LITMIR.BIZ

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she’d imagined the connection between them in the cafeteria because Dane had better options than a harried single mother.

      Iris had just put Jayden to bed, and was finally ready to retire for the evening. But as she went into her bedroom, she decided there was one more thing she needed to do. Reaching for her purse, she pulled out the business card Dane had given her. Iris had never thought she’d have the opportunity to use it, but she felt compelled to thank him. Dr. Lee had told her donating was much easier these days and that they could do a peripheral blood stem cell donation, but it was still a procedure that might have some recovery time. Dane was a working actor, so it meant a lot that he was willing to make the personal sacrifice for Jayden’s benefit.

      Without thinking, she grabbed her iPhone and dialed his digits. He’s not going to pick up, she told herself, he’s not going to pick up. But he did.

      “Hello,” a deep masculine voice said from the other end of the phone.

      “Dane?”

      “Yeah?”

      “Hi, um, it’s…it’s Iris Turner. Jayden’s mother,” she began. “I hope it’s okay I called. You gave me your cell at the hospital—”

      “Iris,” he interrupted her, “relax. It’s fine. You’re not bothering me. I was hoping you’d call.”

      “Really?”

      “I assume you heard the good news. I’m a match for Jayden.”

      “Yes.” She breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t upset she’d phoned. “Dane, I’m so thankful you’re willing to donate.”

      “Of course I’ll donate. Jayden has his whole life ahead of him. I want the best for him.”

      “You do?”

      “Yes. I’ll clear my schedule whenever I’m needed.”

      “Thank you. Will you let me know when the procedure is? I’d like to come if that’s all right with you.”

      “Absolutely. It’s going to be okay, Iris. Jayden will pull through this. We’ll see to that,” Dane said.

      “You make it sound like we’re in this together.”

      “We are. I now have a vested interest in Jayden’s recovery.”

      “Is that all?” The moment the words were out of her mouth, Iris wanted to take them back, but she couldn’t. They lingered, floating on the air.

      There was silence for several beats, and Iris was wondering if she’d overstepped when Dane said, “No, it’s not all, Iris. I’ve thought of you often since our meeting.”

      “You have?” Nervous excitement raced through her veins. Had her initial intuition been right? Dane was interested in her?

      Dane chuckled. “Don’t sound so surprised. You’re a beautiful woman, Iris. I’m sure you know that.”

      “It’s been a while. We single moms don’t get very many compliments, especially not from America’s Sexiest Man Alive.”

      “Aw, don’t believe the hype, Iris. I’m a man like everyone else.”

      “Yeah, but you always have a beautiful woman on your arm.”

      “Those are hookups,” Dane admitted. “I don’t date. Not really. Because I don’t know if they’re after my money or if they really want me, you know?”

      “That’s terrible, Dane. How do you live with it?”

      “Not very well. I’m the actor everyone wants in their movie, but sometimes the whole machine of my reputation and brand swallows up the real me. Yet when I talk to you, all the chatter melts away and I feel like myself.”

      “I’m glad, but what about your family? Aren’t they there for you?”

      “No, not really. They have their lives and I have mine, but I do check in with them from time to time.”

      “I don’t know what I would do without my family,” Iris replied. “They keep me grounded.”

      “Then you’re lucky indeed,” Dane said. “Hold on a minute, Iris. What’s that?” Iris heard voices and realized he was talking to someone in the room with him, but couldn’t make out the conversation. When he returned, he said, “I have to go, Iris, but I’m glad I have your number now. I’ll save it in my phone. I’ll be seeing you soon.”

      “All right. And Dane?”

      “Yes?”

      “Thank you. You’re a lifesaver.”

      Dane sucked in a deep breath as he ended the call with Iris. Morgan had called him on the intercom and he’d used it as an excuse to get off the phone. Leaning back in the executive chair in his study, Dane stared at the ceiling. He hadn’t anticipated hearing her sweet voice again so soon, but he supposed he shouldn’t be surprised. Iris wanted to thank him for agreeing to donate his stem cells. What she didn’t know was that Jayden could be Dane’s son too.

      All that was left was the additional blood work and a DNA paternity test, but Dane didn’t need that. He’d felt an instant connection to Jayden from the start.

      But it was six years too late, in his opinion. He had a son who needed bone marrow. And his would save Jayden. Fate, the cosmos or something was sending him a message. He hadn’t figured out what it was yet.

      All he knew was that if he was going to be a father, he didn’t want to be like Henry Stewart. But was he being premature? Would he even be able to carve out a parenthood agreement with Iris? It was entirely possible she would fight him on any visitation arrangement, given that he was just a sperm donor.

      But perhaps the even bigger question was…how would this affect his career?

       Three

      Fallon, it’s Dane. I really need to see you. I’m flying into Austin tomorrow. In the throes of a full-blown panic attack, he’d called her in the wee hours.

      Now, as Dane boarded the private jet he’d anonymously booked to fly him to his hometown that morning, he thought back on recent events. He knew the voice mail he’d left for his older sister was cryptic, but he needed to talk to someone who knew him. Who understood him. Who would listen without judging. Iris was right. He needed his family. Fallon had always been his sounding board, so here he was, on his way to Austin.

      The flight was smooth. After renting a nondescript SUV, Dane drove through the city toward Fallon and his brother-in-law Gage Campbell’s home, which wasn’t far from Stewart Manor. No matter what, he couldn’t keep his mind from spinning.

      Deep in his gut, Dane knew he should tell Iris the likelihood that they shared a son, but quite honestly, he was afraid of her reaction. What if she refused to let him see Jayden? She might think he’d set all this in motion as a way to get closer to his son when that was far from the truth. He’d had no idea of Jayden’s existence until a two weeks ago, but that might not stop her from thinking the worst. He was already a scoundrel for the feelings he had for her.

      When she’d called him last night, they’d shared such an easy rapport. Dane hadn’t been able to talk to someone like he was just a normal guy in ages. Maybe it was the novelty factor. Iris wasn’t the kind of woman he usually dealt with. She wasn’t trying to flatter him or cozy up to him because she wanted a role in his next film. She just wanted to talk to him and it made Dane feel like everyone else, which had been sorely lacking in his world. Was that her appeal?

      When he arrived at the Campbell residence, he punched in the security code and the black wrought-iron gates opened. There was a long driveway leading

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