“I’m going to be here for a while. There’s a girl . . .”

“That’s sweet.”

He grinned. Women just ate this stuff up. “I need to know where the best restaurants are . . . the best places to spend the day. Getaways.”

“We’re talking romance?”

More than you know. “Exactly.”

“You have come to the right woman. I will have a complete list of the right . . . and maybe more importantly the wrong things to avoid in our city to woo your girl. Would you like a suggestion for tonight?”

He shook his head. “I’m fine for tonight.”

“I will have this ready for the morning.” She was already clicking into her computer.

“Alice?”

“Yes, Doctor?”

“How is it you knew my name?”

A Southern practiced smile met her lips. “It’s my business to know who you are, Dr. Eddy.”

His next stop was the reception desk. “Good evening, Dr. Eddy.”

He paused, shook off the strange Twilight Zone moment, and went on with business. “I’m going to be here for a while. If a reservation for my room is in place, please let me know so I can move. I know the Morrisons have cleared me to stay, but I really wouldn’t feel right about bumping anyone.”

“That’s so kind of you, Doctor. I’ll be sure and make a note. We do have more than one penthouse suite so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“But if there is . . .”

“I’ll be sure and let you know.”

“Thank you,” he said. “And another thing. Can I make sure that Dakota Laurens or any of her family are let up to my room without delay . . . day or night.”

“Absolutely.”

Operation Prove It was now under way.

Walt rode the elevator to the top floor more confident than when he’d left.

He stepped out and swiped his key in his door. He stopped cold. “I’m going to be a dad.”

Laughter . . . he heard someone laughing and he wondered for a nanosecond if he was listening to his own thoughts.

“Not the greeting I expected.”

“Trent!” Walt walked into the suite and closed the door. He shook his friend’s hand, took the man-hug that followed. “I’m going to be a dad.”

Trent kept laughing. “So I hear.”

A tiny person was going to look up to him, depend on him to be there day, night, school, first dates . . .

The room spun.

His ass hit the side of a chair before he slid into it.

“I’m going to be a dad.”

Laughter filled his ears. “You have no idea how much I wish my cell phone was on and recording this. Yes, Walt, you’re going to be a dad.”

Walt saw his friend but didn’t really see him. “That’s huge.”

“As life’s moments go. Yeah . . . huge.”

Walt shook off his moment of insanity and smiled. “Not that I’m not happy you’re here, but . . . why are you here?”

“My wife thought you might need a friend.”

He might not ever stop smiling. “Monica’s an amazing person. You’re one lucky bastard, Trent.”

“Damn right.” Trent walked to the en suite kitchen, opened the fridge. “What’s your poison, Dad?”

“Whiskey,” he said with a laugh.

“I take it your conversation with Dakota went well.”

Walt rubbed his hands over his face. “How much did Monica tell you?”

Trent laughed. “We’re married. I doubt she skipped any details. Had she talked with Dakota, I couldn’t say that . . . but that isn’t the case.”

“Dakota didn’t kick me out. We came to some agreement.”

“That’s a start.”

“I don’t think her parents liked me.”

Trent paused while he opened tiny bottles of liquor. “You impregnated their daughter. Probably puts you on their shit list.”

“They don’t know she’s pregnant.”

Trent poured drinks and brought them to the sofa. “Then all they have to go on is, she left LA because of you. Still won’t make you top on their list.”

Walt accepted the drink and let the liquid hit the back of his throat. “I’m going to have to change that.”

“Change what?”

“The fact her parents don’t like me. They’re going to like me a hell of a lot less when they find out she’s pregnant. What parent wants their baby pregnant and unwed?” He wasn’t even a dad yet and Walt felt a severe case of hives coming on.

They sat in silence for a small space of time, then Trent asked, “Can I ask you something personal?”

“Seems we passed that.”

Trent sipped his drink. “Do you love her?”

Walt sucked in a breath. “How the hell do you know when you’re in love?”

“Aw, hell. I remember that. You don’t know . . . you think of her all the time, wonder what she’s doing. Something inside you dies a little when you know she’s not going to take your call. I think the biggest deciding factor is just in knowing that moving on without her is so fucking dark you can’t see straight.”

“Damn.” Trent just described the last week of his life. “I’m in.”

Trent placed a finger under Walt’s glass, helped him tip it to his lips. “Drink up, buddy . . . and welcome to the club.”