Neighbor's Secret Baby

NEIGHBOR’S SECRET BABY AN ENEMIES TO LOVERS SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE ANNE MARTIN Copyright © 2023 by Anne Martin All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Cover design by GetCovers. CONTENTS 1. Noah 2. Noah 3. Everett 4. Noah 5. Noah 6. Everett 7. Noah 8. Everett 9. Noah 10. Everett 11. Noah 12. Noah 13. Everett 14. Noah 15. Everett 16. Noah 17. Everett 18. Noah 19. Everett 20. Noah Epilogue CHAPTER ONE NOAH Northern California’s lofty pine trees flew past the window as apprehension spread throughout my body with each passing mile. A burst of giggles pulled my attention from the road ahead of me to the rearview mirror, where I spied Milo in his car seat. The oversized, noise-canceling headphones nestling against his dark brown curls looked comically large compared to his slight frame. He had his iPad propped in his lap, watching one of the many movies I downloaded to occupy him during our six-hour trip from Portland to Cedar Grove. Another anxious breath escaped me, and I mindlessly drummed my fingers against the steering wheel. I didn’t think returning home would be this hard, but I couldn’t shake the nerves increasing the closer we got. Since getting pregnant with Milo six years ago, I had come home less than a handful of times. The only occasions I’d made the trip had been for funerals or emergencies, and even then, I’d been cautious, ensuring Milo and I were there only as long as needed. My parents visited us for the holidays, or we took vacations together somewhere tropical. But, no matter what, I usually avoided Cedar Grove. This time, it was different, however. My father called a week ago to tell me that my mother had broken her leg a few days prior and would require surgery. Running our family business, a combined bookstore and cafe͑, and nursing my mother back to health had proven more difficult than he thought it would be. I’m not sure what came over me, but before I had time to think it through, I’d offered for me and Milo to stay with them and help out while she recovered. His shock at my offer had stung a little, no matter how warranted it was. I wished I could explain why I’d kept my distance all these years. Not from them, just from Cedar Grove, in general. But that was a truth I couldn’t risk. I looked in the rearview mirror once more to where Milo was kicking his feet, oblivious to my stare. He looked enough like me; his dark hair and his bright green eyes mirror images of mine. His other features, though, were purely his father’s. He was young enough that I didn’t think anyone would make the connection, especially if we were careful. Plus, as far as anyone in Cedar Grove was concerned, my parents included—Milo’s father was a man I slept with in college who ran when he found out I was pregnant. As long as I didn’t give them a reason to look too closely, I didn’t think anyone would stop to question that. I pulled off the interstate, and as I drove through downtown, I was flooded with nostalgia. It was a beautiful town; I’d give it that much. I’d love for Milo to grow up in a place like this, but unfortunately, that wasn’t an option for us. I spied a familiar road sign and pulled onto it. Realizing where we were, Milo ripped his headphones from his head and bounced excitedly. It was incredible how much he remembered. My parent’s house crept into view, and a feeling of comfort washed over me, acting as a balm for my stress. That was until I caught a glimpse of the house beside theirs, and my veins flooded with ice water. We pulled into the curving driveway just as my dad stepped onto the wrap-around front porch—his shock of white hair glinting in the sunlight as he waved. “Grampy!” Milo exclaimed, and I chuckled. My dad pulled Milo’s door open as soon as we rolled to a stop, and he unbuckled him from his seat. Milo launched his tiny body into Dad’s arms, hugging him tightly. The image flooded me with joy. I pulled our bags from the back of the car and stood off to the side, allowing dad to wrap me in a warm embrace. “Mom inside? Is she doing okay?” I asked, inquiring about yesterday’s surgery. “Yeah, she has to have her leg propped up 24/7 for the next few weeks. Lots of ice. She’s in the family room. Still pretty hopped up on pain meds,” he explained as he grabbed a bag, and we headed toward the house. We stepped onto the porch, and I glanced around us again, my eyes lingering on the house next door. A breeze kicked up from the nearby lake, bringing a slight chill with it. I shivered and prayed to the universe that this all wasn’t a massive mistake. * * * My childhood bedroom was the same as it’s always been. The pale pink walls, the white fireplace in the far corner, the crown molding, and sunlight streaming through the windows all came together and wrapped me in a sense of security. I walked through with a smile, staring at the pictures and posters that still adorned the walls. “Momma,” Milo’s voice rang out from the hallway, and I turned to greet him. “Are you still unpacking?” He shuffled his feet as he walked into the room and plopped on my bed. There’s a guest bedroom that my parents told him he could have, and they’d bought a few things to spruce it up to make it more appropriate for a five-year-old. He’d talked about little else since