Chapter Two

Chapter Two

In the early hours of the next morning, Tess was enjoying a much-needed sleep, when she was awoken by a loud banging on the front door. She sat bolt upright, pulled herself up off her mattress and wrapped herself in her tattered, old flannel robe. She'd taken it from her very first job as a maid when she worked at the Four Season's Hotel in New York City. The hotel threw out perfectly good robes once they'd been in circulation for a while in an effort to keep everything looking fresh and new.

Her thoughts shifted to Cole. She'd been employed at the Four Seasons before applying as a housemaid at Cole's parent's ranch. It'd seemed like a tempting offer as it came with a hefty pay raise and much less work. Little did she realize she would end up pregnant and fired. Stretching her aching back, she heard a little pop and waited for the pain to ease. Why was she even thinking about Cole the second her eyes opened?

What a jerk he'd turned out to be, how could someone as sweet as his mother raise a cad like him? He must get his crappy side from his father. She'd never met him in all the time she worked at the Washington Ranch. He was some big business tycoon, always off, wheeling and dealing. Because making the family even more exorbitantly rich than they already were was a priority for him. Yes, Cole definitely took after his father, she was sure of it.

Securing the robe's sash with a loose knot, the knocking sounded again, echoing through her sparsely furnished apartment. It must be the police, they always sounded like they were going to knock the door down. It was one of the downfalls of living on the Lower Eastside, in the cheapest accommodation, she could find. Someone was always having a domestic or passing out in the stairwell. The thought of bringing a baby into this environment scared her, but at this point, she didn't have many other options.

She shuffled toward the front door and wondered why she was thinking of Cole when her building could be burning to the ground or some other emergency. This could possibly be her escape time and she was using it thinking about Cole. Seeing his mother yesterday had gotten to her more than she liked to admit.

The knocking continued.

"Okay, I'm coming!" She screamed.

She yanked the door open wide, not even using the safety chain. If there wasn't a good reason for waking this pregnant woman, it would be whoever was on the other side of the door that needed protection, not her. The door swung back and Tess looked up into the icy cold gaze of Cole Washington.

She stumbled back slightly and reached for the door to hold herself up.

"Cole!" She gasped.

"So, you do remember me then?" He smirked, looking as cool and calm and she remembered. But instead of care and kindness, his eyes blazed with hatred.

Tess gulped and fought to stay on her feet. The last thing she needed was this man knowing how he affected her.

"Vaguely, I mean, I've had so many lovers it gets hard to keep track of them all." God, why did I say that? Cool comebacks certainly aren't my forte.

"Yeah, sure you have." He narrowed his eyes at her and looked her up and down until his gaze rested on her rounded belly.

She yanked the robe tighter around herself. Who the hell did he think he was, turning up here at the crack of dawn, with no notice and no invite? And how did he find her? She glanced down at his long, powerful legs.

"You're walking." Not only was he not in a chair like her Google search had suggested but he appeared strong and healthy and he was standing in her doorway.

"What did you expect?" He snarled. "A chariot?"

She stood, cheeks burning as she fought to regain her cool. It was hard to believe the powerful and handsome heir to the Washington estate, was standing in front of her after all this time. Some could say he was slumming it and they'd be right, but even still, she was too good for him and their baby would be too.

"Not exactly."

He stared unblinking at her, looking as sexy as he always had, but tonight he was uncharacteristically dressed down in casual jeans and a sweater. A sweater she had the desire to rip from his tall, toned body. Why was her mind betraying her like this? Snapping her eyes shut briefly, she swept her mind of such thoughts.

When she opened them, he was still there and her body clearly hadn't got the memo her brain was trying to send because the pounding of her heart and the shiver running down her spine continued. She needed to get rid of him and fast otherwise she'd be asking him what he wants for breakfast in the blink of an eye.

"What do you want, Cole? I'm busy." She faked a yawn for good measure but his snarled smirk told her he wasn't buying it.

He indicated her attire with a nod of his head. "I can see that."

It made her hate him even more for calling her out. If she considered sleeping as being busy, it was none of his business.

"I don't have time for your games." She swung the door shut but he snapped out his hand, pushing it back and stepped inside. His eyes whipped around the apartment and stopped at the mattress on the floor.

It made her feel uncomfortable and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. With all his money and privilege, she doubted he would have ever stepped foot in a place like this before. It was tiny. There were no dividing walls between the living space, the bedroom and the kitchen. In fact, there wasn't even a proper kitchen, just a portable hotplate, a second-hand refrigerator that GG had pulled out of her old camper, a kettle, and a toaster.

