Read Online Having My Baby by Theresa Ragan - Free Book Online Page A

life.”
    “I never realized you were so eager to be a father,” Jake chimed in.
    “He didn’t have much of a choice in the matter, now did he?” Cliff argued.
    “I didn’t know how I would feel about it either,” Derrick said, “but once I held my son in my arms, I knew that not only did I need to be there for him, I want to be in his life. I want to see him take his first steps and hear his voice when he says his first words. I want to help him with his homework and throw him a ball at the park. I want to coach him if he decides to play sports and I want to get to know his friends. I want it all.”
    It was quiet for a long moment.
    He could tell by the look in his brothers’ eyes that he’d said too much, but he didn’t care. Something about being a father had brought out a mushy side to him he hadn’t known existed.
    “And if Jill sees that you’re a nice guy, then what?” Jake asked.
    “I have no idea.”
    Brad shook his head. “What kind of woman would keep a father from his son? So many deadbeat dads out there and then you come along, a guy who wants to be a part of his son’s life, and she turns her back on you. I don’t get it.”
    “She’s confused,” Derrick told them. “From what I’ve picked up on so far, an incident in her past has left her a little bitter toward men. She didn’t plan on having her donor show up at her doorstep, which is why I need to show her that Ryan needs me in his life. I have no intention of taking him away or making her life miserable.”
    “It’s a complicated situation,” Cliff agreed.
    “What does Jill look like?” Jake asked.
    Derrick thought about the first time he saw Jill. All he saw was her belly, at least until she kissed him. He hadn’t thought a whole lot about the kiss until now: sexy eyes, full lips, expressive face. “She’s cute. Nice, shiny hair; straight white teeth; doesn’t wear much makeup.”
    “Not your type, huh?” Cliff asked.
    “I don’t have a type,” Derrick said.
    All three of his brothers laughed at once.
    Jake snapped his fingers. “I know what you need to do.”
    Brad chuckled. “This ought to be good.”
    “Get her to like you,” Jake said. “You know, make her want you, flirt with her, give her compliments, and bring her flowers for no reason at all. Women love that.”
    Derrick grunted. “I don’t want to lead her on.”
    “Fine. Whatever,” Jake said with a shrug. “You can always use my idea as a backup plan.”
    “Nothing about this situation is going to be smooth sailing,” Brad said as Derrick and Cliff headed for the closest truck and began untying the ropes tied across the furniture.
    “What if Jill decides to let you into Ryan’s life? And then down the road you find out she wants him to go to an all boys’ school—”
    “Over Derrick’s dead body,” Cliff interjected.
    “What if she gives Ryan a little baby tattoo?” Jake went on, trying to stir up trouble.
    “Nobody gives a baby a tattoo,” Brad said.
    Cliff shook his head. “That’s not true. The nephew of a good friend of mine owns his own tattoo shop and he gave his baby a tattoo.”
    “Jill wouldn’t do that,” Derrick said, although nobody was listening.
    “What if she signs him up for dance lessons?”
    Jake looked appalled. “Do they allow boys to take ballet lessons?”
    “No nephew of mine is wearing tights,” Brad said.
    Derrick raised a hand. “You’re all getting yourselves worked up for nothing. Ryan isn’t even a week old. Besides, if the boy wants to dance, I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
    All three of them got another good laugh at that.
    Derrick felt a headache coming on.
    “Is she breastfeeding?” someone asked.
    Derrick had watched her feed Ryan from a bottle, and he recalled Lexi’s comment about Derrick not liking his mommy’s boobies. “I don’t think so.”
    “I overheard Grandma telling Mom that she hopes Jill is breastfeeding because otherwise the baby could turn out to be…not