Chapter 24
Daniel
After a thirty-minute wait, Heart and I were seated at a table by the window overlooking the busy sidewalk outside. I didn’t mind waiting. I enjoyed people-watching. Brooklyn was a whole other vibe. Laid back and cool.
I liked experiencing it with Heart. I also liked that I was able to call her that now. Another challenge I had given myself was accomplished, and this one was the most important yet. This meant she trusted me. At least, I hoped she did.
The restaurant was filled with smells of maple syrup and pancake batter, and then my stomach was grumbling. I shifted in my seat, trying to get comfortable in the too tight of sweatpants Addison had lent me. I second-guessed if this was a good choice as the cotton chafed against me.
“You okay over there?” asked Heart, shooting me an amused look.
“Just fine,” I lied.
“I bet your suit sounds real nice right about now.” She laughed.
It did. Especially since it was custom made to me by my trusty tailor on Fifth Avenue. But I didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb on a Saturday morning in Brooklyn. Everyone around us was dressed down. I would have been the guy in the suit at a pancake breakfast.
“A little,” I said. “So, what’s good here?” I eyed the menu. There was plenty to choose from.
“Well, the pecan pie French toast is phenomenal. If you’re looking for something savory, the short rib hash is really good. Obviously, they are known for their pancakes.”
I watched as she talked animatedly about the menu. She was so sure of herself here. I liked seeing this side of her. I had taken her to my side of town, and now I was here in hers. While our places were very different, I liked being here with her. I would like being anywhere with her.
“Let’s get all three,” I said, putting my menu down.
“Are you sure?” she asked. “That’s a lot of food.”
“I have to make sure you and baby are well fed.”
A smile crept over her lips before it slowly disappeared again. It was as if she realized something, but I couldn’t tell what it was. All I knew was that it seemed to make her sad. I wondered if it was something I had said, and desperately wished I could be in her head.
I knew we should probably talk about us.
The baby. What the hell we were going to do.
We might have been living in our own little fantasy world for the past twelve hours, but the reality was she was pregnant.
Maybe we both weren’t ready to face it just yet, and even if we were, talking about it over brunch in a bustling restaurant wasn’t the smartest idea. There were eyes and ears everywhere.
Which was part of the reason I also opted for these gray sweatpants and oversized Yankees shirt.
I was more of a Mets fan, but I settled for what I got.
I didn’t need the photos of me in the paper and speculations beginning to stir.
Although, I doubted the paparazzi had any idea I was in Brooklyn.
Right now, I was enjoying my privacy with Heart.
It felt good to be unrecognized. A nobody.
When our food came, we shared it family style across our small little table.
I was surprised by how good it was. The pancakes were buttery and melted on my tongue.
The corned beef hash was salted to perfection.
And the pecans on the French toast added a little crunch to each bite.
Hell, it might have been better than Le CouCou last night.
After we finished our meal, I sat back and patted my stomach. I was stuffed to the brim.
“Holy shit,” I said. “That was incredible.”
“Right?” she asked, giving me a knowing smile.
I loved that smile.
Our server came around and cleared our table, leaving our check behind. Heart reached for her purse and dug out her wallet.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I’m buying,” she replied, pulling out her credit card.
“Like hell you are,” I said.
I reached into the pocket of my sweatpants and fought to pull out my wallet that was crammed tightly inside. Heart watched me struggle for a moment, biting back a smile.
“Right. Well, while you try to do that, I’m going to pay,” she said in amusement.
She placed her card down and the server came by and picked it up. I watched him go helplessly. It was the first time a woman had paid for me. I wasn’t sure if I loved it or hated it.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You should let someone take care of you sometimes.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand. As if I couldn’t like her more, here she was adding to the list of reasons effortlessly.
Maybe I did like it.
An hour later, as we rounded the corner to her apartment after a walk around Brooklyn, I saw my town car waiting at the curb.
I had texted Armand after brunch to have him make his way here.
As much as I wanted to spend more time with Heart, I didn’t want to wear out my welcome.
I also had some paperwork to go over. Even though it was the weekend, work never really stopped.
Armand stepped out of the car and looked me up and down. I could tell he was holding back a smile.
“Oh, your suit,” said Heart. “Let me go get it for you.”
“No, I can go,” I said, grabbing her hand and pulling her back toward the car. “It’s a lot of stairs.”
“It’s one flight of stairs,” she said with a laugh before leaning in and lowering her voice. “I’m not that far along yet. You can be my knight in shining armor when I’m the size of Shamu. Okay?”
