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  Then she slumped into my chest, and we took a short rest, still listening out for the toddler.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rachel

  “Hey,” Jason called.

  I looked over my shoulder from where I was making breakfast for the two of us. We had a bit of a late start for the day, but it was Jack’s first full night sleeping away from home. Jason hadn't minded the noise at night, even helping me out with Jack, and I couldn’t help but feel warm all over just thinking about it.

  Jason was taking care of both me and Jack.

  Even though he doesn’t know the full truth yet.

  I winced as soon as I had the thought, but luckily, he had his arms wrapped around me from behind so he didn’t see.

  When should I tell him, though? I’d pretty much lost the perfect chance when he came over to my place and found me with little Jack. I should have told him then, talked to him if I needed to. But, I had been afraid, and now, I didn’t know how I was going to tell him after letting the deception go on days.

  And what the fuck was that? When he asked, giving me another good chance, and my answer was a one-night stand!

  There was no excuse for that, besides that I panicked. It would be bad for me, though, if I ended up telling him the toddler was his after I’d said a one-night stand that I didn’t even remember had been responsible. Fuck! What if he thought I was lying when I eventually told him the truth?

  If he thought that I’d been cheating on him before we even broke up?

  What am I going to do!

  “Breakfast smells good,” Jason said, with absolutely no care in the world, not seeming to realize my internal dilemma.

  “It’s ready,” I said automatically, my voice coming out completely normal. “Why don’t you sit down at the table so I can serve you?”

  He hummed, pecked me on the side of my neck, and then went to sit down. I served up his portions, feeling like mine could wait. The butterflies were back in my stomach again.

  Jason arched an eyebrow at me. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  I waved a dismissive hand. “I will, you just eat.”

  He didn’t question me, shrugging then digging into his meal.

  “I might be out a bit late today,” he said conversationally in between bites. “But I’ll be back for lunch, okay?”

  I nodded. “I’ll have something ready.”

  This should be it, the perfect chance.

  Instead of just waiting for one to present itself, I could make it. I even had time to think about how I would tell him the whole thing.

  Perfect.

  Jason was done pretty quickly, and he left. I had my breakfast before I rushed to tend to Jack. After I had him fed him, gave him a bath, then set him to play in his room, I was exhausted. Then I was back in the living room, pacing around, wondering about the best way to come out with a secret I’d been keeping for so many years that it started to become second nature.

  When Jason had left, a part of me had been sure he wouldn’t be coming back. So, Nathan’s call and his message had been a huge surprise.

  I kept a close eye on the time and the baby monitor as I came up with speech after speech in my mind. None of them quite fit. Time was moving, though, and I figured it was about time I started setting up lunch. So, I moved my brainstorming and practiced speeches out loud as I cooked.

  The food was ready, and still nothing.

  “I’m going to wing it,” I decided. “Or just say it bluntly. ‘Jason, Jack is your son.’ It’s simple, to the point, and hopefully…he’s decided he likes me enough that he won’t dump me again.”

  I winced as my pessimistic side tried to rear its head, but I pushed it away. I just had to believe everything would be fine because I wouldn’t have things any other way.

  When I heard a knock on the front door minutes later, I was startled out of my musings. I hurried over to the door, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement in my stomach. Anxiety, obviously because I was worried. But I found myself getting excited. Because, if Jason didn’t throw a fit, then we were doing this. He and I were going to be a family; Jason, me, and little Jack.

  I got to the door before I realized anything was strange. Why would Jason be knocking when he could just come right in? I got my answer once I opened the door. It wasn’t Jason on the other side, but what I was pretty sure was a city girl.

  She was dressed differently, in the way I only ever saw on TV, with a tight-fitting dress that was bare around the shoulders and only fell to just above mid-thigh. She had a clutch purse in one hand, expensive-looking jewelry on her neck, wrists and fingers, and high heel shoes. Behind her was a car very much like Jason’s. Her blonde hair was pushed behind one shoulder, and she had dark shades over her eyes.

  “Hi, there,” she said with a bright smile, pulling off her glasses with one hand, and I noted her nails painted in hot pink. “I’m looking for Jason?”

  I blinked at her, wondering what she wanted from him. My body was faster than my mind, though, and I kept one hand on the door, and the other held onto the doorjamb so she could enter.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice coming out sugary sweet and so very fake. “But I’m afraid Jason isn’t here at the moment. He’s out somewhere on the ranch, working.” I narrowed my eyes, feeling defensive. “Who are you?”

