Page 12 of Best Kept Secret

"It's not because I think there's something wrong; I just need to learn how to care for her. I need the help."

"I raised her without needing a psychologist," I snapped. "You can, too."

I knew I was getting defensive. What if they found out the truth—that I was a shitty parent? Because deep down, I suspected I was.

"Please, Mira. This is in no way any reflection on how you take care of Pari."

He now massaged my hand with his, evoking little tremors inside me. I was behaving like an ingenue ready to be seduced by the first rake who came along. This wasn't a fuckingBridgertonnovel.

"Who is this psychologist? How do you know them? When and where will this meeting take place?"

"Dr. Fallon Ashford has a well-respected practice downtown. She's a friend of mine, and I'm meeting with her later today todiscuss the best way and time for her to spend some time with Pari."

I took a deep breath. "I'll be there. I won't let Pari be alone with—"

"Miramashi, need to go potty." Pari came running to me.

I disengaged from Beau and grabbed Pari's hand to take her to the bathroom connected to our bedroom, where I'd already secured her potty chair.

While I waited for Pari to do her business, which was always an event, I considered what Beau had said. The DNA test made sense. I wasn't so sure about the psychologist. I had a feeling he wanted to assess how I was as a parent. I hated that, but he had every right to make sure I wasn't doing any damage to Pari.

"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe…." Pari sang nursery rhymes, and I joined her as I centered my thoughts. Nothing like sitting in a bathroom, waiting for Pari to poop, to make the epiphanies happen!

Chapter 5

Beau

When Pari took her nap, I left home to meet Fallon and talk to her about this new change in my life.

Our family doctor, Colby Mayfield had come by to the house to take a cheek swab from Pari and me. Mira had hovered around, obviously afraid of what all these changes meant for her role in Pari's life. I understood. I was Pari's parent—I would always have more rightsandresponsibilities than her when it came to my daughter. I also didn't know what the future would bring with Mira—but I wanted to assure her that Pari was in good hands with me.

Fallon had asked to meet at the SOHO South Café, which made me always feel like I wasnotin Savannah as its décor was unapologetically urban with an industrial vibe, better suited for New York than the historic downtown. It was a far cry from the stiff, upscale joints I usually frequented for business lunches, which was probably why Fallon had chosen it. She disliked all thebusinesshoopla, as she liked to call it, and had told me time and again my obsession with work was unhealthy. If I had to start worrying about my health, mental and physical, there was a long line of things I had to take into consideration, not including indiscriminate sex, alcohol, and my love of Cuban cigars.

I walked in and immediately spotted Fallon at a small table near the window, a faint smile playing on her lips as she looked up at me. She looked good—really good if I was being honest. She'd always had that effortless, polished vibe as she'd just stepped out of a magazine ad for success. But today, there was something softer about her—maybe it was the way her hair fell a little looser around her shoulders or the warmth in her eyes that seemed to brighten as I approached.

"Beau. It's been too long." She rose and gave me a warm hug that lingered longer than friends usually did, but then we'd been intimate in the past, so it made sense. I had no desire to rekindle a sexual relationship with Fallon. I liked that we'd moved past that. I enjoyed women—both in and out of bed. I had friends and lovers—not necessarily the same people. As I grew older, I preferred tolikethe women I took to bed, but sometimes, when I just needed to bust a nut, I didn't mind picking up a one-night stand at a bar.

"Thanks for seeing me, Fallon." I took a seat across from her. The menu was already on the table, but I didn't need to look at it. I'd been here enough times to know what I wanted. "How've you been?"

"Busy, but good," she replied. "How about you? I'm curious as to what's goin' on with you, baby."

I grinned. I knew she'd get a kick out of me becoming a dad all of a fucking sudden; and that, too, of a daughter. "I'm a father," I announced.

"Pardon me?" Her eyes all but popped out.

"Yeah, imagine how I feel," I joked.

"Beau?"

"I have a daughter. Just found out yesterday."

A server came by then, and we quickly ordered. I went with my usual—grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. Fallon ordered a salad, something light that she'd barely touch, if I remembered her habits correctly.

"Tell me," she prompted.

I leaned back in my chair, taking a moment to think before answering. "It's complicated as fuck," I stated and told her about Mira, Asha, and Pari.

"Oh my God!" She gaped at me. "You're a daddy?"