Sweet and Sassy Baby Love Read online

  “Are you listening to me, Em?”

  “Oh, sorry. I’m just really tired tonight.”

  “Well, this should perk you up a bit. Not only does Mr. Dresner still look like a million bucks, but he is also worth a few million now. He recently bought a big house somewhere in the Hamptons and has another place in Manhattan.”

  Em shrugged it off, sipped some coffee and gave the old, “Like I care.”

  “Maybe you should.” Ivy cocked an eyebrow. “He asked about you.”

  “Did you tell him I have a daughter now?”

  “Yeah, and he said ‘Em’s married?’ like he was shocked the free spirit who always said she would never marry bit the bullet.”

  “Except marriage requires a husband.” Em polished off the last bite of her pie. “I bet the fact that I have a kid but never married was an even bigger shocker.”

  “I didn’t say it that way to him. I just said you and your daughter’s father parted ways. Which is the truth.”

  And he wants us to un-part. Em wondered if Matt actually did have something important he needed to tell her or if it was just a way to manipulate her.

  “You’re not listening again,” Ivy said, waving her hand in front of Em’s face. “I said Brandt asked me for your phone number and if you were seeing anyone. I think you should go out with him. Aside from his great looks and mega-moolah, he is big in real estate and he might be able to help you figure something out around the bait and tackle shop.”

  “Oh. That is a great idea, Ivy.”

  “Then I assume you won’t kill me when I tell you I already gave him your number.” She sat back and grinned like the Cheshire cat.

  ***

  At first, Brandt surprised Em. She didn’t think he was the type who would date a woman with a child. Or be as modest about his success as he was. It made her feel guilty because she was not really looking for a boyfriend. Aside from being a single mother with no time on her hands, for the last several years she had been wrestling over being in love with Matt as well as hating him. So Em was not exactly motivated to go out with any men except as friends or to learn something from them. And tonight’s date was kind of both.

  She told herself she was not using Brandt. That she would allow for the possibility of a relationship. But who said Brandt wanted anything more than a roll in the sack with her anyway? So how could it hurt if she picked his brain for some advice about her situation with the bait and tackle shop?

  “You are lucky to have a father willing to do babysitting duty,” he said.

  “Yep, I think so too.”

  “Sadie’s a cutie. Like her mom.”

  “Thank you,” Em said, realizing how long it had been since she’d received any compliments from a man. Could that be why she practically mauled Matt in her living room a few days ago?

  Brandt let out a soft chuckle. “I confess I was curious to see if you still had that hot body now that you’ve hit the three-O mark. And with a kid and all, most women start putting it on and getting all lumpy.”

  O-kay. What’s a girl supposed to say to that? “Actually I’ve got another six months to go before my thirtieth.”

  “Been there, done that,” he said.

  “Well, you are looking pretty good there yourself, old man.” And that was the truth. Ivy was right. This guy had good genes with that symmetrical kind of handsome face you find on most models.

  His hand reached over the table, a finger stroking her forearm. Guess her comment encouraged him. He was giving her a silent look that she assumed was meant to be sexy. But it only made her wish she had driven in her own car to meet him here rather than letting him pick her up. She had foolishly assumed he would take her somewhere in the North Fork. But Brandt had driven to the ferry and headed to the South Fork’s fancy shmancy high-end territory of Southampton. Which just happened to be where he had a beachfront home. Anyone for a little…dessert?

  The experience made her feel a bit awkward. She stared down into her plate of Shinnecock sea scallops and dug in. She was about to start her questions about his work in the real estate market, when Brandt made a gagging sound.

  “This wine sucks.” He placed his glass down on the table. After wiping his mouth and swallowing his catch, Brandt committed the ultimate sin to any member of the food serving industry—he snapped his fingers at the waiter. “Yo, dude. Get over here.”

  The twenty-something man with a shaved head and short dark beard walked up to the table. “Is there something wrong?”

  “This wine. Where’d you get it? From a vineyard in the South Bronx? Or how about North Philly? I hear they get a special discount from the harvest down there.”

