Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 68583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68583 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 343(@200wpm)___ 274(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
There were four teachers in the room, and all of them came up to Copper where he was holding Holt and cooed over him.
“Oh, isn’t he just the sweetest,” the oldest lady of the bunch said as she dropped to her haunches near where Copper set Holt’s car seat down.
“He so is,” a fake female voice, the one with the biggest tits of the group, said. “Mr. Clayborne, you have a beautiful son.”
Copper didn’t correct them, and instead said, “Here’s his eating schedule. He’s breast fed and bottle fed exclusively breast milk. If he runs out, let us know, and we’ll get you more. The numbers for both Baker,”—he gestured to me—“and myself are on this. Don’t call her first, though. Call me.”
Instant relief hit me.
“If you have any questions, you can text me, too,” Copper urged.
I felt my face flame. “You can text me.”
Please don’t text me.
Every last woman but one turned to me with judging eyes.
I could practically see them all questioning why they would bother Copper, who was such an important man, instead of texting the mother.
Was there something wrong with me?
Was I a bad mother?
Was I…
“Ma’am,” the one without the judgy eyes said. “I’ll be the one in charge of your son. If you’d like us to text you first, we’ll do that.”
“It’s whatever is easiest,” I said. “I work as well, so if I don’t answer, that means I’m on a call. You can text or call Copper as well. One of us will be available to answer your questions if you have any.”
The non-judgmental one held out her hand to me and said, “My name is Rawlins. Like the baseball glove.”
I nodded. “Baker.”
“And this cute little boy is Holt.” She took the paper Copper was still holding out and my son’s car seat. “Is anyone able to pick him up besides you two?”
“We’ll leave it at just us two for now,” Copper answered for me. “If you have any concerns, call.”
Rawlins nodded. “Will do, Mr. Clayborne.”
She took Holt over to a partitioned-off room that had one other baby in it and then started unstrapping him from his car seat.
I watched until she had him in her arms, and he still didn’t cry.
“You ready?” Copper asked.
I hesitated, not sure I was ready to leave yet.
But then my phone beeped, reminding me that I still had a job to do. One that was a little extra since my sister and mom weren’t answering because they were visiting colleges with my youngest sister.
“Yeah,” I said. “Are you sure you’re okay with me being in your office while I work?”
“I’m used to the distractions,” he said. “I never got a single second of alone time in fifteen years. I can compartmentalize with the best of them.”
That made sense.
“Okay,” I said. “I’m ready.”
With one final look at Holt, I let Copper tug me toward the door.
When we got to his office, I finally saw little pieces of him in the décor.
His sister, Keely, was waiting for him in his office, sitting at his desk eating a donut.
“Finally,” Keely said without looking up. “I didn’t realize it would take you an extra ten…who are you?”
“Keely, this is my roommate for another couple of weeks. Baker, this is my sister, Keely,” Copper introduced us.
“Baker. As in Shad’s daughter, Baker?” Keely beamed.
“That’s me,” I said as she got up and shook my hand. “Are you the reason Copper has little whispers running rampant around the shop today? They’re all wondering when he had this secret baby, and who the baby mama is.”
“That’d be me,” I said. “Though it’s not Copper’s baby.”
I felt like I had to really point that out.
Keely laughed, and Copper shot her a look.
I raised a questioning brow, and Keely answered with a smile in her voice.
“Copper would die before he’d impregnate a woman out of wedlock,” she explained. “He has this hero complex and feels like he has to do everything ‘right’ now that he’s done everything in the past ‘wrong.’”
My brows rose as I turned to the man and said, “What, exactly, have you done wrong?”
“Killing my dad,” he mumbled as he took a seat.
“That seems like the most right thing that has ever happened,” I said. “He’s not here to hurt anyone anymore. He could’ve done it to more people. Hell, he could’ve had more kids and done it to them. It was very valiant and brave. Plus, your sister Keely here gets to live her life with the knowledge that the man who abused her is no longer breathing the same air as her.”
Keely beamed at me. “From your lips to God’s ear.”
Copper sighed and went full business. “We have to call Lynch in and let him know that he’s being demoted.”
“Oh, fun.” Keely rolled her eyes. “Do I have to be here for that?”
“No,” he said. “Though, I thought you might enjoy it, since Reign was able to uncover how much money he’s been siphoning out of our accounts, acting like it was for a really important cause.”