Chapter 3
3
B ree stood silent as Kade blew past her and out the front door. A cramp nearly knocked the wind out of her, causing her to take the nearest seat. She realized she should get out of here and far away from Kade.
What had she expected? For him to pull her into his arms and welcome the news?
Kade had been clear about never wanting a wife or children, especially children. He’d brought the point home so clearly that she’d been shocked into silence after missing her period and realizing the reason.
She hadn’t just dropped the fatherhood news on him like a truck falling out of the sky; she’d busted his trust in the man who’d been his best friend. It had been Zeke’s idea not to tell Kade about the baby. Zeke had proposed to her, but she hadn’t accepted. Why would she? He had argued that the baby needed two parents and that having a father around would be best. Zeke had always wanted a family. Even through all the barrage of hormones and mixed emotions, she’d wanted to tell Kade about the baby.
Why had she listened to Zeke?
Because you were scared out of your mind. True. Bree had been freaked out and agreed to a pretend relationship with Zeke to protect the baby, and Kade. At least, that was the lie she’d told herself when, in reality, she was hurt.
After a couple of months, reality had dawned. She’d lied to Kade. Not outright. She’d done it in the worst way. She’d hidden behind Zeke. She’d allowed him to pretend the two of them were a couple. She’d granted permission to lie to Kade about Zeke becoming a father. She still wondered why Zeke had jumped at the chance and offered himself up so readily. Was it because Zeke and Kade had grown up together and been best friends? He’d told her that this was his chance to repay Kade for all the times he’d saved Zeke’s skin on a mission and going way back to when they’d been kids. It was Zeke’s turn to step up and return the favors. It was twisted logic to commit to raising someone else’s child now that she was thinking more clearly. A human was a lifetime commitment. There was no return policy when times got tough, and they would. No one got out of childhood or teenage years without a few battle scars. Zeke’s heart had been in the right place, and she’d convinced herself that hers had been, too. They’d both been protecting Kade and the baby.
Those words had sounded awful and deceitful once she’d come to terms with the pregnancy. There’d been no way she would marry Zeke and commit him to a lifetime with her and her child.
Bree had never been one to take the easy way out, which was the reason she sat in Beaumont Sturgess’s office right now. Was she betraying Zeke by being here? Because, for the first time since the pregnancy news, she felt like a thousand-ton weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Grief over Zeke would take months, maybe years, to process. She would never get over losing her best friend. Her relief had nothing to do with him and everything to do with finally doing the right thing by all parties involved. Looking back, it had been selfish to agree to the lie, to allow Zeke to step in for his buddy and shortchange himself in the process. And what if she’d gone ahead with the marriage proposal as he’d pressured her to do?
If he’d lived, she would have been denying him the one thing he’d deserved most…someone to spend his life with who was in love with him.
Bree would always see Zeke as a best friend, a confidant, and the person who’d been there for her during her most confusing times. His plan might have been misdirected, but it had come from a place of caring. She wouldn’t fault him for stepping in to help, offering himself up in the process.
Waiting for Kade to return was the second hardest thing she might ever do when all her survival instincts urged her to run, to get as far away as possible.
Instead, she planted her backside in the chair, lifted her chin, and readied herself for whatever came next.
A few minutes ticked by that felt like hours before Kade’s broad frame darkened the doorway again. He stepped inside and took an empty seat, one removed from her. Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his thighs and clasped his hands together.
“We need to talk,” he said.
Bree had a whole lot to say but clamped her lips shut and nodded. Hear him out.
“I think we both know that I’m not father material,” Kade said. Bree loved Zeke. They’d planned to get married. Had his buddy known about the paternity before he’d proposed? Before he’d died? Had he cared? Bree must have hit a low point when she’d found out Kade was the father and not the man she’d been crazy about. “And I’m moving to Alaska in a matter of weeks. But I fully intend to take financial responsibility for the child.”
Bree crossed her arms over her chest, resting them on the bump that was about the size of a basketball. From the corner of his eye, he couldn’t stop checking it. Had it moved?
“You need a minute to process this news,” Bree said. Her breathing said she was working hard to remain calm. “Since you’ll be around for a few weeks, why don’t you take whatever time you need and then get back to me.”
“I have one question,” he said, not ready to let her out of the room.
“Okay,” she said.
“Why am I hearing this news now?”
“What? Are you suggesting that I did any of this on purpose?” Bree asked. “Like, I got myself pregnant and then deceived you after you made it clear to me that you wanted nothing to do with kids or having a family, ever.”
Kade pushed off the chair and stood up. He raked his fingers through his hair. Words clotted inside his throat. None would surface.
