Page 127 of Playing the Game

“Yes.”

Jonas stared at Olive. It felt weird to have the two most important people in his life together in a room at last. A future was opening up to Adam that he wanted to grasp with both hands. Yet, the expression on Jonas’ face suggested he’d ruined his chances of that.

“Why was Paloma here?”

Adam shook his head. “Paloma and Goran have been amazing. I can’t risk getting an agency nanny. There’s a five-figure news story right there. I’ve even cancelled the cleaners. Paloma is the only one I can lean on at the moment.”

Poor Olive was on the run from the media before she’d taken her first step.

“You could have trusted me,” Jonas said, quietly.

“My head was all over the place.”

“You told Goran and Ewen.”

Adam held his hands up. “I told Goran because I hadn’t a clue what the fuck to do. Ewen was more of an accident.”

As if on cue, Olive opened her beautiful blue eyes. When she saw Adam next to her, she grinned. Once again, Adam’s heart turned to mush.

“Hello, sleepyhead,” he cooed.

She stretched her tiny body. Adam had learnt that this was the calm before the storm. He scooped her up and got to his feet.

“I’d better get a bottle going,” he explained. “We are living on borrowed time. I can even do it with her in my arms now.”

Jonas stood and held his hands out. “Why don’t I help you?”

“Really?”

“Of course. I was great at settling Anna when she was this age. Let’s see if I’ve still got the knack.”

Adam handed his daughter over to the man he loved. His bottom lip trembled as he watched Olive studying this new face.

“I love you,” Adam said.

Jonas looked at him. “You do?”

“Very much.”

“Those are easy words to say. Harder ones to prove.”

“Can we try to get on track again?” Adam asked. “I’ll beg if I have to.”

“You don’t have to go that far. But hiding something as big as this? I can’t handle it.”

“I accept that. To be fair, you jumped to the conclusion I was cheating pretty quickly.”

Jonas raised an eyebrow. “A photo of you hugging your ex is hardly jumping to conclusions.”

“It kind of was, as it turns out.”

“I guess we both have trust issues.”

They walked into the kitchen. Jonas held Olive like a pro.

He even looks sexy doing that. Or is it more. Lovable?

“I mean what I say,” Adam said. “I’ve never cheated in my life and I’m not about to start now. I’m also not a liar.”