Chapter 10: Cross roads.

"Come again soon!" I say, waving back at the little girl who keeps tossing looks at Ash. He gives her a funny face before turning back to his book. I have no idea what he is drawing, but he keeps looking up at me and biting the head of his pencil. So long as it keeps him quiet and away from my customers, I'm happy with that. It is a tad hectic, being here by myself today. I have an assistant, Rachel, but she called in late and will not be coming in till four in the evening. Keeping an eye on Ash, I pull up the lid and grab the hot tray of freshly baked croissants from the oven. The door bell of my bakery chimes again, and someone walks ahead, stopping before the counter. Without looking up from the croissants as I dress them with honey, I chirp, "Welcome to Amber's Treats. What can I treat you with today?" "Are you on the menu?" I jerk and my bare hand touches the hot oven tray, causing me to yelp. What in the actual hell.... I look up to find dreamy blue eyes on me, and even I can't keep the sharp sigh that escapes me at the sight of Ryan. Hell, the man is smoking hot. In a black perfectly tailored suit that emphasizes his broad shoulders and well sculpted physique, he looks like something cut out of a fairytale. My fairy tale. His dark hair is falls over his broad forehead as he tilts his head to the left, observing me with those eyes that pierce through all that I am and can see the secrets that I have kept from him. My heartbeat quickens and I cuss myself mentally for being so attracted to him. Even the very air seems to have paused to acknowledge his presence. I do not need to look to know that he has the same effect on the females in my bakery. I drop the tray and brush my hair out of my face. "What the hell are you doing here?" "I came for a treat," he says simply and actively begins to look around the counter at the confectioneries on display. "Ryan," I growl underneath my breath, trying my best not to make a scene. "I told you I didn't want to—" "Hey there, little guy," he says, dropping into a squat in front of Ash and ruffles his hair. Ash squints up at him as if trying to place his face but he soon smiles at Ryan and my heart squeezes at the sight of it. Maybe I should have admitted to it the moment Ryan showed up. Maybe I should have come clean and told him everything. Watching him talk to his son, our son, fills my heart with joy and fear. I have no doubt that Ryan will make a wonderful father, but there are other factors involved too. Like his brother, Jasper, and his family. The impact that the truth will have on our lives; on Ash's life. I do not want Ash being in that sort of environment. All that and the fear of being torn apart from my son. I have heard stories. I have read the news. I know how it goes from here. It'll be like every other drama where the family lays claim to the child and takes him away from the mother after paying her off to keep it a secret. And if she refuses, they file lawsuits she has no way of getting out of and somehow she ends up behind bars and will never see her child again. Everyone knows how powerful the Holdens are. I cannot take that risk. Not with Ash. I will die if they take him from me. He is my world. My life. Call it cowardice. I just can't take that risk. Ryan straightens, lifting Ash in his arms, and naturally, Ash places his arms around Ryan's neck and begins pulling at his striped tie. "Nice place you've got here. I had no idea you baked until the event." "We literally know nothing about each other. It was one night. Not one year," I snap, hitting the show glass door hard enough to silence the bakery. I'm not mad at Ryan. I'm angry at myself and the mess I have put myself into. Ryan chuckles. "At least your temper hasn't changed." My cheeks flush at the reminder of what it had been like to lose my temper that night with his shirt. The memory of ripping his shirt assaults me and I turn away sharply before he can see me turn beet-red. "Why are you even here?" He shrugs, pinching the tip of Ash's nose. "I told you I came for a treat." He meets my gaze as he adds, "And to invite you out for coffee." "Pass," I say without thinking. He smirks. "If you do not come, I will visit again, and I doubt your husband will be pleased to see me," he says, laying emphasis on 'husband', just so he lets me know that he knows I lied. Great. Just great. If I turn him down, he will show up at my door, and I can already see how terribly that will play out. Accepting this feels like accepting something new, something permanent. Grunting, I ask him, "Where?" He smiles, knowing he has won. "Depresso Espresso. Eight." "Sure. I'll see you there," I say begrudgingly. I sure as hell am not going there. But he leans in, handing Ash to me and his voice drops low as he says, "Do not even think about standing me up, or I will make this my new favorite spot every day. Every hour. Every minute. Who knows? I could decide to have my business meetings here as well." Horrified, I glare at him. "You wouldn't. This is my space." "Do not test me, Red," he purrs before walking away with a confident stride while I gape at him. Great. Fucking great.