Building Her Forever: The Coopers, #2

By Bailie Hantam

Mini Skosana is pregnant, single and jobless. Oh, and she's dropped out of university for the second time and has yet to tell her ex she's expecting their baby. She's back in town determined to co-parent with Wyatt even if she can never be more than the mother of his child.

Single Dad, Wyatt Cooper gave up on love when he sent Mini off to pursue her dreams. Now she's back and pregnant with his child. To make matters worse, his family is in turmoil, and needs him to pull things together. What will happen when he's forced to choose between the woman he loves and patching his family back together.

Will Mini and Wyatt be able to work through their own insecurities and find the life they each deserve?
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bailie Hantam
• Release date: Aug 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393166672

Book preview

Chapter 1

Wyatt read the text message from Callum and unlocked the front door to his flat. His brother was dropping off, Chloe, Wyatt’s fifteen year old daughter.

He had planned on taking her out for the day, but she insisted on spending the day with his family, helping Holly move in with Adam.

If he was more mature and not nursing his ego, he would have been the first to join her.

As it was, he was still a little hurt that Adam had hidden nearly half their family from him. Two brothers and a sister they knew nothing about. That is, until Adam and their youngest brother, Logan, did some research a few years back.

As far as Wyatt could tell, the rest of the family was waiting on him and Adam to reconcile their differences before meeting their father’s other children. And then there was the Allie situation. Another sister from their father’s affair with his secretary. A lot of children for a man who wasn’t interested in raising a family.

Before he could dwell too long on the mess that was his family, his daughter walked through the front door. Her frizzy honey-colored hair piled in a heap on top of her head.

He quickly messaged Callum to let him know she was safely upstairs before turning to his daughter. The twinkle in her green eyes had him curious. She was bursting with news to share. She’d spent the day with his family. There was always news.

Playing it cool would wind her up, but it was fun to watch her excitement bubble over. He flashed her a wry smile. Something you want to tell me?

Chloe could hardly contain herself. Her tanned face turned a shade of pink, highlighting the sprinkling of freckles across her nose. She took a seat at the breakfast nook separating the kitchen from the living room. You’re never going to believe what happened. Wait, I’ll show you. She pulled her phone from her back pocket, before tapping the screen a few times. Check this out. A photograph of a hand was shoved in front of his face. No manicure, or even pretty nail polish. The only thing of significance was the solitaire diamond ring on the ring finger.

Wyatt gave his daughter a puzzled look. What am I looking at? Is that the ring you want one day?

Rolling her eyes, she sighed at him. That’s Holly’s ring. Uncle Adam proposed.

He struggled to make sure his feelings didn’t show on his face. Adam was engaged. Granted, his brother had been engaged twice before, but Holly was the real deal. She was going to be around for the long haul. And it was obvious that Adam had fallen for her. Hard.

He thought he had some time before then. Time to deal with his issues with his brother before anything major happened. But Adam moved on. It’s beautiful, he said.

Chloe looked up at him, sadness crossed her face. I think he missed you. It’s just not the same anymore.

Wyatt looked up at the wooden box on the mantle in the living room. He’d made the box for his grandfather’s gold cufflinks. The ones he’d inherited when the old man passed away nearly a decade ago. He’d loaned them to Callum when he got engaged a few years back. The idea being that even though Wyatt had inherited them, each of them would wear them at the most significant events in their lives.

He’d made the box as a way of adding something from his generation to it. Rich oak sanded to perfection. Ornate scrolling along the border and the Latin phrase meaning brothers who stand together cannot fall alone, carved in the middle.

He considered the phrase for a moment. It was one Adam had found while studying Latin at university. Each of the brothers had it tattooed somewhere on their body. It was something they all believed. That if they stood together, things would always work out. And yet, there they were.

Was he really prepared to let things fester anymore? He wasn’t sure he could articulate how much Adam had hurt him. But they were brothers, he should at least give it go.

He pulled the box off the mantle and turned to his daughter. Chloe, come. We’re going for a drive.

She smiled at him, her bright green eyes shining with excitement. Oh, thank goodness. She headed back to the front to the door, her frizzy hair threatening to fall from her bun.

