My Baby's Daddy

Chapter 66

The downpour didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon. Looking over at the man on the couch, Anastasia offered, “I’ll get you an umbrella right away.”

However, Elliot eyed her in mild amusement as he said matter-of-fačtly, “I’m staying here for the night.”

Stunned, she blinked at him for a moment and asked, “Why?”

“Because Jared needs me.” As if to make a point, Elliot stroked Jared’s head with his large palm like he was some kind of guardian deity, and the little one looked up at him with an imploring expression and begged, “Mr. Presgrave, Mommy and I are terrified of lightning and thunder, so can you please stay with us and keep us safe for the night?”

Anastasia immediately interjected, “Absolutely not, Jared. I’m more than capable of keeping you safe during the storm.”

“But you’re terrified of thunder too, Mommy!” Jared argued, mercilessly calling her bluff.

“I am not. I’m just—” She was about to make her case when the universe, determined to prove her wrong, called upon yet another bout of lightning that slithered past the sky and tore through the night. As always, this was followed by another violent clap of thunder.

She shuddered, flinching as she clasped her hands to her ears quickly.

the thunder and looked at Elliot, and she did not miss the amusement glittering in his eyes. Flushing, she mumbled through gritted teeth, “Bottom line is that you can’t stay

as the thunder stops,” he

in resignation, “Fine, then. You can’t go

with Jared and headed back into her bedroom. When she saw the undergarment that he had retrieved earlier, she was seized with the urge to kick herself. Of all the things to drop

urged everyone to stay safe because it was

stay here for the whole night? If everyone finds out that we spent the night together at my place, the rumor mill will have a field day

the apartment’s limited space, she

the bathroom by his mother so that he could wash up for bed. A while later, Anastasia emerged from the

then, Anastasia’s phone beeped with a new message. Jared immediately grabbed her phone and keyed in the pin before

eyes as he bent to read Nigel’s message, which was clearly penned out of concern as it read, ‘Anastasia, are you and Jared alright? Do you need me to go over and keep you

a text, so he set the phone down and busied himself with his Legos once more. Elliot reached for the pink phone, and with his long fingers clutching the device, he typed

that did not deter Nigel from his enthusiastic efforts. ‘You know I’m just

isn’t suitable for you to drop by right now, came Elliot’s reply as his

suitable? I stayed over at your place plenty of times while

was as stormy as the sky outside as he thought, Which

to do is say yes and I’d be more than happy to take care of you and Jared