Chapter 16 16
He stilled, meeting her gaze, and sudden heat rippled between them. She'd said that to him once before when they were making love, and the memory of it flooded between them. Warm, wicked. Greedy. The softness in her green eyes said she remembered, too.
The nurse at the desk cleared her throat. Stefan dragged his gaze from Alana and handled the bill.
"I can manage this," Alana said.
"I know you can," he said softly. "But you have to get used to me handling some things too,” He walked to the far side of the room, opened the stroller and rolled it back to her. Juliana reached out for him, practically squirming to get to him.
Stefan put her in the stroller, kneeling to strap her in. "You were so brave," he said to her. "I'm proud of you, princess." He dried her tears, kissed her head and with Alana, led her out of the front door.
Almost like a real family.
___________
Alana grabbed her handbag from her desk and was heading for her office door when her secretary popped her head in.
"Your one o'clock is here, Ms Jackson."
Alana glanced at the time, frowning. "They're very early."
"I tried to tell them that, but they seemed impatient."
Alana shook off her disappointment of losing yet another chance to run home to see her baby. Besides, going home meant seeing Stefan. Stefan sitting on her sofa with Juliana asleep in his arms. Stefan being a culinary genius in her kitchen and preparing some of the best meals she'd had in a year.
"It's all right. Show them in, Elaine." She tucked her handbag in the drawer and moved from behind her desk, tugging at the hem of her jacket. Her welcoming smile drooped when the door swung open and Stefan strode in with Juliana in his arms.
"What are you doing here?" Despite her protests, she went to him, taking her baby and hugging her close. "Oh, hello, sweetie," she murmured, and the baby giggled excitedly and squeezed her back.
"There is something to be said about a woman in a power suit," Stefan remarked, standing close and letting his gaze roam leisurely over the deep-green designer outfit. She met his gaze and suddenly felt beautiful.
"You've got the sexiest legs in this hemisphere."
She smiled. "And who has them in the Southern Hemisphere?"
He grinned and reached to unwind the baby's fingers from her earring. She always had a good comeback, he thought, and it was hard for her to take a compliment. "Don't know, don't care. How about taking a break with me?''
"I have an appointment who's likely waiting in the lobby."
"I'm the appointment."
Alana blinked.
"I asked you assistant to schedule some time, hoping that you'd go to lunch with us."
Us. It was enough to make her cave. Almost. Any time alone with Stefan was dangerous to her heart.
"Stefan, you can't take time from customers who need to see me."
"I opened an account for Juliana today, you know and I made an appointment so I guess that makes me a customer."
She felt cut off at the pass. "Why did you do that?"
"So I can start her college fund."
"I've already started one. Before she was born, as a matter of fact."
"Ahh, but by then college is going to cost twice as much." His voice lowered and the deep tone coated her. "I helped make her, Alana. I'm here to share the responsibility."
She couldn't protest that. It was for their baby, and she'd give up anything for her.
"So how about it?"
Alana pressed her lips to her baby's head, missing her so much lately, then looked at Stefan. The idea of sitting in a restaurant wasn't appealing.
"Come on." His smile was low-down sexy, and with the jeans, shirt showing off all that muscle, he worked magic on her.
Alana wondered if she could stick to her resolve, because being near Stefan was a cross between denial of what she'd like and danger of getting her heart broken.
At her continued silence, he arched a brow. "Scared to be alone with me still, Alana?"
Her defenses rang out like a chime. "Lead the way, sailor."
This was so she could spend time with Juliana. And if it wasn't for Stefan being here, she wouldn't have had the chance, she reminded herself
“Hmm, snappy attitude. I hear fear."
She rolled her eyes. "Give it up, Stefan."
Not a chance, Stefan thought and followed her out, his gaze dropping to her cute behind. He bit back a groan and the urge to drag her back inside the office and learn what color lingerie she wore underneath that green power suit. The idea was quickly drenched when half the staff rushed over to see the baby.
A few looked curiously at Stefan, but he kept mysteriously silent as Alana showed off their daughter. He had no idea what she'd told these people and he wasn't about to embarrass her, yet she inched closer to him and didn't seem to mind his hand at the small of her back. After she told her assistant that she'd be out for the next couple of hours, Stefan urged her to the door.
An older woman stopped them, cooing at the baby. "I just have to say that your family is gorgeous."
"Thank you," Alana said, looking at the baby. Juliana bounced in her arms.
"She has her father's eyes. You and your husband must be very proud."
Alana's mouth opened to tell the woman he wasn't her husband, then she clamped it shut.
Stefan stepped in and said, "We are. Thank you." He ushered Alana out the door and to the car. Settling the baby in the car seat, they drove. Beside him, Alana was quiet.
"Bothers you?" Stefan asked. "What that woman said?"
"No, it's a logical comment. Juliana does look like you."
She was being evasive again, he thought. "Hair and eyes maybe, but she reminds me of you."
"I whine for my supper, too?"
Stefan laughed. "She's stubborn, content with her surroundings and oblivious to what's going on right before her eyes."
Alana looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers. "Then I'll be a six-month-old and continue to explore other possibilities."
"Liar. You're not even considering them."
"Stefan, we've been over this.”
His fingers gripped the steering wheel. "I never thought I'd have to beg a woman to marry me, but just give me one good reason why you won't."