Page 42 of His Surrender

“I guess that’s a yes.”

Aubrey smiles as she stands, brushing invisible lint from her leggings. “She was in a great mood today.”

“Any excitement?”

“Just one blowout diaper.”

I groan. “That’s all?”

“Oh, and she discovered she can grab my hair.”

“Already causing trouble.”

“Definitely your daughter.”

I laugh, bouncing Liana gently against my shoulder.

Before I can ask Aubrey anything else, the elevator chimes behind me.

I frown. “I’m not expecting anyone.”

The doors slide open.

Sawyer strides into the foyer with the confidence of someone who’s been in my apartment dozens of times over the years.

“Seriously, Dean?” he says before the doors have even closed behind him. “You left at five again and wouldn’t answer your⁠—”

He stops the moment his eyes land on me. They move to the baby in my arms, then Aubrey standing a few feet away.

Silence fills the penthouse.

I watch his face as he tries to make sense of what he’s seeing. His eyes act like pinballs, bouncing around my place, which is now filled with baby stuff.

Finally, his gaze returns to Liana.

“Dean.”

“Hi,” I choke out.

“What”—he points at the tiny human currently chewing on my tie— “is that?”

I glance down at Liana. “This?”

He stares at me. “Don’t play games with me.”

I sigh. “Her name’s Liana.”

Sawyer blinks rapidly. His eyebrows climb halfway up his forehead. “Dean”—his voice drops— “whose baby is that?”

I meet his stare. “Mine.”

The color drains from his face. “What?”

“She’s my daughter.”

He lets out a disbelieving laugh. “No.”

“Yes.”