Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

My hands quiver with curiosity and nerves as I open the envelope and, with gentle care, slide the photo into my hand.

And there it is. My tiny blip.

Thanks to my books, I’m well versed at reading ultrasounds.

My hand halts above the image when a throat clears, and I jerk in my seat.

“Fucking hell.”

My head snaps to find my dad seated on the corner couch, with his Hawthorne crest lighter dangling from his index finger and a cake box from Hawthorne Bakery on the table before him.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was waiting for my son. But there must be something really captivating in there, since it’s the first time you didn’t scan the room before walking in.”

His lips twitch, and his head cocks to one side before he leaves his spot and walks to me, bringing along the cake box.

Those few beats give me time to bring my racing heartbeat back to normal.

“Is it just my imagination or has my family suddenly started to miss me too much?”

Dad chuckles, dropping down into the chair across from me.

“We always miss you, Ace. Kristy and Chloe went to see Daisy, so I thought it’s only fair I come to see my boy.”

I snort, not because of him calling me a boy, but because Dad could be standing on trial and he still wouldn’t be able to lie properly. There’s no way he came for fun on a Wednesday morning. He’s here to talk, something he deems more important than my morning meetings.

“Uh-huh. Aren’t we all bored sitting at our own homes these days?”

“Can you blame us? Our first grandchild is on the line. If your mom and sister could, they would live with Daisy.” Dad opens the cake box and passes my childhood favorite toward me—chocolate mousse cake. “I even offered for her to move into the Hawthorne mansion, but she declined.”

I can’t push the plastic fork hanging in the air into my mouth.

Since when has everyone started making plans for Daisy?

“And you didn’t think to run it by me once?” My lips press into a thin line, trembling with the effort to contain all my feelings on the matter.

“Did you ask me before you sent your wife away?” Despite his words, his tone is calmer than mine.

“How many times do I need to say that I didn’t send her away? She left on her own.” My left eye twitches as I press my lips together. “Plus, I’m not going to have this conversation with you too. Chloe has already given me enough heat.”

“You should listen to your sister. She can be very wise sometimes. Let me also tell you that she’s very protective of her little niece.”

My heart thuds at his words, and it takes a beat to find my natural voice.

“Not you too.”

“You know Chloe always gets what she wants.” Dad smirks. “Plus, I can already imagine myself humming to my little princess wrapped in a pink blanket.”

I’m not stupid. I know what everyone is doing—they’re trying to show me the life that lies on the other side of my fear.

And God are they persistent and damn good at this.

“Chloe only gets what she wants because everyone goes above and beyond to make that happen. So unless someone has the power to convince Mother Nature, I’d suggest we put a lid on the niece talk.”

“You’re no fun.” Dad dabs his mouth with a paper napkin before leaning back in the chair. “Since you’re only interested in serious talks, I wanted to confirm that you’ve taken care of security for Daisy.”

I nod, finally happy to have a sane conversation. “There are undercover bodyguards from Kings Security stationed outside Willow’s apartment. They make sure she’s never left alone, including the times she’s at the hospital.”