Pure Seduction by Frank, Ella (first ebook reader .txt) 📕

no. You two must’ve just crossed paths. He told me he was going to your place this morning so the two of you could go to the local farmers’ market.”

He did? So that meant he was— Oh shit.

“I’ll text you over his cell number. That way you can call and make sure you don’t miss each other again.”

“That’d be great, Emily. Thanks.”

I ended the call, and not a second later a text from Jake popped up: Noah’s here.

I didn’t bother waiting for Noah’s cell number. Hell no. I stepped on the gas and headed home. I made it there in record time, and when I turned down the street and saw his rental parked outside my house, my stomach dropped. Noah was inside somewhere with Jake, and I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about that.

I pulled in behind his vehicle and climbed out on unsteady legs, then, like some sort of weirdo creeper, I decided to go around to the back door and let myself in. I was making my way along the balcony, and up the side of the house, when I spotted them through the kitchen window. And the sight was enough to stop me in my tracks.

There, sitting at my kitchen table, were father and son for the first time ever. My breath got caught somewhere in the back of my throat and my heart swelled with pride and, yes, love.

The first thing I noticed was just how awkward they both looked. Noah was at one end and Jake at the other, and both of them had their arms crossed over their wide chests. The second thing was that they were the exact same height, even sitting down. They were even slumped in a similar fashion as they faced off.

Jake’s fair hair was in complete contrast to Noah’s, but the eyes? Seeing the two of them like this—so close and yet so clearly wary of the other—the resemblance was striking.

I stood there for a minute watching the two of them engage in a stilted conversation, and it wasn’t until my cheeks became damp that I realized I was crying.

I’d waited so long for this moment, wanted it so much. I made a mental snapshot of all that I was seeing then reached for the back door and stepped inside to join them.

34

Laurel

THE SOUND OF the back door opening made both Jake and Noah look in my direction. I clutched the strap of my bag and offered up a small smile.

Noah was the first to move; he shoved back from the kitchen table as though he’d been caught doing something wrong. “Hi.”

Jake rolled his eyes, and my lips twitched despite the tense circumstances.

“Hi,” I said, then walked over to the table and placed my bag on the chair beside Jake. “I didn’t expect to find you here this morning.”

For the first time ever, Noah looked uncertain of himself as his eyes shifted between Jake and me.

“Right, I wanted to talk to you before work about something, so I called Mom and she told me your address. I hope that’s okay?” Noah asked.

I placed a hand on Jake’s shoulder for comfort. For him or me I wasn’t sure, but I figured it couldn’t hurt either way. He must’ve gotten quite the shock when his father had turned up on the doorstep this morning.

“That’s fine,” I said. “I see you’ve met Jake.”

“Yes, he was kind enough to offer me breakfast.”

I looked at the two Pop-Tarts sitting on a plate in front of Noah. “Frosted strawberry with sprinkles. As you can see, it’s a family favorite.”

Noah frowned and tapped his fingers on the table’s edge. “Could we, um, talk for a minute, Laurel?”

I looked down to Jake, who was yet to say anything, but even when he nodded, I asked, “It that okay?”

“Yeah. It’s all good. You want me to—”

“No.” I shook my head and gestured to his half-eaten Pop-Tart. “You stay, finish your breakfast. We’ll be out on the front porch.”

Jake glanced to Noah, who was watching us intently, then nodded. “Okay.”

I walked around the table and stopped beside Noah. “Follow me.”

I made my way down the hall more self-conscious than I’d ever been in my life. And why? Because Noah was in my house. Actually standing, talking, and walking through my house. The place that was my safe harbor, the place that was most me, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he thought of it.

I led him out the front door and over to the porch swing. I offered him a seat, but he shook his head. Fair enough. I took the spot instead, figuring I might need something stable under me, depending on how this conversation went.

I waited in silence, wanting to give him the opportunity to speak first. To ask the questions that I could see swirling in his eyes. He paced back and forth for a few minutes, twisting his hands around each other, then finally he stopped and pinned me with an unwavering look.

“He’s mine, isn’t he?”

I sucked in a breath as a sense of pure joy and automatic protectiveness warred for supremacy. But there was no way I was about to deny him now. So I straightened my shoulders, looked him dead in the eye, and said for the first time out loud, “Yes. Jake is your son.”

Although it was clear Noah had suspected as much, the shock of hearing it confirmed made him stumble back as though someone had sucker-punched him.

“Shit, Laurel.” As his ass landed on the rail behind him, he placed a steadying hand beside him and ran the other through his hair. “What the hell?”

“I know.” My voice was faint, even to my own ears. So I cleared my throat and spoke a little louder. “This must feel like the Twilight Zone to you.”

“That’s putting it fucking mildly.”

I winced and looked down at my hands. “I’ve had this conversation with you so many times in my head, and now that you’re here—”

“You actually have to follow through.”

I