“Fine,” Bree said. “Don’t answer. I need to go anyway.”
With that, she stood up with a wince, put her hand out to stop him from coming to her aid, and then waddled out of the office.
Shit.
Following Bree when she needed space would be a mistake. He’d made a fool of himself once by texting her more times than he cared to count, asking what he’d done to get the sudden cold shoulder after the time they’d shared. He’d convinced himself they’d started something special between them while she hadn’t been able to wait for him to ship off before she’d moved on to the person she’d really loved, Zeke.
Chloe stuck her head inside the office, interrupting his heavy thoughts. “Want to come back to the trailer with me? I need to get back to Grayson.”
“Yes.”
She studied him. “Everything okay?”
“We can talk about it once we get to your place.” Would he, though? He clenched his back teeth hard. Right now, he wanted to keep the news to himself while he figured out how the hell he was supposed to become a father in a matter of days. “Let’s get out of here. This place is getting inside my head.”
The drive to Chloe’s took the full forty-five minutes. Saddle Junction was short on population and long on ranch land. He managed to get ahead of her, so he parked in a visitor spot and waited. How had his life blown up so fast?
Chloe parked in her spot. She waved for him to join her as she exited the vehicle and walked to the porch and then her front door. Kade was already making a mental list of everything he needed to do before leaving for Alaska. Beau showing up had complicated the sale of the ranch. But that didn’t hold a candle to the shock of learning Kade was about to become a father.
Stepping inside the small trailer on the outskirts of town, it was painfully obvious Chloe needed more money. She barely made enough to make ends meet.
Her roommate Annmarie put a finger to her lips, telling them to keep quiet. She tiptoed to the first door down the hall and gently closed it before returning to the living room.
“Grayson’s taking a nap, finally,” Annmarie said. She was five-feet-five inches with long brown hair that was barely controlled by a hair clip. “He’s been cranky all afternoon, the poor baby.”
“Do you think he’s coming down with something?” Chloe asked, worry lines etching her forehead as she started toward the bedroom door.
“He’s fine for now,” Annmarie said. “I’d let him sleep. It was hard to get him to go down. He woke three times.”
Chloe stopped, calculated her next move, and then turned toward the kitchen. She glanced at Kade. “Coffee?”
“Yes, please,” he said as Annmarie came over and gave him a quick hug.
“I heard you were coming back,” Annmarie said. “Thank the heavens you’re in one piece.”
He nodded, then frowned before joining his sister in the kitchen. “What can I do to help?”
“I got it.” Chloe pointed to the kitchen table as she popped in one of those pods. “I’ll join you in a sec.”
Kade took a seat opposite the coffee machine.
“I’m sorry,” Annmarie said. “I didn’t think about how that came across. What happened to Zeke is the worst. I’m just thankful those bastards didn’t take you both from us.”
“I appreciate your good wishes,” Kade said. Not a day would go by without him wishing Zeke had been the one to come home. “Didn’t mean to make you think otherwise.”
Annmarie smiled, then turned to Chloe. “Miguel gave Grayson the sweetest hug when he realized his best buddy was in a bad mood. You should’ve seen the two of them together, like brothers.”
“They are brothers as far as I’m concerned,” Chloe said as she handed over a cup of black coffee to Kade, then went to work making one for herself.
“I hope they stay close,” Annmarie said. “After all, neither has a father figure in their life.” Annmarie’s former boyfriend had said he was taking a job in construction in order to support her and their unborn baby. When he made enough money, he was supposed to buy a ring and come back to make them a family. The man had disappeared without ever making contact. Last she’d heard, he was living in a small town in Ecuador.
Neither has a father figure in their life. Annmarie’s words were the equivalent of a physical blow.
In retrospect, Zeke couldn’t possibly have known the baby wasn’t his. Had Bree deceived him? Would she do something like that?
“Hey,” Chloe said, snapping her fingers to get his attention as she joined him at the table. “Beau showing up today really has you inside your head, doesn’t it?”
Annmarie shot a confused look.
“I’ll explain later,” Chloe promised before Annmarie excused herself, no doubt to grab a few hours of sleep. Chloe worked late nights at a bar so she could spend as many waking moments as possible with Grayson while Annmarie worked early mornings at The Bean Counter. The two worked opposite shifts so one could always be home with the boys.
Kade had witnessed the changes in his sister after having a child. Those little carpet crawlers possessed magic like no one when it came to wrapping folks around their little pacifier pinkies. There wasn’t much Kade wouldn’t do for his nephew.
Shit.