He grabbed his keys and popped the latch on the door and headed downstairs.

The drive over to Adam’s flat was filled with his daughter’s constant chatter. And of course, they had to move that couch as well.

That must’ve been interesting. I would’ve thought she’d get rid of that thing.

Yeah, Gabe said Uncle Adam didn’t have a say in the matter. She recounted all the events of the day. Down to the very last detail. The move, the engagement, and the other news from his family. And Taryn looks like she is about to pop.

Wyatt bit the inside of his cheek. He didn’t want to comment on what was happening, or not, between their friend, Taryn and his youngest brother, Logan. Their one-night stand resulted in a baby. They were happy to raise a child together even though there was no relationship. A situation Wyatt could understand. He and Phoebe, Chloe’s mom, had done it for fifteen years. Except as far as he could tell, Logan had been in love with Taryn since he was a kid. Just remember, he couldn’t help reminding his daughter. That’s what happens when you don’t use protection. Though, in your case, I would suggest abstinence. For the boy’s safety.

Besides having an overprotective dad, his daughter was blessed with three uncles. Then there was Gabe, who adored her like a sister and had a history of violence. No guy stood a chance really.

Chloe raised an eyebrow. Did grandpa threaten to kill you?

She was, of course, referring to her mother’s father. She’d never met Wyatt’s father. The coward had bolted when Wyatt was a teenager, and no one had seen him since. Naturally, the man was not satisfied with just one family. As far as Wyatt knew he only had siblings from two other women besides his mother. Deep down he hoped his father had a vasectomy. Even decades after he left, the man’s dick still was causing tension in his children’s lives. Not that he had any contact with his other siblings. It had been him and Adam, Logan, and Callum all these years.

That was something that would need to be dealt with. Meeting their siblings. Once he worked through his issues with Adam. Which was what the drive was about.

He parked in the first available spot once he got to Adam’s building. We may be here a while, he said to his daughter.

I’m in no hurry. She climbed out of the car and walked to the entrance of the stairway. Gabe owes me a FIFA rematch, anyway.

At first, he worried about the amount of time Chloe spent with Gabe. The boy was Adam’s girlfriend — fiancee’s younger brother. Holly had gone through hell to get guardianship of him. And even Wyatt had to admit, Gabe was a fine young man, and a good friend to his daughter.

As they reached Adam’s floor, Wyatt tried to keep track of Chloe’s conversation. She had a knack of hopping from topic to topic. And then Janine had Taryn sign up for this app. She says it's almost like a dating app, but different. I didn’t get the details. But I think you should try it.

He turned to her and frowned. A dating app? What on earth for?

I think you need to start dating again. It’s been a while since Mini left. There was a sadness in her eyes. He wasn’t sure if it was for him, or because she missed his girlfriend.

He suspected it was a bit of both. It was probably best just to humor her. Offering her a smile, he nodded. What makes you think I haven’t been dating?

His daughter was fast becoming an expert eye-roller. I haven’t met or seen you with anyone.

She was right. He wasn’t in the habit of introducing her to every woman he dated. As far as possible he kept his dating to the weekends Chloe was with her mother. She had only met Mini because they were starting to get serious. Just because I’ve learnt the art of discretion, doesn’t mean I need to sign up for a dating app.

Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. Are you dating someone?

Shaking his head, he smiled own at her. You are far too interested in my dating life.

Chloe eyes looked down. It’s just that you were happy when you were with Mini. And then she left. And you’re not talking to Uncle Adam. She exhaled a long breath. You just seem so sad... or something.

Was he sad? He was angry with Adam for a long time. But he wasn’t sad. Hurt yes. Adam had never kept anything from him before. The fact that he did with something so big had stung. It didn’t help that his mother had also known about their extended family and had kept it from him most of his life. What makes you think I’m sad?

Her lip twisted and she inspected her nails. You don’t laugh anymore. I mean you laugh when I tell a joke. But... it’s not the same. You don’t have fun.

Wyatt pulled Chloe closer. I promise to laugh more. And I do have fun.

