Free Accidental Father by Nancy Robards Thompson Page A

deep red carpet, straining his ears, hoping to hear her say something in response, anything to indicate that she was willing to comply.
    The lead hotel security guard, a tall, wiry man, put his hand up to the Bluetooth radio set on his left ear. “Apparently, she called the front desk to ask for security to be sent to her room,” he told them. “They told her that security was already there and asked her to open the door.”
    As if the security guard had uttered the magic words, the hotel room door creaked opened a crack.
    â€œAlex,” she said, “why are you doing this? You must have some idea of how much it will upset Liam.”
    Julianne still had the security latch on the door so that it couldn’t be opened from the outside without considerable force, although there were ways around that contraption, ways that weren’t cordial or quiet, but ways in, nonetheless.
    Alex had made it clear to the hotel’s security team that this was a nonviolent intervention. It would remain so, unless he instructed otherwise.
    â€œI’m very sorry,” he said to Julianne, looking her straight in the eye she used to peep out the door crack. And truly he was. These certainly weren’t the conditions under which he’d hoped and imagined he’d find himself in a hotel with this woman. “Why did you decide to leave Paris early? And without telling me?”
    â€œBecause I wanted to avoid exactly this situation.” She said. “How did you find out I was leaving?”
    Even through the slit in the door, he could see the stress in her eyes. “The Secret Service was alerted when you changed your flight. I can only assume that you weren’t aware that Paris authorities recognize St. Michel law. They won’t let you take Liam out of the country.”
    â€œI want to talk to someone at the U.S. Embassy,” she hissed.
    â€œJulianne, it won’t matter. My name is on Liam’s birth certificate. I am his father. I want him to stay. I am inviting you to stay with him. I’m not trying to take him away from you. But for this to work out, you have to open the door.”
    She hesitated, and he could see the tears flowing down her cheeks. He had such an urge to reach out and wipe them away, to gather her in his arms and let her cry on his shoulder. It killed him to think that he was the cause of those tears. But this stubborn woman had given him no alternative.
    He stepped closer to the door, leaned his head against the jamb so that the only thing separating them was the door’s small opening. Surprisingly, she didn’t move away.
    â€œI’m sorry.” His voice was as quiet. “I knowit must look ominous with all these men outside your door, but I won’t let anything bad happen to you. They’re not going to arrest you or harm you or even separate you from Liam. You are welcome to go anywhere he goes. I want you to come with us. I just need you to let me in.”
    He didn’t know where the words came from—some untapped place in his heart he never knew existed. And why? Because she was good for Liam? Because maybe in some way he’d never expected or experienced, she might be good for him, too?
    She was sobbing now, her head against the door frame. He could feel the warmth of her sweet breath on his lips. He let her cry for a moment, until her sobs had subsided. Then he reached through the crack in the door and wiped away a meandering tear.
    â€œAsk them to leave and I’ll let you in, Alex. Only you.”
    Without hesitation, he turned to his colleagues. “Could you give us a moment?”
    There was some hesitancy, some murmured discussion about whether this was a prudent move. But finally security dispersed, covering all viable exits. After all, she was on the sixth floor. There were no balconies and no fire escapes in the room. The only way she was getting out was througha hotel door. Even though she was stubborn and