Claiming Her Heart by Lili Valente Page A

scared her half to death. “What do you mean he’s a wreck?”
    “He’s a mess. He can’t concentrate on his work, he’s a cranky asshole, and he acts like Miami is the seventh level of hell, not one of the most happening cities on the planet.” Rafe pulled a pack of cigarettes from his coat pocket. “I swear to God, he’s lost his mind. He’s even grown a beard if you can imagine. He looks like a serial killer.”
    “I didn’t know you smoked,” Erin said.
    “I don’t, but I’m thinking about starting.” He flicked a cigarette from the pack and placed it between his lips. “Got some women trouble of my own.”
    Erin’s brow furrowed. “Sorry to hear that, but you can’t smoke in here.”
    “Right. Sorry. So…” He stared at her over the coffee table, an expectant look in his eye.
    She shook her head. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
    “Say you’ll take this.” He reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out a plane ticket, which he handed over. “And use it.”
    Erin picked up the ticket and glanced at the destination. “You want me to go to Kauai with you?”
    “Oh, God. No.” He snatched the ticket back and fished around in his other pocket. “This is your ticket. Sorry, I’ve been up for two days.”
    “Miami,” Erin said, not even touching the ticket this time. Abby chose that moment to start snuffling and squirming in her crib.
    Thank. God. Saved by the baby.
    “Yeah, Miami. You should go. He needs you,” Rafe said, his voice sincere. “Believe me, I’m not the type to say that kind of thing unless it’s true. I’m worried about him.”
    Erin opened her mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, but still couldn’t sort out what to say.
    A part of her wanted to take the ticket and go to Blake, but the voice of reason wasn’t buying. Blake had made it clear he didn’t want a future with her, and he wasn’t the one who had shown up on her doorstep. If he’d really changed his mind and was miserable without her, wouldn’t he be here himself?
    “Mama,” Abby called in her sweet, sing-song morning voice. “Mama.”
    Erin smiled, knowing she’d never get tired of hearing that first thing in the morning. “Hold on, give me a few minutes.”
    She vaulted off the couch, scooping Abby up from her crib and pressing a kiss to her warm, soft neck before laying her on the changing table. As soon as Abby had a clean diaper, Erin propped her on her hip as she crossed to the tiny kitchenette to fix Abby’s bottle.
    The pediatrician had suggested Erin start buying the soy formula for toddlers, but she couldn’t bring herself to put Abby’s milk in a sippy cup. She wasn’t ready to let those baby bottle days go just yet, especially considering Abby was probably the only child she’d ever have. She didn’t want to have another baby on her own and she couldn’t imagine ever getting married again…unless it was to Blake.
    But that was yet another reason not to go to Miami. Blake had made it clear they had no future and hadn’t expressed any interest in being a father to another man’s child. He’d only held Abby for a few minutes before he’d fled the hotel room like he’d seen a ghost, not held a baby.
    “She’s beautiful. Looks just like you,” Rafe said, smiling as Erin settled back in on the couch with Abby on her lap.
    “Thanks.” She frowned as she handed the bottle over to Abby, who liked to hold it herself now that she was an entire year old. “But I have to tell you, Rafe, I’m surprised to see you. I didn’t get the feeling you liked me much.”
    “I didn’t,” he said, tapping his pack of cigarettes on his knuckles. “I thought you were using Blake to get your kid back.”
    “But now you’ve changed your mind?”
    He sighed. “I’ve changed my mind about a few things. Especially where the heart is concerned.” He paused, meeting her eyes. “You love him.”
    “More than anything, except Abby,” Erin said, not seeing the