“I just don’t want to lead you on,” she said, stopping at the end of the dock and studying him with an earnest expression. “I’ve messed up a lot lately. You seem like a really nice guy. I don’t want you to be one of my mistakes.”
He took her by the shoulders and held her gaze. “You’re making way too much of an innocent remark,” he said quietly. “We’ve had a nice evening out. We’ve gotten to know each other a little better, shared a few laughs. Nobody’s asking for more. Nobody’s jumping ahead, least of all me. Believe me, I know all about not being ready for any complications.”
She seemed to take in his words, then finally nodded. “As long as we’re clear about what’s going on.”
“We’re clear,” he assured her. “No worries, okay?”
“Okay.”
“We’ll hang out when it feels right,” he added.
“Hang out?”
“Get together,” he explained. “Have a meal, maybe some conversation, whatever. No big deal.”
Gabi might be the spin master in the Castle family, but Wade thought he was doing a pretty good job right now of putting together a line that would assure she’d let her guard down with him. One thing was definite—whatever he had to say or do to pull it off, he didn’t intend to let tonight’s date be their last.
4
At loose ends for the first time in ages, Gabi wandered through her grandmother’s house the day after her movie date with Wade. Though she had slept late, she felt restless and edgy. She knew perfectly well it was because her life had no structure right now, no purpose. For a woman who’d been driven to succeed, who’d worked eighteen out of every twenty-four hours more often than not, the empty hours she faced now were a cross to bear, not a relief.
When her cell phone rang, she seized it like a lifeline without bothering to check the caller ID. After she’d answered, she was stunned to hear Paul’s voice.
“Gabriella? Is that you?” he repeated when she held the phone in shocked silence.
“What do you want?” she finally asked.
“I heard what happened at work,” he admitted. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks,” she said tightly. “If that’s all, I need to be going.”
“Wait!” he protested. “I thought we should talk, settle a few things.”
“Paul, believe me, you made your position plain the last time we spoke. We have nothing left to discuss.”
“Look, I’m really sorry about how I behaved. I was insensitive and selfish. You just caught me completely off guard with the whole baby thing.”
“The whole baby thing,” she echoed. “What a quaint way to put it! You and I conceived a child together. You acted as if I’d done that all by myself and solely to ruin your life. I can’t tell you how cherished and special that made me feel.”
“I said I was sorry,” he repeated impatiently. “Look, I know I’m bungling this again. I just want to talk, figure out how to handle things from here on out.”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about,” she responded. “I’m handling things just fine on my own. That’s what I do, you know. I handle things. Isn’t that what you suggested as you walked out the door? That this was just one more challenge for me to deal with?”
“That was before you lost your job,” he said, as if she needed reminding. “You’ll need some financial support for sure now. I want you to know I intend to step up, for you and the baby.”
“Not necessary,” she said. “From now on the less you have to do with me or the baby, the better. I’m not sure I could stomach the sight of you.”
“Now you’re just being shortsighted and stubborn,” he said. “Having a child can be a huge expense. I’m the father. It’s up to me to contribute to his or her support.”
Gabi drew in a deep breath and reminded herself of what she’d read online about adoptions. “There’s only one thing I want you to do for me, and it doesn’t require one dime from you.”
“What?”
“I want you to have papers drawn up relinquishing all parental rights.”
The request seemed to stun him. “What?”
“That’s it. I imagine any of those very expensive attorneys who play golf with you every week can handle that for you. You obviously didn’t want this child. I just want to make sure that you legally relinquish all rights.”
“But why?” he asked suspiciously. “I’m offering to pay child support.”
“And I’m telling you, I don’t want your money. This document is all I want. I want to be sure you don’t wake up some day, decide you made a terrible mistake and try to disrupt this child’s life.”
“There’s more to this,” he said. “Normally you’d be battling tooth and nail to see that I paid dearly to ensure the child’s financial future.”
“Which just proves you don’t know me at all. I don’t want any part of you, and I can ensure the baby’s future will be a good one.”
“Now? With no job?”
“Not every company is as conservative as the one I just left,” she said with more confidence than she felt. “I’ll work again. Now, will you get the document or not?”
“I’ll have to think it over,” he said.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Paul. I’m letting you off the hook, which is exactly what you said you wanted. Stop pretending this requires any deep consideration on your part. Grab the deal.”
“Fine,” he said, proving she was right about this so-called epiphany of his. There was nothing sincere about it.
“I’ll have the papers drawn up and sent over by courier tomorrow,” he added.
“You’ll need to send them to Sand Castle Bay. I’m staying with my Grandmother at the moment.”
“I suppose your sisters are there, too,” he said with an unmistakable edge of sarcasm.
“They are. So what?”
“It explains a lot, that’s all. The Castle troops have rallied, forming a united front against evil.”
She almost laughed at the