"You sleep there?" He pointed toward the mattress.

"What if I do?"

He didn't reply but continued inspecting her home, from his spot near the door. Damn Cole and his judgmental eyes. She wished she had something she could poke them with just so he'd stop gawking and blink occasionally.

"How did you find me?" she asked, trying to draw his attention away from her living conditions.

"Tess, you're hardly a secret agent. It took me all of five minutes to find this address."

This revelation made her feel less than secure. She'd been intentionally hiding from this man and he found her easily. What if he'd been a predator, or even worse, a predator she was unaware of? Looking at the flimsy security chain hanging by one bolt instead of two and the ripped screens on the windows without locks, her stomach flipped. The apartment security left a lot to be desired.

He'd been back in her life for all of two minutes and already she was beating herself up over what she could and couldn't provide for her and the baby. She let out a deep sigh, tinged heavily with irritation. "What do you want Cole? Why have you come here?"

"I think we both know the answer to that question. I want to know if this is my baby." He reached out and placed his hand gently on her stomach.

A hundred bolts of electricity surged through her. Cole obviously had the same effect on her baby because right on cue he began to wiggle and kick. She hadn't intended to cave in and admit the truth so easily but her baby reacting to his daddy guilted her into a confession.

"Of course, the baby is yours. Do the math." She swatted his hand away.

"Well, with all these lovers you speak of, I was unsure." He quirked his brow and waited for her to defend herself.

But she wasn't in the mood for games. "Yes Cole, he is definitely your baby. You were such a fantastic lover I couldn't dream of replacing you. Better? Is your massive ego back in one piece?"

"It's a he?" Cole asked, ignoring her mad woman ramblings. "I'm having a son?" He slowly drew his gaze to hers and smiled. It was the same smile he used to give when he'd see her for the first time each day, the smile he had when he asked her to be his girlfriend and the smile he eventually used when he'd told her he loved her. She gulped back the lump forming in her throat.

"I want you to go." Her voice wobbled despite her best effort. The way he looked at her, and their future baby, shook her. She knew their relationship hadn't been a figment of her imagination, what they shared was as real as the baby growing inside her. She'd convinced herself she'd imagined what they'd had together, the fun and the love. But she hadn't and it unnerved her.

He stared at her for what felt like an eternity, before lowering his eyes.

"Pack your stuff." He said, stepping towards her. "Better still, set fire to it. Who knows what's living in here." The softness which had crossed his face briefly had gone and the icy glare was back.

Cole grabbed her arm, to guide her towards the door but she yanked her arm out of his grasp with more force than strictly warranted.

"Don't touch me and don't tell me what to do."

"You used to love it when I touched you." He drawled.

Her cheeks burned red. "How dare you, I'm not one of your minions that you can just boss around."

Instead of looking mad, he appeared amused by her outburst. Only Cole knew how to make her feel inadequate with a single look.

"Look, stop being so stubborn, I'm trying to help you. I won't let my baby live like this." He motioned the apartment in all its glory.

"Is that a threat? I'm telling you, Cole, you won't take this baby from me. I won't let you."

"Calm down, that's not what I said and it's not what I intend. I do, however, intend to look after him."

"Well, lucky for you, he isn't here yet so you're obligation free for now. I'll be sure to contact your secretary when that changes. Now off you go."

Cole followed her as she stormed towards the door. Making his way partially into the hall he turned to look back.

"I can tell your pregnancy hormones are making you overly emotional—"

"Emotional?" She screeched. Cool, calm and collected Tess vanished like a thief in the night and ranting, raving, riled up Tess was now in full force. "How dare you force your way in here in the middle of the night and then have the nerve, NERVE, I tell you, to call ME FLIPPING EMOTIONAL."

"I haven't got time for this. I'll be back this evening to pick you up. That should give you plenty of time to calm down, mull over this conversation and realize I'm right. I'm right Tess because unlike you, I'm rational."

"Oh, I will destroy you Cole and I'll clean my filthy apartment floors with the smirk I wipe off your stupid face."

"See you tonight." He smiled, before stalking out and slamming the door.

It was official.

She hated him.

He was a jerk.

Thank God he dumped her.

He did her a favor.

After a few moments, she flung the door open. "ARHHHH!!" She screamed down the hall and felt a jolt of pleasure to see him jump a little in shock. And then she slammed the door closed and this time, slid the lock.