  “I’m sorry, sir. If there is another you’d prefer I can—”

  “Let me see the list again,” Brandt said, sounding disgusted. “Give me this other cabernet. The one from France. None of this home-grown crap.”

  Em didn’t say a word. Truth was, the North Fork produced great wines. Like the one she had been enjoying until Brandt had a hissy fit.

  He passed the wine list back to the waiter, then flashed Em a self-satisfied smirk to cap off his mighty demonstration of muscle flexing at the expense of some guy struggling to make a living. Brandt clearly had no clue that his kingly performance had earned him a simple two-word review from Em—total ass.

  After the new wine was sampled and served, Em moved into the reason she had accepted this date. “So, you buy and sell properties both in the city and out on the East End?”

  “Yes, and I love it. Funny because last time we saw each other I think I was trying to become a programmer. And you were studying anthropology.”

  Em laughed. “You’ve got me mixed up with someone else.”

  Brandt shrugged. “Hey, many years, many babes.”

  No, he did not just say what she thought she heard, did he? “Well, it was graphic design. I have a small freelance business now, although when I lived in Philadelphia I was working in-house for a marketing firm.”

  “You should email me your brochure. I might be able to send some clients your way.”

  “Thanks. I would appreciate that.” She took a drink of wine. “So, are you familiar with commercial space in the Greenport area?”

  “Sure am.”

  And they were off and running, with Em finally asking him to look into her father’s lease and the sale of the store property and advise her on what there options were since the landlord refused to give them more time and the bank was not too eager to lend them money to make a move.

  To his credit, Brandt dove into the issues like a pro and seemed to relish giving her answers, warnings, and advice as he logged into his insider account and searched for things on his phone. She was actually starting to feel more positive about the situation—until Brandt gave her the name of the company that bought the building.

  “Rocklyn Winery Associates,” he said, looking down at the small screen.

  “Wh-what? Did you say Rocklyn? As in R-O-C-K-L-Y-N?”

  “That’s right.”

  The scallops in her belly threatened a revolt. Could Matt not be aware that his father bought the property? “Do you know whose name is on that? Was it Matthew Rocklyn Sr.?”

  “Let me check. Michael and two Mathews. Senior and junior.”

  Em’s hand flew to her mouth. She got up and ran to the ladies’ room where she vomited up her dinner, her heart as upset as her stomach.

  She felt bad when Brandt chewed out the restaurant’s manager, blaming their meal for giving her seafood poisoning.

  But at least she had a good excuse for not wanting to go to his beach house for a nightcap.

  Chapter Five

  Matt spent the afternoon with his Uncle Michael and a real estate agent looking at other commercial spaces in the Greenport area. Although Matt did not think the bait and tackle shop space was so great—but the location was—the properties they saw today were even less appealing. And Matt knew the only way he could budge his father was to have a better deal
for the planned wine bar.

  When they left the realtor, Michael said, “We can try another agent tomorrow. I’m sure we both have loads of other work to do back at the vineyard this afternoon.”

  “True,” Matt said, secretly trying to figure out a way to meet with Em again. She had an unlisted phone number, but the last time he checked into the bait and tackle store, she was at lunch and he spoke to the same kid again. This time he left his card with his number on it. She didn’t call him, and Matt wasn’t sure if it was because her father saw his card and threw it out, or because she meant it when she said “this will never happen again” and just did not want to see him.

  “How is the new line of chardonnay coming along?” Michael asked.

  “It is gonna be great,” Matt said, then pointed to a bistro on their left. “You hungry? We never ate lunch and it’s almost four.”

  “Yeah. Definitely time for some food.”

  They headed inside The Blue Albatross and found a table. “They carry several Rocklyn wines here,” Michael said. “I got this account last year. The guy who owns the place used to be a New York City fireman.”

  “Wow. Is that him coming our way?”

  Michael stood. “Phil. Nice to see you.”