  “My name is Louisa,” she said. I noted she didn’t offer me her hand to shake. “And can you please call him for me? I’ve been trying his cell, but he’s not picking up. I’m his girlfriend.”

  … Girlfriend?

  My first thought, when she dropped that word, was one of denial. There was absolutely no way Jason would have a girlfriend and not tell me, right? Besides, he’d sold off everything and moved to the ranch! Weeks had passed already, but there had been no word, or phone call as far as I knew, about some girlfriend he’d left out in the city.

  But… this was Jason. Could he not have had a girlfriend?

  No way.

  It made more sense that he just hadn't told me.

  “Oh,” I murmured, pulling myself away from the door. “Well, you can wait if you want. He should be coming back soon for lunch,” I said quickly.

  I wanted to be far away by then.

  I avoided Louisa’s eyes as I turned around and headed for the stairs. I had some of my things around, but none of that mattered. I took my toddler’s things, and I picked Jack up in my arms, hoping I could find someone close to the house that wouldn’t mind giving me a ride back to town.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jason

  I walked back to the ranch, feeling like I was walking on air.

  Things between Rachel and me were going great, wonderful even. The only real problem was that she still hadn't told me the news that I was a father yet. I knew, but I wanted to hear it from her!

  If she takes much longer though, I’m just going to tell her that I know tonight, I decided. Because I felt like I’d been waiting long enough. She was taking her sweet time coming out with it.

  I whistled as I came up to the house. There was a car in the driveway beside mine, and I frowned at it. When did that appear? And why did it seem so familiar…? But, I put that out of my mind as I jogged up the stairs. My girl and my toddler were waiting for me, hopefully with a hot meal. What could be more important than that?

  The moment I got inside the house, though, I regretted not giving it any thought. Because someone jumped me, a soft body molding its soft front to mine as arms went around me. I knew it wasn’t Rachel by hair color alone; Rachel’s hair was a rich brown. She also didn’t use fragrant shampoo or any strong perfumes like the woman currently clutching herself to me.

  “Jason!” she squealed.

  Immediately, I knew who she was.

  “Louisa?” I exclaimed, catching her by the tops of her arms and pushing her back and away from me, so I could look just to be sure I didn't hear things. But there she was, all dolled up like she was going to some cocktail party on a Friday night; not v
isiting a ranch. My ranch, of all places. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  She pulled away from me, pouting her red-lipsticked lips.

  “Oh, Jason,” she whined. “Is that all you have to say to me after I came all the way here just to see you?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Do I have to remind you that I didn’t call you to come here? The deal between us has always been I call, you come.”

  “But you haven’t called me in days!”

  I nearly rolled my eyes again, but I was already tired of her shit. Louisa and I had a strict agreement, one we’d held for months. She was the reason I didn’t randomly go out to clubs to get laid. Every time I’d done that, it had been to forget Rachel, and I’d only felt worse afterward. Things had been different with Louisa, though. In a lot of ways, I was even grateful to her.

  But my ranch was the last place I wanted her to be.

  “Look, Louisa. As…nice as it is to see you here—” though nice was hardly the word I would use— “I’m afraid I’m a little too busy to entertain you. I don’t get days off when working on this ranch.”

  She huffed, dropping the cute girl act. She put her hands around her waist and cocked her hips slightly to the side.

  “Why don’t you come with me?” she offered. “I mean, you don’t belong here, right? What are you doing here, anyway? You’d always said it, and I agree with you that you belong to the city.” She paused to leer at me. “I do have to say, though, that the sun and the workout have done wonders for your body.”

  She slinked over to me, molding her front body to mine again. Before she could, though, I held her back by the arms and gave her a flat look.

  “Not interested,” I said bluntly.

  Her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened slightly. “What do you mean not interested! Jason!”

  I rolled my eyes again. “Don’t be so fucking dramatic. Just think of this as our agreement being terminated. You can go back and look for someone else now.”

  My attention was already turning away from her and back to Rachel. Who I hadn't heard anywhere in the house since I was surprised by Louisa. I had to get to her and explain Louisa’s presence before she got the wrong idea. But, Louisa caught my arms as I was about to walk right past her.

  “That isn’t going to work for me,” she said with a sly twist of her lips.

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  She’d never had problems following orders disguised as requests from me.

  “What I mean, my dear Jason. I didn’t just come all the way here to have some fun. I came…because I’m knocked up.”

  “What?” I blurted out. But I shook off the shock in the next minute. “There’s no reason that toddler has to be mine though, right? You were with a lot of other guys, Louisa. What we had was an agreement, and we used a condom every time.” I narrowed my eyes at her.