She stood on her tiptoes and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Then she gave Armand a nervous wave, her cheeks turning a shade of pink, before disappearing into her building.
“Sir,” nodded Armand, eying my sweatpants.
“Not a word,” I muttered.
He smiled at me and opened my door. I slid into the car and he closed it behind me. I couldn’t wait to take these damn things off.
A moment later Heart was at my window, my suit folded neatly in her arms. I rolled down the window and she handed it to me.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Thank you,” she said, leaning against the window with her elbows.
“Can I see you again soon?” I asked.
“I’d like that.”
I reached up and wrapped my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her toward me.
I kissed her softly at first, before her lips parted slightly to welcome me in.
I felt her tongue against mine as she leaned in closer.
She tasted like orange juice and pancakes, and I couldn’t get enough. She was making it very hard to leave.
After a moment of getting lost in each other, again, she pulled back with a dreamy look in her eyes. She stepped away from the car and gave a little wave. She was still watching as I reluctantly drove away. I knew I had to see her again. And soon.
***
When Monday morning rolled around, I stopped by my favorite coffee shop in Manhattan.
I ordered my usual Americano, along with lattes and pastries for the office.
I didn’t think I had ever done that, or at least not in a very long time.
I was in a giving mood though. After my weekend with Heart, I felt like a new man.
Balancing the coffee holders in one hand and pastry boxes in the other, I entered the large glass doors of my building.
I handed out coffee and pastries to the lobby and security staff, who took everything gratefully.
I rode up the elevators to the floor of my office and found Margaret standing there with her clipboard, ready to give me the rundown of the day.
I handed her a latte. She looked at me confused.
“For you,” I said. “I also have fresh croissants and berry Danishes here.”
“Um, thank you, Mr. Jacobs,” she said, taking the box and walking it over to the front desk.
“What’s this all about?” asked Brody, his voice booming.
“Just thought I would treat the office today. Everyone’s been working hard,” I said, drumming my fingers on Margaret’s desk.
“Oh?” Brody raised an unconvinced brow.
I handed him a latte, still hot in my hands.
He took a sip. “Mmm. Mocha. My favorite. Thanks, bro.”
I never understood how he could drink that crap. It was practically chocolate milk with caffeine, but then again, Brody was kind of like a child.
He walked with me down the hallway to my office.
“You’re in a good mood today,” he commented.
“Am I?” I asked innocently.
“Yeah, you have been for a few weeks now.”
“Well, I did close that deal early this morning. The one with London.”
I had been up at 4 a.m. on a video call with a leading tech giant overseas. It had gone surprisingly well, and now we were teaming up for a huge collaborative release the following year. We had done work overseas, but nothing like this. This would be a huge foot in the door for European markets.
I took a sip of my Americano, wondering if my brother was going to pry further. It was Brody. Of course, he was going to.
“Yeah, but what about before this morning’s deal? You just have had some extra pep in your step or something. Don’t tell me it’s because of Kiera?”
“I haven’t seen her in weeks,” I said, irritated.
I wanted to continue telling him there was nothing going on.
But I hesitated before going further. I thought I had already told him there was nothing going on there, but if believing I had something going on with Kiera would get him off my back then I could let him think that. I could let the world think that.
It would give me more time to figure out things with Heart.
Having a cover like being involved with Kiera would get the press of my back and maybe we could continue living in our private bubble a little longer.
At least until we figured out what we are going to do, which should probably be soon.
I didn’t know when women started showing, but it could be soon.
If paparazzi somehow got a picture of us and she had a bump, it would only mess up our situation.
“Okaaay…” said Brody, clearly annoyed with my conspicuousness.
I looked at him for a moment, wondering if I should tell him. He was family after all. He could be a total douche, but I also knew he would have my back. Eventually. At least, I hoped he would.
I let out a small, disappointed sigh before taking another sip of my latte.
I just wasn’t ready to tell him yet. I didn’t need a lecture from my little brother about how I needed to be more careful and how he couldn’t believe I knocked up a one-night stand.
Even though she was so much more than that now.
Also, I knew if Brody came to me telling me he was in a similar situation, I would rip him a new one. No, it was best to keep the fact that I was going to be a father a secret. At least for a little while longer.
I checked my watch and feigned surprise.
“Wow. Is it almost nine already? I gotta go,” I said. “I have a phone meeting.”
“Thanks for the coffee,” said Brody, a suspicious undertone to his voice.
I stepped in my office and closed the door behind me. I was safe. For now.