  The two men shook hands and chatted about the wines he’d ordered and which the customers liked best. Matt knew he should be paying attention. After all, these were his babies they were discussing. But he could not get his mind off Em. The feel of her body underneath his felt like going home. The sound of her voice, the scent of her skin, the intelligence in her eyes. How could he have been so stupid to lose her? While he wanted to blame his father, it was he himself who was responsible for hurting her.

  “This is my nephew Matt Rocklyn, the man who designs most of the wines,” Michael said, leading Phil to the table. “Matt, this is Phil Sheehan, owner and head chef.”

  Matt stood and shook the man’s extended hand. “Michael tells me I can’t leave without trying your North Fork clam chowder. And I am a born and bred NoFo boy, so I’ll know if it is the real deal.”

  Phil laughed. “Uh-oh. This one might have a touch of Brooklyn in it.”

  Matt laughed. “So, I hear you like my pinot noir.”

  “Ooh, that sounds dirty,” said a short, dark-haired waitress that Phil introduced as Gayle. She gave Matt a flirty grin as she placed menus and bread on the table.

  Despite the bantering, they managed to order their lunch. Matt got crab-stuffed mushrooms, grilled chicken salad, and of course the North Fork clam chowder. Michael stuck with a fish and chips platter.

  Since it was still afternoon, both had coffee, to the waitress’s surprise. “I thought, being wine aficionados you would either want to try something new or get one of your own.”

  “My father would,” Matt said. “He always wants to check out the competition.”

  As the meal progressed, Phil brought a few special dishes to their table for them to try—and accepted Matt’s praise for his creamy chowder. As they talked and Phil told them he was an avid fisherman, Matt couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Do you get your supplies at Jack’s Bait and Tackle?”

  “Do I?” Phil said. “That man knows more about fishing than anyone I ever met. He is the fisherman’s Yoda. And my mentor.”

  Michael surprised Matt when he said, “Then I guess you would be upset if he has to move or maybe even close.”

  Phil lowered his voice. “So you heard about the building being sold? Is Jack a friend of yours too?”

  Matt jumped in, afraid his uncle might reveal they were the villains in this drama. “I’ve known Jack and Em for many years.”

  Phil shook his head. “Well, I am heartsick over it. Jack has run that place and been a part of this neighborhood for thirty years. And with this town getting popular the rents are going up. He and Em don’t have the means to just choose another place and start up again.”

  Phil got called away by one of his workers, and Gayle came and cleared their plates. She had obviously heard the conversation, because she chimed in with, “The Cliffords are such sweet people. Little Sadie Clifford goes to daycare with my son and she is just adorable.”

  Matt figured Gayle had them mixed up with another family, but Michael said, “Sadie Clifford? I didn’t know Jack had another child.”

  “Sadie is Em’s little girl.”

  The fork Matt had lifted toward his mouth froze in space. Em’s little girl? Michael gave him lifted eyebrows. When Matt recovered, he asked, “How old is Em’s little girl now?”

  Gayle tilted her head with a mother’s smile. “She’s three and a half. Same as my Tommy.”

  Three and a half years, plus nine months…

  Imploding inside, Matt did not need to ask Gayle why the little girl’s last name was Clifford or if she knew who the father was. Because, aside from not wanting to look like a nosy ass, he was pretty sure he already knew who Sadie’s father was.

  ***

  Matt found Em’s car parked near the bait and tackle shop and waited for her, having told his uncle to go on home without him. He knew the shop would close at six today and hoped she didn’t stay late to do inventory or something. But even if she did, Matt intended to be here when she came out, no matter what time it was.

  Dusk had fallen and with it the air took on a deeper chill. Some people walking through the parking lot looked at him standing there next to a car but not getting in and no doubt wondered if he was up to no good.

  By the time Em appeared, he was so cold that he had to clench his teeth to keep them from chattering. She sauntered toward her Camry and stopped short when she saw him, a frown on her face.

