Father by Choice. Amanda Berry
cold day seeped through her jeans and she hugged her blue sweater closer. Her ponytail whipped around into her face again. Just a few more moments then she’d go in and ask for him. Just a few…
Brady lived in a luxury apartment building off Central Park. Housing wasn’t cheap in New York, but his building seemed to be the cream of the crop. On the taxi ride over, Central Park had emerged among the buildings. The trees gave an illusion of open spaces, but the massive buildings dwarfed the park, holding it captive. Metal-and-glass structures on concrete. She’d never felt more lost or frightened.
Too many people shoved into one space. Even now, people walked or jogged past her. There didn’t seem to be a spare area anywhere in the city to step aside and take a deep breath. Her heart raced and she could barely breathe with the hustle and bustle.
She didn’t understand how Brady could live here when he’d grown up with the open spaces in Tawnee Valley. Where you didn’t have to clutch your purse to your side and fear the stranger walking toward you.
She moved closer to the door. Maybe she should return to the hotel and call him. A jogger in hot-pink short shorts weaving between the business people in their gray-and-black suits caught her attention. She followed the woman with her gaze, wondering if she could ever feel that comfortable here, surrounded by strangers.
“Maggie?” Brady’s baritone voice rushed over her like a warm waterfall.
Her breath caught in her throat as she turned to find Brady staring at her from a few feet away by the apartment building door. The sun chose that moment to come out from under the clouds, lighting his handsome face as he came toward her. His dark hair was cut more conservatively now, and crinkles formed in the corners of his blue eyes. He was even more handsome than she remembered.
Maggie returned his smile but couldn’t form any words. Up close, she could see the similarities between him and Amber. And those eyes, they caused her heart to stutter as he focused solely on her.
Brady had a huge grin on his face. “Maggie Brown! What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you,” she pushed out through her numb lips. “I mean, I’m visiting New York and…”
What else could she say? And how was she supposed to think when he looked at her like that? As if he knew her inside and out. It had been a long time since she’d been in his arms, but her body tingled with memories. Should she hug him?
“God, it’s good to see you.” His genuine smile didn’t change, but his voice sounded different from high school, more sophisticated, colder. “Are you living nearby?”
“No, I’m still in Tawnee Valley.” She didn’t want to blurt it out, but how was she supposed to ease him into knowing he had a seven-year-old daughter? Even though she’d known Brady since they were kids, they hadn’t been close friends, and right now he felt like a stranger. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Brady’s eyebrows drew together in concern, and he reached out his hand to grip her elbow. “Is everything all right? Is Sam…?”
Shocked at the intense surge of giddiness flowing through her at his touch, Maggie shook her head. No stranger had ever made her feel like that. “Everything’s fine.”
She wanted to drop her eyes, but his eyes held her entranced. It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him about Amber, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the right words.
With his pressed suit, he could have stepped off the cover of GQ. The Brady she knew had been headed for big things, but she didn’t know this man in front of her. To be honest, she hadn’t known Brady even back then. Not truly, just the facade he put on for the town. A facade he let drop during their night together.
“I wish I had more time right now, but I have to get to work. There’s an early morning meeting.” He pulled out his BlackBerry and checked the screen for a moment.
The cold wind swept through her when he backed away slightly. A reminder that they had shared only one night together. It had been a great night, but it wasn’t as if they’d had a meaningful relationship.
Now wasn’t the time to tell him about Amber. A little of the weight lifted off her stomach. She couldn’t tell him when there were people surging down the sidewalk like salmon around them. when he glanced at her, she shivered and nodded. “Maybe later?”
“How long are you in town?” He gave her the same expression Amber got when she wanted to reassure Maggie. It was unnerving. How could Amber have his expressions when she’d never met him? “I’m not trying to brush you off. Honestly.”
He tapped on his phone again.
“I didn’t think you were blowing me off.” What if this was her only chance? You have a daughter. I got pregnant. Surprise, you’re a daddy! Maggie swallowed hard.
“Good.” He barely looked at her. “How about one? For lunch? Unless you have other plans.”
“Sounds great.” She forced a smile. By the way, you have a daughter.
His return smile stole her breath and emptied her mind. “Where are you staying? I’ll pick you up.”
She rattled off the address of the hotel. She should tell him now. Get it over with. That way it wouldn’t sit in the knot that was her stomach until later. But how? His attention was apparently already at his meeting. She tightened her smile as he glanced at his watch. Who had Brady Ward become?
“I have to run. I’ll see you at one.” He backed away from her. “I’m glad you came.”
By the time they were sitting in the restaurant, Maggie was drawn tighter than a bow. Brady couldn’t imagine what had her uptight. The Maggie he’d known had been spontaneous and friendly.
Of course, high school had been years before. But he remembered the adoring look in her hazel eyes when she’d been a sophomore and he’d been a senior. He hadn’t taken advantage of her crush then, but two years later at Luke’s graduation party, that night he couldn’t resist. She’d been stunning and forward and one hell of a kisser.
Eight years hadn’t faded her beauty at all. Her honey-blond hair framed her face in a no-nonsense style. She had developed some curves since high school. Her soft blue sweater didn’t reveal much, but her jeans clung low to her hips and she filled them out nicely. She didn’t try to flaunt her assets the way Jules did. She was just Maggie. She put off a natural vibe that was unlike any woman he knew, and it did something to his senses that he couldn’t begin to describe.
“What brings you to New York?” Brady set his BlackBerry on the table, trying to ignore the constant barrage of emails. Now that financing had begun, he had to put everything into motion, which was always the hardest phase and required a lot of finesse. It didn’t help that Peterson circled every conversation like a shark waiting for blood.
Maggie lifted her gaze to his. He lost track of what he’d asked as he sank into her rich hazel eyes. Warmth. That’s what she offered, with no expectation of anything in return. The type of women he usually went for were like Jules. Sophisticated, driven, focused…temporary.
Her gaze dropped to the tablecloth, then to her hands folded neatly in her lap. “Do you remember Luke’s party?”
His phone buzzed insistently against the white tablecloth. He smiled apologetically and fought the urge to curse. The number was the contractor for the new facility. Another fire to put out.
“If you need to…” Maggie said.
“I’m sorry. I need to take this.” He stood and stepped outside the restaurant to talk to the contractor about the change orders that had been processed that morning. After a hurried five minutes, they’d agreed on the main changes. When Brady hung up, he quickly scrolled through his in-box to try to avoid more interruptions before heading inside.
She was already picking at her salad when he sat across from her. She looked at him expectantly. He wished for a