Read Online Blitzed by the Brit: A Secret Baby Sports Romance by Jessica Ashe - Free Book Online Page B

drinks. She liked my accent, and next thing you know we’re back at my hotel. I never imagined having a child via a one night stand; I’m usually so careful. Not that I have any regrets. I mean, look at her; that is one cute little baby.”
    He’s right. I’ve been barely able to take my eyes off her this entire time, and that really is saying something when Charles is sitting opposite me. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have a child, but at least Charles has the money to look after her. Gemma is never going to want for anything—well, maybe a slightly more caring mother.
    “How often do you get to see her?”
    “Not as often as I’d like. There are lots of spontaneous visits like this though, so it works out okay. There are many parents who work so hard they don’t get to see their children as much as I do. I can’t complain, although she’d never leave my sight if I had my way.”
    “I’m sure you’re a great father,” I say softly. “Although you’re going to be a nightmare when she’s a teenager. I pity her boyfriends.”
    “Unfortunately she’s going to have plenty of ammunition to fire back at me if I stop her doing what she wants. Can you imagine me lecturing her on not having casual sex?”
    “Good point.”
    I can’t resist playing with Gemma some more, and I quickly find out that she’s ticklish on her feet. How do parents ever get anything done with these little bundles of joy around?
    “She has such a cute laugh,” I say while tickling the soles of her feet.
    “She has an evil laugh,” Charles replies. “Listen to this and tell me it isn’t the laugh of someone planning to kill me in my sleep.”
    Charles leans over and lifts up Gemma’s little shirt before blowing a loud raspberry on her belly. Charles is right. Gemma’s laugh doesn’t sound like the innocent laugh of a child; it sounds like the laugh of an evil genius who’s just caught James Bond and is about to explain her plan.
    “That’s scary,” I admit. “I’m starting to think she might turn out like her mother.”
    “No, I think Gemma’s more the evil genius type. Dana is just plain evil.”
    “Dana didn’t seem to like me very much. Is she worried about strange women being around her daughter.”
    “You’re not a strange woman,” Charles replies. “And despite what you might think about me, I don’t actually have a revolving door on my bedroom. Not since I moved to America anyway.”
    “Glad to hear it.”
    Charles raises an eyebrow. “You are?”
    “For Gemma’s sake,” I add. “Not because I’m jealous.”
    “Uh-huh. If you say so.”
    He stares at me with a knowing grin. He thinks I’m into him, and I wish I could tell him he’s wrong.
    Face facts, Rebecca. He’s an insanely good-looking, slightly cocky footballer, who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Oh and he has a cute baby.
    Charles isn’t the type of guy I should fall for. My relationship with Brian ended terribly; I need to learn the lessons from that. If I let myself get close to Charles, things will end a hell of a lot worse. I won’t just be embarrassed next time; I’ll be heartbroken.
    “We should get back to studying,” I suggest. “How about I bring all the books in here?”
    “If you insist.”
    “You need to study, and I need the money.”
    “Just say you tutored me all day. It’s not like I’m going to tell anyone.”
    “No, but I don’t trust that one there.” I nod towards Gemma who is still grinning. “She’ll rat me out the first chance she gets.”
    Charles and I gather up all the books and bring them into the living room so we can study and keep an eye on Gemma at the same time. I feel guilty for allowing us to get distracted. Charles has to do well in his exams, and it’s my job to make him study. If he fails his exams, it’s on me as much as on him.
    He’s not stupid. I’m not sure I’d go as far as to say he’s clever—not yet—but he’s definitely not stupid. When he does stop