her arms as she snuggles into my chest. “God, I love you.” Her words are muffled, but I hear them as they vibrate through my chest, going straight to my heart.
“I know, baby. I love you too.”
DANIELLE
Arranging the test was surprisingly easy for Blake. I guess when you have money, everything is easier.
All we’ll had to do were some blood tests, and Blake being Blake, he’d paid for the test to be done at our home, so I was comfortable throughout.
My stomach leapt at the thought of him grinning at me as I had my blood drawn, his hand on my thigh.
Sleeping with Issac was a mistake, and it may have serious repercussions.
I do love the baby, though; despite being only four months into the pregnancy, I have a bond with my unborn child that has been effortless. I talk to the baby constantly, marveling at how a tiny human is growing in my tummy.
Blake’s the same.
He talks and sings to the baby at night, kissing my bump until he falls asleep. He rubs my back if I have pain and makes me all kinds of midnight snacks.
Last night it was a mixture of chicken and onion, one he wasn’t so impressed with.
But the test results can’t be hurried, no matter how much money Blake throws at them.
We have to wait, and it’s agonizing.
Up to seven days, the doctor had said, and it’s only been three so far. Four more to go.
“I want to go grocery shopping,” I declare to Blake who’s relaxing on the sun lounger beside me.
“I’ve got people for that.” Blake smirks, looking over at me.
“I don’t care; I want to go.”
Blake stretches his arms, checking the time on his watch with a yawn. “Okay, sweetheart, we’ll go. I’ll pop by the office on the way if that’s alright.”
I haven’t been to the office since I found out I’m pregnant, but I miss it. Blake keeps it running smoothly from home, going in occasionally but wanting to spend every spare minute with me.
It probably isn’t healthy how much time we spend together, but we need to be close, always able to touch one another in some way.
“What’re you craving this time?” Blake asks as he reverses off the drive.
I can’t help but check him out, and he grins at me, a boyish grin taking over his face.
“See something you like?”
“Mm-hm,” I reply with a giggle. “But let’s concentrate on food first.”
Blake laughs as he pulls onto the main road, zipping in between lanes as he does.
“You need to calm this boy racer act once you’re a daddy,” I say, gripping onto the handle above my head.
“Hey, it’s not an act. I’m a confident driver, that’s all.”
I roll my eyes and return my stare to the view from the window.
I want to go into the office, but Blake doesn’t want any stress for me while I’m pregnant. I know he’s trying to hide me from Issac too, and I can’t say I blame him.
“Can I come in with you?” I inquire twenty minutes later as he pulls into the office parking lot.
He cuts the engine and sighs, stroking his stubble anxiously. “I won’t be long.”
“I know.” I rest my hand on his, my eyes fixing on him. “But I’d like to go in. Don’t worry about Issac.”
Blake’s eyes flash with irritation, but he shrugs.
“Okay. But I mean it—no helping Kiera with the brochures. No offering to—"
“Blake.”
He stops, pursing his lips together as I pull him close to me.
“I’m pregnant, not dying.”
His eyes narrow. “You’re special, and that little baby in there is too precious to risk. That’s all.”
A surge of love runs through me at his words, and I press my lips against his, kissing him deeply.
“You’ve no idea how sexy you sound when you go all alpha daddy.”
Blake smirks against me. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”