  Well, there was his answer as to whether or not he could have stopped in the store to set up a meeting with her. And now he was glad he did not confess to the property purchase and pledge his devotion to finding a new place so her dad could stay. Now that he knew she was deceiving him he might need that bit of leverage to use on her if she thought she was going to continue hiding his own child from him.

  Matt stepped up to her and said, “We’ve got some talking to do.”

  “I do not have anything to say to you.”

  “Oh, yes, you do. Let’s get in the car so we don’t make a scene in public.”

  “I am not getting in any car with you. I don’t even want to know you. Go hang out with someone who will fall for your lies. Someone who likes to play those games you are so skilled at.”

  “And that is not you?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then what kind of game are you playing by hiding my daughter from me?”

  Her face went pale. She looked down at the ground, then at him, then clicked the fob to open her car doors. Thinking she might try to drive off, Matt quickly went to the passenger side and got in.

  But when she slid into the driver’s seat she just sat there staring at the car’s dashboard. Her usual feisty combative energy was gone. And while she clearly was trying to hide it, her face, her whole being seemed overwhelmed with a sadness so deep it pierced his heart.

  Matt softened his tone. “I noticed your father was not in the store just now. Does that mean he is taking care of Sadie?”

  Em nodded, but still did not look away from the dashboard.

  Then you have time to talk?”

  She nodded again.

  “Do you want to talk here or go somewhere quiet for coffee?”

  Instead of answering his question, she turned to him and said, “What was I supposed to do? You didn’t just say you wanted space or wanted to break up—either of those might have given me some hope that we might get back together. No, Matt, you told me you were already engaged to marry another woman.”

  “Maybe if you had told me you were pregnant, I would have—”

  “What? What would you have done? Cancelled the wedding? Don’t bullshit me, Matt. If we are going to discuss this we have to be completely honest.”

  “I wouldn’t have left you stranded, Em. I would hav
e supported you.”

  She snorted. “Oh, you mean me and my daughter could have been your dirty little secret. Nope. No way. My daughter deserved better than that. She wasn’t going to be the illegitimate daughter of the landowner’s mistress.”

  “Stop it, Em. You know I loved you. Maybe I would have broken up with Nicole and married you.”

  “Broken up with the girl who’d been your sweetheart for years before you ever met me? The girl your parents adored? The daughter of another vineyard owner who happened to be your dad’s buddy? She fit right in with your life, Matt. And I didn’t. You told me that when you broke up with me.”

  “I said that?”

  “Yes.”

  He rubbed his hand over his face, horrified at what she must have felt when he said those things, knowing she was pregnant with his child. “I’m so sorry, Em. I had spent that year being so reckless and undisciplined that when my dad had the heart attack on our trip I felt guilty and it spun my head around.”

  “I remember. You said you were afraid he might die. You said he looked up at you from his sickbed and asked you to marry Nicole, join the two families, and take over the vineyard and winery for him. You told me that it was your duty as his son.”

  “Yeah, I thought it was time for me to settle down and…”

  “And take your place as the crown prince of the Rocklyn Winery. So after hearing that, how was I supposed to come out and say, ‘oh, by the way, I’m pregnant’?

  He reached for her, but she put her hands up and leaned back away from him.

  “Look, Matt, I remember you telling me about all the pressure you felt as the oldest son and I had seen what a strong and domineering nature your father had. I knew how much your father’s approval meant to you.”

  “But for God’s sake, I was thirty years old. You’d think I could have made my own decisions about my life. Trouble was, for my first twenty-nine years, all I lived for was pleasing and obeying my father and living up to his expectations.”

  “Until that buddy of yours died.”

  “Yeah. David’s death set me off on a rebellious spree. I was a mess. I’m not proud of some of the things I did back then. Drinking and whoring it up and neglecting my responsibilities at the vineyard. But it brought me to you, Em.” He looked up at Em, her beautiful face, the one he knew he wanted to look at when he woke up each day. “We might never have met otherwise. You were the one who gave me whatever it was I was looking for. Who straightened me out and got me up and running again.”