temple. Then he pushed her bangs back and eased the cup across her forehead, the condensation wetting her skin. His tender care was in direct opposition to the determined man she’d seen in action. “Feeling better?”
Ashley captured the hand holding the water and moved it aside. Somewhat off-balance by his nearness and her own confusing reaction, she responded with a nod. Still, she found herself unable to look away from the big man dressed in a dark suit that strained against his shoulders, the same shoulders that now blocked her view. “I—I just found out yesterday. That information is confidential. How could you possibly know?”
“The clinic made a mistake,” he said, as if that should explain it all. “They called me first because your test results were attached to my sister-in-law’s chart.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I have proof that they fertilized your eggs with my sperm.”
“But I talked with the clinic at length before deciding to go there. I can’t believe this happened.”
“They’re investigating now. Believe me, by the time I’m done with them, they’ll make sure it won’t happen again.” When Hunter offered her another drink, Ashley declined with a shake of her head. She noticed the tiny lines fanning outward from the corners of his blue eyes, eyes that made it hard to concentrate.
He placed the water on the tray, his movements sure and confident. “What happened isn’t my fault or yours, but there’s a baby involved. My baby. That’s why I’m here.”
Not liking the turn of the conversation, Ashley pushed from the chair, disregarding the hand he offered to steady her. The initial panic, which had caused the room to tilt, hadn’t eased much, but she refused to let him walk in and start issuing orders the way he did on legal matters. This involved her child. “I don’t know what this is all about or what you expect to accomplish, but you’re wasting your time. You have no right to this child. It’s mine. All mine. Only mine.”
He gave no outward reaction to her statement, but studied her for a long moment with crystalline eyes that made her uncomfortable. “I can prove I’m the father.” He ran his hand along his jaw, his whisker stubble making a rasping sound. “I don’t want to make this any more difficult on you than it has to be, but Texas law gives me certain rights. I want custody.”
Ashley’s knees almost buckled. “No. This is my child. If it’s money you want, then I can pay you for your…services.”
He watched her, his gaze intent. “You think I want your money? Lady, I’m the Kern County assistant district attorney.”
She returned his glare. “I know exactly who you are.”
“Morgan, I thought I heard you.” Ashley’s boss, Richard Williams, lumbered across the conference room’s plush carpet to face Hunter Morgan. “Is there a problem here?”
Ashley froze, unable to do anything but wait to see what, if anything, the assistant D.A. intended to say.
Hunter glanced at her. “Problem? No. Ashley and I were having a friendly disagreement over a common interest.”
Mr. Williams warned Ashley with a cutting look before turning his attention back to Hunter. “If you have a few minutes, I’d like to discuss the Thompson case.”
Without missing a beat, Hunter slipped into his prosecutor persona. “All right.”
“Have a seat, and I’ll get my client. I was going over with him what to expect at tomorrow’s arraignment,” Mr. Williams said.
When Ashley tried to follow her boss from the conference room, Hunter caught her arm, his hold firm, but gentle.
Once assured Mr. Williams wasn’t waiting outside the door, Ashley glanced at the long fingers that held her, then met Hunter’s frown with one of her own. “If I want to keep my job—and I do—then I need to get back to work.”
“We’ll continue this conversation over dinner tonight.”
Ashley checked the urge to chew on her bottom lip. She met his gaze, pleased she accomplished the feat without flinching. Father indeed. What proof could he possibly have? Under other circumstances, being assistant district attorney would give him a lot of bargaining power. But not for her child. Never for her child. “I’m busy.”
“Tomorrow at lunch, then?”
“I already have plans.”
His jaw tightened. “Tomorrow night?”
She tugged her arm free, rubbing the spot that still burned from his touch. “I can’t. If you’ll excuse me.”
“It doesn’t end here, Ashley. I won’t go away. Either agree to meet me, so we can do this nicely,” he said, the underlying threat in his voice letting her know nice was the last thing he intended to be. “Or, refuse, and we can engage in a custody battle in court with the entire world watching our lives being dissected, detail by ugly detail. Which do you want? It’s your call.” The flames leaping into his eyes blazed blue.
Ashley knew that no matter her decision, he would play to win. But so would she. She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t want to do either. All I’ve ever wanted is a baby, this baby. You, the father—if that’s true—were never supposed to be in the picture.”
“But I am very much in the picture. I can prove I’m the father. I won’t go away until this is settled.”
“I refuse to enter into a tug-of-war over my child.”
“My child.” He gave her another nothing-will-get-in-my-way look. “We have a lot to discuss. I’ll grab take-out and be at your place tonight at seven.”
She raised her chin. “But—”
“Be there.”
“No, not my apartment. I’d rather meet somewhere public.”
“That’s why I came here today. I didn’t think you’d let me in if I just showed up at your apartment. Meeting in a public place is fine with me so long as you’re not concerned about being seen with me after hours?”
Ashley frowned. He had her, blast it, and from his sudden smile, he knew it. “All right. We’ll meet at my apartment,” she muttered between clenched teeth as her boss and his spit-shined client entered the room.
Exercising the rigid control he was known for, Hunter nodded, then moved to take a seat at the heavy mahogany table as if they had merely exchanged pleasantries. He accepted and glanced through a stack of papers, his hands steady, his thoughts seemingly focused, while Ashley fought sudden tears.
Leaving the room, she closed the door and leaned back. Her heart hammered. Her hands trembled as she pressed them against her stomach where her baby lay nestled, safe from harm. At least for now.
Yesterday after receiving confirmation of her pregnancy, she’d been the happiest woman in the world. Now that same world crumbled around her. All because a man with eyes that discerned far too much, thought his rights outweighed hers. How appropriate he was a lawyer. A prosecutor at that. What luck.
She remembered how it had felt to be lifted
