Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
“He did what?” Brody felt his fists at his sides again. “He tried something with you?”
The door opened and Liam stood there. “What’s going on? Carter, if you lay a hand on her…”
Steph waved the notion off. “He’s not going to hit me. He’s pissed that his plan to foist me off on someone else didn’t work.” She frowned as though something had just occurred to her. “Or maybe it did. You know Alfi could be Nate’s bio dad. Maybe you’re off the hook.”
“Don’t you even pretend that boy ain’t mine,” he growled back. “Don’t try me right now, luv. I’m not capable of handling it the way I should. Or maybe it would be the way I should. You always were interested in D/s, weren’t you? You keep pushing me and you’ll find out what it means to be my sub.”
Steph started to open her mouth.
Li put a hand out. “Don’t. He’s been pushed enough, darlin’.”
“I thought you were on my side.”
Liam turned to her. “Have you figured out that he’s a dumb bastard who didn’t know about the boy?”
“Like that matters,” she shot back. “It means nothing. He didn’t care enough to even listen to my voice mails. And according to him, he sent Alfi to take his place. Did you think if I started sleeping with Alfi that I would leave you alone? Seriously? You are one of the most arrogant men I’ve ever met.”
“He’s not arrogant at all and that’s part of the problem,” Liam said, holding the door open. “And I doubt he sent someone to take his place in your bed.”
“I bloody well didn’t, and when I get my hands on him, he’ll find out how little I thought of his help,” Brody said between clenched teeth. “He was my friend. We grew up in the same town, went into SASR together. The bastard was supposed to tell me if she needed anything. I sent him to watch over her because I couldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t,” Li corrected.
He wasn’t going to argue the point now. “He didn’t bother to tell me she was pregnant and now I find out he tried to sleep with her. I’ll kill him.”
“He also managed to get her out of there before she got killed.” O’Donnell seemed determined to be the voice of reason. “Now, we’re wanted in the conference room. There have been a couple of developments and Big Tag wants to talk about how we proceed.”
“I don’t want him here,” Steph said, her arms crossed over her chest.
O’Donnell’s jaw firmed and he pointed her way. “Then you shouldn’t have made a baby with the bastard. He is here. He is Nathan’s da and you’ve got to deal with that. Unless Carter doesn’t want the boy.”
“I want him.” He spat the words out as quickly as he could. There would be no doubt as to whether or not he wanted the child. That boy wouldn’t spend another day without his father in his life. “I didn’t think I was good enough for Steph, but none of that matters now.”
“So you’re not good enough for me, but you’re good enough for Nate?” Steph asked, sarcasm dripping.
“No, I’m not good enough for him, but I got no choice. I’ll make myself better. He’s my son and I got no choice but to change and be the kind of man he can be proud of. I ain’t leaving him. I ain’t gonna be my dad.”
Her eyes closed and when they opened, they were softer than before. “Of course I want you to be able to see him. You are his father.” She sighed and looked back to Liam. “All right. Let’s get this done. I need to find a place to stay tonight.”
“You’ll stay with me.” It was said in stereo. Brody hadn’t meant to be in tune with O’Donnell, but they managed to say the same thing.
Steph threw her hands up and strode out the door.
O’Donnell shook his head. “You’re in trouble, mate.”
Like he didn’t already know that.
* * * *
Steph eased into her chair and realized she’d made a horrible mistake. She hadn’t taken the empty chair between Charlotte Taggart and Adam Miles. She’d decided to sit across from them and that left a chair open on either side of her.
Not for long. Brody sat down beside her, moving the chair closer to hers.
Why did he have to look so damn good? When she’d run around the corner and nearly knocked into him, all she’d been able to think about was that he looked like safety and home all rolled into one gorgeous man package.
I ain’t leaving him. I ain’t gonna be my dad.
She wasn’t going to think about how easily her heart had softened. She’d heard him talking about how he would be a better man for Nate’s sake and much of her rage had drained.