Chapter 3

When Wade heard me talking about finding a husband, his ears turned red.

I couldn't help but tease him, "Weren't you on a blind date? Why are you getting all shy now?"

Wade glanced up at me, then quickly lowered his head. "It's not the same. Before, I was trying to find a mom for the kid, a contract marriage. But now..."

He shot me another look, and his cheeks flushed red.

Were all fresh-out-of-school college guys really this adorable?

The matchmaker, who had been waiting for me in the next room, finally came over when I didn't return.

She smiled and said, "Ms. Sterling, about that Platinum upgrade..."

I waved her off. "No need. And you don't have to refund my membership fee."

Even though the guys they set me up with weren't exactly top-tier, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have come here and met Wade. At least my membership fee went to a good cause.

When the matchmaker heard I wasn't upgrading, her smile froze for a second. Her commission was gone. But when I said I didn't want a refund, she perked up again.

She glanced at Wade and me. "Hope you two have a lifetime of happiness together."

With that, she made a quick exit. Maybe she was afraid I'd suddenly regret not asking for my money back.

Come on. I was not the type to go back on my word.

I turned to Wade again to confirm. "So, you'll move in with me and stay home to look after the kid full-time. Are you sure you're good with that?"

Wade glanced at me, then quickly dropped his gaze and nodded.

Beautiful wife, acquired.

I looked at Wade's flushed face and decided to take him for a physical that afternoon. I only wanted a healthy wife.

It was already getting late, so I took Wade to a nearby restaurant.

After we ordered, the shrimp looked really good, so I added another plate.

While we waited for our food, we got to know each other a bit better.

I found out Wade lost both his parents when he was young, and it was his older sister who raised him.

He'd barely graduated before his sister and her husband died in a car crash, leaving him with a two-year-old baby to take care of.

So he ended up juggling deliveries and caring for his nephew.

After he finished, I could only sigh. Poor guy. Fate sure loved kicking people when they were down.

I told Wade I used to work on Gold Avenue, and now I was a senior exec at a big group.

Soon, the food arrived. It was the kind of pretty, Instagram-worthy meal I love.

I snapped pics of the dishes and posted them online.

My phone started blowing up with notifications, so I replied to a few friends and coworkers without thinking too much about it.

Wade sat there quietly, waiting for me.

The more I looked at him, the more satisfied I felt. I served him some food. "Help yourself, eat more."

Wade's cheeks flushed. "Thank you, Ms. Sterling."

I rested my chin in my hand, watching him.

Wade ate the food I'd served, sneaking a peek at my glittery fingertips before slipping on a pair of gloves and starting to peel the shrimp.

Once he finished, he lined up the fat, juicy shrimp neatly on the plate.

He gently slid the plate over to me. No need to ask what he meant.

I smiled. "Did you peel these for me?"

He nodded, glanced at my blinged-out nails, and murmured, "Those nails make it tricky."

I hadn't brought him home yet, and I was already getting pampered?

Without hesitation, I speared a shrimp with my fork, swirled it through the sauce, and popped it in my mouth. So good.

*****

After we finished eating, I hopped in the car and drove Wade straight to the hospital.

Wade looked totally confused.

I stayed calm. "Work's been stressing me out, so I'm getting a checkup to see if I'm still in good shape. Might as well have you checked out, too."

I quietly booked him a men's clinic appointment and flagged it as important.

When Wade came out of the checkup, his cheeks, ears, and neck were all flushed red.

I pulled out my phone. "Let's add each other on WhatsApp. I'll send you the results when they're ready."

Wade scrambled for his phone, and we quickly added each other on WhatsApp.

I looked at him. "Anywhere you wanna go?"

Wade shook his head, looking a little unsure.

Was I really that scary?

I sighed, a bit exasperated, and said, "Just speak up. I'm basically family now, you don't have to hold back."

Wade looked at me. "My nephew only has me left. He's going to live with me from now on. But I'll treat them equally. I'll take good care of your child and him both."

Wait, what? I didn't have a kid.

Seeing the sincerity in his amber eyes, I was totally speechless, and a little amused. "My kid?"

Wade pressed his lips together. "This morning, you said I would be a full-time stay-at-home and take care of the kid."

Then it hit me. He thought I already had a kid.