Page 48 of Billionaire Enemy's Baby
But I know it is.
I lift my shaking fist and knock a few times, not quite sure if I’m being loud enough, or too loud. No one comes to answer the door though, which unnerves me. Does Lexi know that this is me and she’s ignoring me on purpose? I can’t blame her because I did just up and leave town right after our date, without giving her an explanation. I also ignored all of her calls…
“Joshua Macauley?”
Oh shit. The woman staring at me doesn’t look impressed.
She’s coming from the main house, which means she must be Lexi’s mother. I bet she’s heard some terrible tales about me. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see Lexi.” All of a sudden I feel like an idiot teenage boy all over again. “I need to talk to her. About me and her, and about Mya as well.”
Lexi’s mother’s face turns a funny shade of red. “You do know that you can’t ignore your child for four years and then just decide to show up when you feel like it?”
“I know, but I didn’t know that Mya was mine. I never knew…”
“Josh?” Lexi appears behind her mother with a strange look in her eyes. “Oh my God, you’re here.” She runs over to me, which I have to admit isn’t the reaction I was expecting. “Josh, I didn’t know you never received my letter. I thought that Wyatt sent it…”
“I only just found it.” I reach out for her hands and she lets me take them. “It shocked me a bit, I have to admit. I thought you had been lying to me and I was hurt, which is why I ran off to New York for a while. But I don’t want to abandon you. I never want to.”
Her eyes are filled with tears, and I think that mine might be as well. The emotions that surge between us is powerful and utterly overwhelming. But in the best way possible. This is my home;sheis my home. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere in the world but here.
“Things could have been different,” she says softly. “But that doesn’t matter now. Things can be different from here on out. We can make things right, if you want to?” The hope shining in her eyes is overwhelming. She nearly knocks me off my feet. “Starting with meeting Mya at long last. I know that would be a good start for us all.”
We both look towards Lexi’s mother, who has lost her pissed off expression and now looks just confused by the whole situation. I get it because itisconfusing. Lack of communication has made all of this really mixed up and weird.
But we will be better.
“I would love to meet Mya,” I reply, to both Lexi and her mother. “But like I said, on your terms. I don’t want to overwhelm anyone. I just want to finally do the right thing.”
I hold my breath, waiting to see which way this goes. It could go really terribly with Lexi’s mother and I wouldn’t be able to argue because she’s only trying to protect her granddaughter, my daughter.
“Let’s do it now,” Lexi finally says and her mother nods sharply. “There is no time like the present. I’m sure Mya will be very pleased to finally meet her dad.”
Fuck, this is scary. So scary my heart might actually leap out of my chest. But it’s actually exciting too. I’m really happy and looking forward to what’s coming next. With a bit of luck, Mya won’t hate my guts and we might actually get along. Because this feels like the start of the rest of my life, the start of my family life, and I am so excited.
I found something so much better and more important than my career, which I never thought would happen, and I fully intend to make the best of it.
There she is.Mya is immediately visible and instantly my heart melts. She’s so sweet, so adorable, a carbon copy of her mother. The love which washes over me is boundless and amazing. I have never felt a sensation like it. I’m rooted to the spot as I let everything soak in. Until Mya turns to look at me and her face lights up with a delighted sweet smile.
“Hi,” she says with a sweet, small smile on her lips. “I’m Mya.”
I almost can’t breathe as she says that. The words catch in my throat as the emotion hits me. It takes Lexi to step forward and make the proper introductions. Although I wasn’t expecting her to introduce me in quite the way she does.
“Mya, this is Josh. He’s come to meet you because he is your father.”
The world stops spinning for a moment as I watch Mya’s face change. Thankfully she looks happy about this, accepting and everything. Wow, what an incredible four-year-old.
“You’re my dad?” she gasps. “That’s so cool. Do you want to play Lego with me?”
ChapterTwenty-Two
LEXI
“Well, what do you think?” Dad asks me as he elbows me playfully in the side. “They look like they are having a good time together, don’t you think?”
I nod excitedly. Honestly, the sight of Josh and Mya playing together is a dream come true. It’s a sight that melts my heart completely. I have kind of dreamed about it over time, not that I ever wanted to admit it out loud, but seeing it, in reality, is just wonderful. So much better than I ever thought it could be. I am in heaven; I am in love with what’s happening.
“It would be a little easier if Mom wasn’t leaning over his shoulder, watching them both.”
