Page 3 of Surgeon's Surprise Baby
She glared at him.“I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“Fine.”He’d have thought she’d have known before that, but he wasn’t female and he wasn’t an OB.“Why didn’t you let me know once you’d confirmed the pregnancy?I could have helped you.I would have helped you had I known.”
“You’d have moved back to Denver?Or you’d have ‘helped’ me,” she said making air quotes, “long distance?”
He shoved a hand through his hair.“Hell, Aria, I don’t know what I’d have done.How could I?But I know damn well I wouldn’t have left you to have my baby by yourself.”
“There’s no point in rehashing this.”
“It’s not rehashing when you never told me in the first place.”
“I thought about not telling you at all.”
That pissed him off.“Because I’m such a terrible person?”
“Of course not.Ryan, you’ve never stayed in one place more than a year or two since you got out of the army.That doesn’t exactly scream ‘I’m dependable.’”
True, damn it.But he’d never had a baby to consider.“Why did you decide to tell me?”
“Because it was the right thing to do.You deserve a chance to know your child.And she deserves a chance to know her father.”
“Is that why you moved to Marietta?”
“Partly.I quit my job and I wanted a good place to raise my child.I wanted a small town.Plus, it seems like a good place to open my business.Even when you leave, I think it’s going to be what I want.”
When he left.Not if.She wanted a business.Not a job.“What business is that?”
“I’m going to open a nursery.”
Familiar with her apartment in Denver, he said, “You’ve always loved plants.But it seems like an undependable way to support yourself and your baby.”
“I’m well aware.I have money.Enough for start-up and to support Sophie and me for some time.”
He left that alone, though he wondered if she wasn’t being a bit unrealistic.“I have no idea what to pay for child support, but we can figure it out.”
“I didn’t tell you so you’d give me money.I can support my own child.”
“I’m sure you can but I’m her father.”A sudden thought occurred to him.“Am I listed on her birth certificate as her father?”If he wasn’t he damn sure intended to be.
“Yes.I thought about leaving it blank, but I wanted her to know she had a father if it ever came up.”
“Gee, thanks.”She was silent, frowning at him.“I want—no, I need to pay child support.”
“We’ll talk about it later.”
They damn sure would.“Is that what you think of me?That I’d blow off both of you?That I wouldn’t take any responsibility for my own child?”
*
Aria didn’t answerhis question.Which was an answer in itself.“Really?If that’s what you think then why in the hell even tell me about her?”He needed a better explanation than the one she’d given.
“I didn’t say that.But honestly, I wasn’t sure.Think about it, Ryan.You’re the least domestic man I’ve ever met.You never live in one place for long, you never stick with the same woman for long, you’re the king of no-strings relationships.I don’t know why you’re that way.I just know that you are.I couldn’t be sure you’d even acknowledge Sophie, much less want to be involved enough to pay child support.”She pinned him with a harsh glare.“But I told you because it was the right thing to do.Should I have told you earlier?Maybe.But I didn’t so you’ll just have to deal with it.”
It shook him.Her opinion of him was spot-on.Everything she’d said was true.Except… “We were together for over two years.”
“Yes, we were.And in all that time we never talked about taking the next step in our relationship.And then you left.Done.Over.”
God, she made him sound like a real bastard.Hell, hewasa real bastard.“I didn’t think you cared that I left.You acted like it didn’t matter to you at all.”And she clearly had no idea just how hard it had been to leave her.
