Page 16 of Fighting Chance

She shakes her head ever so slowly.

I chuckle softly. “You don’t have a name?”

She keeps shaking her head.

Stumped, I choose to go along with it. “Do you want a name?”

Twin dimples pop out to greet me as she smiles around her thumb.

I tap on my chin, dramatically thinking. “Hmm, what shall your name be? How about…Princess Eddie?”

Her little nose wrinkles and I mirror her, pretending to vomit. “You’re right, not a good name for a princess.”

Flicking my gaze behind her, I can hear faint voices that seem to be coming from the backyard. Maybe I’m not the only one they invited over. I highly doubt Bella adopted a kid without telling me; we tell each other everything. Even I have to admit that train of thought was a bit of a leap.

Looking back down at the girl, I hum under my breath, continuing with this spiel. “What about Princess Mia?” I suggest, thinking ofThe Princess Diaries.

She shakes her head, far more emphatically than the first time, that smile still shining.

“Queen Lilly?”

A giggle flies past her thumb and a spark of happiness flares in my chest at her adorably soft laugh. I swear, the cutest sound in this world is children laughing.

I chuckle along with her. “You like being a queen?”

Her head nods this time so much I have to reach out and gently cup her arm to steady her before she topples over her own two feet.

Putting on a posh British accent, I ask, “And what is your name, my queen?” I finish with a head bow.

Her laughter floats toward me, and before I know it a small hand is cupped around my ear as she whispers, “E-e-mmy-y.”

Her voice is timid, crackly and rough as she stutters. For some reason, the sound of it has my heart pinching. She must be shy if she’s nervous to say her own name.

Pulling back with a large smile, I feign a gasp, putting my hand on my chest. “That is the prettiest name I’ve ever heard!”

Her thumb is firmly back in her mouth now but the smile remains, until I hold out my hand and ask, “Want to take me to your mommy and daddy?”

The light vanishes behind her eyes and I know I’ve said the wrong thing. Thinking quickly on my feet, I whisper conspiratorially, “Have you met Bambi?” Her eyes widen the moment I mention the deaf dog my best friend adopted last year. “Where is she? Should we go find her?”

She nods as I stand, and to my surprise, she lifts her arms, albeit as much as she can in a dress too tight, asking to be carried. Not thinking much of it, I gently grab her, my heart panging and my ovaries crying as she lays her cheek on my shoulder.

“You’re so sweet, Queen Emmy,” I whisper, earning a soft chuckle.

Biting the inside of my cheek so I’m not grinning like the Cheshire Cat as I round the corner, I almost lose my footing when I spot Kieran on the deck.

My breath hitches and I stop walking.

Standing at the living room threshold, with all the flirty text messages he sent me burning a hole in my pocket, I drink in the sight of him in.

He is another one of my secrets.

It took all of my willpower to not respond to a single text of his. That, and a heavy dose of online stalking to remind myself how much of a player he is. However, that doesn’t mean I can’tadmire how attractive he is because that man is the definition of handsome. The cheeky smiles he gives, the flirty winks, the utter confidence that oozes from every pore. The way his eyes drink you in as if he wants to savor you to memory.

Everything about him is alluring.

Although that cheeky swagger of his seems to be missing tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him frown before and yet here he is, his head hanging low, his expression perplexed as he runs a hand through his hair. Grayson murmurs something beside him.

My heart sinks. Did something happen?