Since Chloe had brought up the subject of their half-sibling, Kade didn’t see the harm in letting her think Beau was the reason he was distracted.
“His presence complicates things,” Kade said.
“As do his rights to the ranch,” Chloe agreed. “The group chat has been blowing up since we left the ranch property.”
Kade reached for his cell and realized he’d turned off notifications after hearing back from the surveyor. “I didn’t realize.” It had been quiet on the ride over. This explained why.
“Everyone is upset.” Chloe picked up her mug and rolled it around her palms.
“Understandable, given the circumstances,” Kade said.
“I wonder if Mom knew about the other woman,” Chloe said with a sigh.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if she did,” Kade said, thinking how marrying the wrong person could devastate a person. He wouldn’t do that to Bree. He wouldn’t ask her to marry him out of duty. He wouldn’t bind her to him in that way since she didn’t love him.
“Beaumont was a terrible human and being back in the house where we grew up reminded me of all the awful things that happened there,” Chloe said. Her trailer might be old and small, but it was clean and, more importantly, hers.
“The more you know, the worse he gets,” Kade said. He took a sip of coffee, enjoying the burn in his throat. “And I agree. Stepping into that house threw me.”
“Have you talked to everyone individually about selling the ranch?” Chloe asked.
“I thought we were all in agreement already,” he said. “Why?”
She shrugged. “Ever notice how quiet Conrad gets when the subject comes up?”
“He’s never voiced opposition,” Kade pointed out. He clamped his mouth shut as reality dawned on him. “But I’ve never heard him agree, either.” He paused long enough to take another sip of coffee. “Has he said something to you?”
“No. Not specifically.” She studied the rim of her mug. “He’s always been a quiet observer. Gone along with the majority. But no one has ever asked him point blank.”
“Everyone has the same right to speak up when we discuss anything as a family,” he said, defensively.
“True,” she said. “It’s just that…have you heard our conversations?”
He shot her a look.
“I’m just saying the loud voices in the room take over, and everyone else has to fight for the floor,” she said. “Conrad is the quiet one of the group.”
“Some might use the term brooding ,” Kade said with a half-smile.
“If we’re going to mount a fight against Beau to sell the ranch, I think we should ensure everyone is on board before we take any action.”
“When did my kid sister get so smart?” he teased, appreciating a few moments of levity after he’d been hit with shock after shock today. Beaumont’s passing should have been good news, but ever since Kade had returned to Saddle Junction, the dark cloud had burst into a full-on electrical storm, complete with thunder to boot. Chloe had made a good point, though. Everyone deserved to have their voice heard.
“Should we call a meeting later?” he asked as Annmarie came tiptoeing into the room wearing pajamas.
“I have to work tonight,” Chloe said, biting back a yawn. “Can’t afford to lose a whole Friday night’s worth of tips, especially if I need to pitch in for legal fees so we can sell the ranch.”
There had to be a way to funnel money to her and the others while Kade cleaned this mess up. It also reminded him of the promise he’d made to a soldier while in the field hospital together. “Speaking of complicated, I need to find a home for a military dog about to be released from duty.”
“What?” Chloe asked.
“I know, it’s random,” he admitted. “However, I made a promise to a guy in my unit who rescued it that I’d help find a permanent home once the dog is released.”
“I’ll ask around,” Chloe offered.
“I gave your name and number as a backup to get a hold of me,” Kade said. “I hope that’s okay.”
“No problem,” she said. “I’d be happy to help arrange transportation, or whatever needs to be done.”
Kade thanked his sister after sharing the contact information. She would understand the special needs of an ex-military dog. Speaking of taking care of something. His thoughts shifted to Bree and the baby. How the hell was he supposed to become a dad in a matter of days? Weeks?
“Why don’t you give Annmarie the night off with Grayson,” Kade said.
“Why would I do that?” Chloe asked, surprise widening her eyes.
“Because I could watch him instead.” Kade figured he would have to get the hang of being alone with a kid at some point. Plus, he’d had his head up his butt before. Kids needed two parents. Being in Alaska would complicate visitation, but he could talk to Bree and figure out a way to make it work. As long as Chloe lived in Saddle Junction, he’d return.
Chloe reached over the table to touch his forehead with the back of her hand.
He pulled back. “What are you doing?”
“Checking to see if you have a fever,” she quipped.
Kade faked being offended. “What? I can’t spend quality time with my nephew without raising suspicion?”
His sister was perceptive. The way she studied him meant something was clicking in that brain of hers. Had she been talking to Bree? Because he wasn’t ready to share the news.
Chloe took a sip of coffee. “Can I ask a question?”
Shit. Here it comes.