Cole Washington was the most irritating, obnoxious, arrogant, stuck up, stupid face- stupid face? Okay maybe she was being a bit emotional if that was the best she could come up with- but he really was. He was a stupid face. The way his stupid face contorted into that smart-ass smile and he raised his stupid eyebrows all the way up to his stupid hairline and scoffed out his stupid laugh.

"ARHHHHH!!!!" She screamed again.

"Shut up." Someone called from another apartment and then a thud as though they'd thrown a shoe in her direction.

"Oops, sorry." She called back and sculked back to her mattress and lowered herself down onto it. Thank God, he's gone. Maybe I can get back to sleep.

The clock in her kitchen ticked. The darkness outside became light and the smell of coffee filled the streets and drifted in through the window that wouldn't close properly and still, she lay staring at the ceiling.

She thought she'd be glad to see him leave, but the weird feeling in her stomach said otherwise.

***

Cole had all but been ejected from Tess's apartment, she'd been uncomfortable with him seeing how she lived, he saw it in the way her eyes grew large and how she practically pushed him out the door. Or maybe it was because he let his hurt get the better of him and he acted like an ass.

Out in the hall, Cole leaned back against the door. He hated seeing Tess, it tortured him all over again and she looked just how he'd remembered her, beautiful and radiant. He hoped her spell over him would have been broken by now but she had a glow about her even before she was pregnant and it was even more evident now. Of course, her slim body had changed, he tried to avoid thinking of her milky white legs that looked like they went on forever even though she was only 5ft tall. He was captivated by her, from the first time he'd seen her at the ranch and despite their history, she was still totally enthralling.

That woman knew how to get under his skin like no one else but why did she have to be so darn stubborn? He'd hoped she'd be reasonable about this at least. Her apartment looked like something you'd see on the crime channel and it sure as hell wasn't a place to raise a child, especially not his child. He wouldn't allow it. He'd humored her this time but next time, if needed, he'd be more forceful. His eyes darted around the hall with the peeling, yellowed paint and stained carpet. It wasn't where he imagined she would end up. She was so vibrant and passionate and full of life and this place was anything but.

He meandered down the hall, hesitant to leave.

At least her apartment was clean but then, she was a maid so it was to be expected. It was more the other issues, such as safety. The neighborhood was rough. Then there was the lack of space inside the apartment it was ridiculous, even a family of rats would demand more space. Whoever convinced her to sign the lease on that place was a real shyster. Where would the child play for goodness sake?

"ARRHH." Cole jumped and spun to see Tess having one last go at him and smiled despite himself. She always did have to have the last say.

He wrapped his coat tighter around his shoulders and took the stairs two at a time. Breaking out onto the sidewalk he waited for his car to arrive. The driver was circling the block; Cole had rightfully expected not to be too long. A few moments later his black Mercedes came into view and crawled to a stop in the middle of the road. Cole strode over and got in, he raised the electric window between the back seat and the driver, wanting to be alone with his thoughts.

The cream leather seats creaked in protest as he lounged back and stretched out. If he was honest with himself, the biggest issue was that there was no room for him. Not in Tess's heart or in her home. He didn't want to live so far from his son. He needed to do whatever it took to see him every single day. The last thing he was going to be was an absent father like his own father had been.

He'd started shifting around his work schedule the minute his mother told him about the baby. There was no way he could tell Tess that. She'd take it the wrong way and practically have a nervous breakdown. He was due to start back from his time off next week but now, clearing his diary for another couple of weeks seemed like the best plan. There was no doubt in his mind, the baby was his and he needed time to process the situation. It may have even been Tess's reason for running. Time would reveal all, as long as he played his cards right.

Lights flashed past the windows as the car sped along towards his own apartment. The outlandish expense of it made him almost feel guilty, knowing how the mother of his child was living. He would need to be careful dealing with Tess, she was nobody's fool and he didn't want to spook her. For now, playing nice was his best tactic, the last thing he wanted was to endanger his unborn child by stressing Tess out. No, he would make life comfortable for her. So comfortable, the thought of leaving would be absurd. But staying calm was going to be his biggest challenge, how dare she keep this pregnancy a secret from him?

When the door to her apartment had swung open, it'd taken all his self-control not to lose his cool, seeing her standing there with her tousled hair and heavy eyes. Clearly, running out on him, without so much as a goodbye wasn't keeping her up at night. She looked like she hadn't a care in the world; well she did now. He was back in her life and would stop at nothing to get his son.