His daughter rolled her eyes. Please. You and mom are the most boring adults I know. You both need someone wild. To make life interesting. That’s why Mini was perfect for you. The messes she found herself in, life was never boring.

Wyatt couldn’t help but laugh. Chloe had a point. He recalled the last time he had a really good laugh. Months ago, just before Mini had left. The morning she had forgotten to place the lid on the blender. She had a haphazard approach to life that had at once infuriated and intrigued him. Point taken. I will make sure all my future dates are both scatterbrained and free spirited.

They approached Adam’s door. Wyatt squared his shoulders. One of them had to be the bigger person. And it wasn’t like Adam hadn’t tried to reconcile over the last few months. No. The ball was in Wyatt’s court. He needed to this.

He knocked on his brother’s door and turned back to Chloe. She was leaning against the opposite wall, clearly wanting to see how things would play out. Staying out of firing line?

She smiled. I’m not worried. I mean, I can’t picture you too having an actual fight.

Oh, she didn’t know a thing. Four brothers with strong personalities and a penchant for trouble, fists flew far too easily. Though that hadn’t happened in a very long time.

Holly opened the door. Her dark hair in a messy ponytail hanging to one side. Her eyes widened as she registered Wyatt standing at her new front door. What the f— Wyatt?

She didn’t have the same poker face her fiancé had. She was surprised and wary. A day of moving could do that.

Wyatt tried not to instill any panic but showing up at your estranged brother’s front door without warning was bound to raise some alarm bells. Yeah, hi. Is Adam here.

She opened the door, gesturing for them to step inside. No. Sim called he needed to go into the office but —

Then that’s where he needed to go. Mind if Chloe stays here for a while?

Holly looked between him and Chloe, worry written over face. Sure.

Wyatt turned to leave and then stopped himself as Chloe made her way inside. Holly? She looked up at him. Please don’t hurt my brother?

Her face softened. That’s the last thing I want. But Wyatt, she stepped closer to him. I’m not the one hurting him right now.

He nodded. That struck a nerve. Why was Adam hurt? And could Wyatt fix it?

Chapter 2

Mini took a few calming breaths, swallowing back the tears trapped somewhere between the corners of her eyes and the back of her throat. She was not a crier. It was just one more thing her current situation had changed about her. Another symptom to add to the swollen ankles, the shrinking bladder, and of course, her ever expanding belly.

Thirty-million weeks pregnant, a university drop-out —for the second time — and jobless. Not that she had much hope of getting her old job back. The guy organizing the case files from his desk outside Adam’s office, looked more than competent. And, from what she heard from his telephone conversation, he was more than capable of standing up to Adam. Not an easy thing to do.

All the Cooper brothers, with their tallness and ambition and just in general having everything together could make anyone feel overwhelmed. She’d gotten to know the family when she dated Wyatt, the oldest brother. Being with him had proven that she had to go after what she wanted. He, in his own misguided way, had spurred her on to go back to school. Finish her degree, write the bar exam and get her license. Maybe do her internship with Adam.

What she didn’t expect was to miss Wyatt as much as she did. Or maybe that was just pregnancy hormones. He had been on her mind constantly since she left him, thirty-million weeks ago.

Mini?

Adam’s deep voice pulled Mini from her thoughts. She inhaled a deep breath and turned to face him. Best to get it all out in the open. She offered him a small smile. Adam, good to see you.

Ever the gentleman, Adam barely reacted to her very obvious stomach. Only the slight twist of his lips gave him away. He returned her smile as he walked into his office. How are you? I’m a little surprised to see you. He shoved his hands into his back pockets. His jeans looked a little scruffy. His stubble was more than a day old. As far as I knew, you were in Cape Town. Studying. I know this because I paid your second semester tuition.

Adam’s assistant — Sim, he said his name was — walked in after him. Can I get anyone anything?

The young man was a few centimeters shorter than Adam who was well over two meters. Dressed in chinos and a polo shirt, the assistant was the epitome of office casual. Metro-sexual would be the best way to describe him with his clean-shaven dark face and manicured fingers.

Adam ran a hand through his dark hair, raising an eyebrow at his assistant. Sim, I’m going to need something stronger than coffee. Mini?

How