Aiden contemplated the quiet suburban setting from the seat of the rental car. The modest home sat on an idyllic tree-lined street and appeared homey and comfortable compared to the massive houses and boarding schools he'd lived in as a teenager. It appeared Savannah had grown up in an environment opposite to his. Maybe Thomas Hamilton had done the girl a favor, even if Aiden hated to acknowledge it.

He found himself on the steps without consciously arriving there. The faint chime of the doorbell sounded through the simple metal door, followed by heavy footsteps. Moments later, he faced an older gray-haired man who he guessed was much the same age as his own father. It felt odd knowing this man might have raised his daughter.

"Dr. Hamilton," the man said, holding out his hand, "I'm Ross."

Aiden straightened and shook the offered hand. "Please, call me Aiden." He followed Ross inside, noting the comfortable, though slightly worn, furniture. The homey feel to the tiny living room was reassuring.

A smile lit Savannah's face before she threw her arms around him. "You actually came," she whispered.

Emotions threatened to overwhelm him as he returned the embrace. "You look great. Your cuts healed up nicely."

"I had an amazing doctor." She dropped to the couch, tugging on his hand.

He sat, angling toward her. "You were a brave patient. Leanne told me how great you were at the accident scene." Aiden leveled his gaze at Ross. "I appreciate you allowing this visit. Savannah finding me was completely unexpected. I had no idea about the picture."

"I can imagine, given the adoption was closed." Ross scanned Aiden, his concern reflected in his eyes. "I'm sure you understand my hesitation."

Aiden nodded, giving the teen a gentle smile. "I can't say I wouldn't feel the same in your position."

"Thank you for making the trip all the way across the country. This is a huge imposition on your time, but my daughter wouldn't relent until I agreed to meet you."

So much like Tiffany. He squeezed the girl's hand. "I saw how much it meant to her."

Savannah barely moved but her own grip tightened as she blinked hard.

Having those shimmering brown eyes fixed on him was nerve-wracking, but he'd learned the art of keeping his emotions under tight control at an early age. "You have questions?" he asked with a calmness he didn't feel.

"I'm sure you can appreciate how unsettling this is." Ross slid forward on his chair. "You're willing to submit to DNA testing? Savannah mentioned you wanted it?"

"Unless you have paperwork confirming the relationship, it seems the best option." Aiden shifted in his seat. "I don't want to stir up anyone's life without irrefutable proof."

"If you are her biological father, what then?" Ross raised his brows.

Aiden let out a long breath. He'd been debating the same question for the past several days. It would be tough to confirm Savannah as his daughter and then walk away when he hoped for the chance to know her, but this wasn't about him. "Savannah should decide what involvement she's looking for."

"If we don't test? Then what?"

A wave of sadness washed over him. "I hope we do. If Savannah's my daughter, I'd like to get to know her, but I won't interfere."

"Maybe we should start with more about you."

"Go ahead."

"Why adoption?"

"Daddy. I already told you."

"I'm sure Dr. Hamilton can speak for himself." Ross shot her a warning glance.

Aiden took a long breath. There'd be some tough questions coming. "My grandfather and ... my girlfriend's parents, decided adoption would be in everyone's best interest."

"You were fifteen?"

He nodded. "My grandfather was a strong-willed man. We couldn't say no."

"What did he do? For a living, I mean."

Aiden had expected questions about his family. Savannah had shown more interest in his personal life, and she hadn't delved into his background aside from asking if he had a wife and children. Now the truth would be uncovered, and he was glad he'd had a chance to visit with her, however briefly. "My grandfather was a criminal trial lawyer."

"What about your parents? Didn't they have any say in the matter?" The man's brows rose, though his voice remained level.

"I'm not sure they knew."

A frown formed on the older man's face. "How could they not know?"

"They'd already moved to New York." There was no point in hiding anything. He owed this man complete honesty if he wanted to be allowed in to their lives, even if the complete package wasn't so attractive. "I attended a boarding school and spent most of my time in Chicago with my grandparents or traveling during the school breaks." Aiden worried revealing the dysfunction of his family would sway the man's decision. Vowing that he'd work hard to create balance if he ever had his own family meant little when by his own admission, work was all he really had in his life.

The man's lips flattened into a straight line. "What does your father do?"

"He's an ADA in New York. He started out as a trial lawyer in Chicago."

"Hamilton." Ross narrowed his eyes. "James Hamilton? The one trying the capital murder case that's all over the news?"

"Mmhm."

"What's an ADA?" Savannah asked.

"Assistant District Attorney. He prosecutes criminals on behalf of the City of New York," Aiden said. "My father has political aspirations. I figure my grandfather was going for plausible deniability so my father could say he had no idea."

"Would you have kept your baby?"

Aiden met the man's gaze. "Yes." His family was no exception to the deceptions and cover-ups in politics. Aiden didn't even want to get into the story of Tiffany's family. "I did what I had to do at the time, and part of it was to protect ... her."

"Vanna's ... mother? Where does she fit in?"

Aiden shrugged. "We haven't been together for years. It was stressful and difficult, and we broke up. I haven't told her about this visit and I won't unless we verify the relationship through DNA testing."

"You're a doctor in the ER."

"I'm chief resident. I have a job offer for an attending position starting in July."

"You aren't married, and you don't have other kids?"

"Not yet. Medicine is a demanding career, but perhaps one day."

"So this is totally your decision, and you're willing to put yourself through the testing?"

"It's a simple, noninvasive procedure. A quick swab and it's done."

"Simple, but not. It has repercussions and it's expensive."

"Once we have the results, we can figure it out." To him, the cost of testing seemed reasonable, but maybe to Ross it was a lot of money. "I'll pay for the testing."

Ross shook his head. "I can't ask it after you've gone to the expense of flying out here."

"I get benefit out of the procedure." Aiden met the man's gaze. "I'm fine with covering the cost."

"If she's not your daughter? Then you're out of pocket."

"I'm willing to take that chance."

Ross looked at Savannah's anxious face, and then back at Aiden, who met his gaze without flinching. The man heaved a sigh. "I made an appointment for tomorrow at a lab to collect the samples. It should be done with all of us present so there's no question on the results."

"I'd prefer that too." Aiden nodded. "It'll only take a few minutes. What time?"

"Ten tomorrow morning?"

Savannah jumped up and hugged Ross. "Thanks for agreeing."

"Don't thank me yet. Promise not to get your hopes up, young lady," Ross said in a stern tone, even as his lips twitched. "What do you say to Dr. Hamilton?"

"Thank you for coming out here." Savannah smiled. "And for agreeing to be tested."

"You're welcome." Aiden let out a long breath, feeling a sense of relief. He'd been tense and worried, but this was the best he could hope for; a chance to discover the truth.