  She shook her head. “No, Jason. See, since I started seeing you, you’re the only guy I’ve been with. And on top of that, you know that condoms aren’t full proof, right? Don’t worry, I got tested, and I’m clean. But, I am pregnant. And there is only one possible father.” She smiled devilishly at me. “Care to take a guess?”

  “Fuck,” I cursed at myself, my eyes sliding closed as I dropped my face into my palms.

  Louisa just giggled, and I wanted to throw her out anyway.

  I can't, though. Not while she's pregnant, possibly with my toddler.

  I’d already done it to Rachel once, even though I hadn't known then. Louisa wouldn’t expect too much from me, just what I wasn’t willing to give her, but still, I had to make sure. I already knew I was a royal fuck up, though. Because if Louisa being around hadn't scared Rachel off, she might have just heard that conversation and would go running anyway.

  Can't anything go my way just once?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Jason

  There was no way I was just taking Louise's word on this. It was too important. I'd learned my lesson, but I didn't suddenly turn into an idiot.

  As soon as I made sure Rachel was nowhere in the house, I left. There was food in the kitchen, but I didn't feel like I could eat at all. Louise wouldn't eat it, either, because she was almost always on a diet and watching her calorie intake. A nice, wholesome ranch meal was beyond her.

  Hopefully, I can convince her to come back soon. We could warm it up for dinner, even.

  But first, I needed to see a doctor, to see what could be done about the situation with Louise.

  It was the first time I went back to the hospital after I was told Grandpa Nathan had died. My throat choked up a little as I pulled into the parking lot. I took a minute to breathe and settle myself, then stepped out of the car. I’d have to get over it at some point, though I somehow doubted the guilt would be so easily forgotten.

  I stopped by the reception and was directed to a doctor’s office. I knocked on the door and waited for confirmation before walking inside. It was the same doctor that had given me the news back then. I’d been pretty out of it, but it was hard to forget his face.

  “Doctor,” I said with a nod of acknowledgment.

  He stood up, a look of surprise on his face. “Jason. I must say it’s a surprise to see you back here.”

  We shook hands, then sat down.

  “To be honest, I’m not happy about being back here, but this is something urgent.”

  He waved a hand at me. “Please, how can I help you?”

  I breathed in deep, then let it out. “Well. I did want to ask you if it would be possible… to find out whether a child a woman is carrying is mine.”

  His eyebrows shot up.

  “There’s a low possibility that the child is mine, but she insists that she was with no one else.”

  “Do you have reason to disbelieve her?”

  I didn’t want to badmouth Louise. What we had wasn’t exclusive, and I’d been with a couple of other women after the first few times she and I were together. Until we agreed, and I didn’t need to do that anymore. She could just as easily have done the same anytime.

  It took a minute for him to decide he didn’t need an answer. He steepled his fingers beneath his chin.

  “Now, you want to find out about the child’s paternity, right? For that… you’ll have to wait nine months. The child will be born, and a test can be carried out then, but not before. Do try, though, not to distress the mother too much over this. It’s the best advice I can give you.”

  I sighed, slumping back into the chair for the moment, feeling defeated. It was the last thing I wanted to hear. So, what? Was Louise going to live with me on the ranch until the kid popped out so we could find out whether the child was mine or not? And after that… Would I just toss her out on her ass? Fuck, it wasn’t like I didn’t know her; she wouldn’t want to stay. She’d spend the entire time telling me to go back with her or being a nuisance and getting in my way with Rachel.

  I had nothing against Louise, but neither were options I could allow. Somehow, I’d have to convince her to go back to the city. It wouldn’t be hard, but I didn’t know how long she’d insist on staying.

  “Thank you, doctor,” I said, standing up and holding my hand out. “It wasn’t quite the answer I wanted, but I understand.”

  He got up and shook my hand. “I’m glad to be of service.”

  I walked out of his office, with one destination in mind. Rachel still had her place open, and though I’d wanted her to forget about it and move in with me instead, if she’d already gotten rid of it, I wouldn’t have known where to find her.

  Minutes later, I was at her door, waiting anxiously after knocking for her to open up. When there was no immediate response, I knocked on the door again.

  “Rachel,” I called out. “It’s me, Jason. Can you please open the door?”

  I held my breath as I listened and waited. I’d give her some time to make it to the door, or give me some answer this time. I was just about to knock again when I heard something on the other side of the door. I brea
thed a sigh of relief and stood back. She opened the door slowly, and I made no move to go near in case I spooked her.

  “Rachel?” I called softly.

  She sniffled, then looked up at me. Her hair was disarrayed like she’d run her hands through it a few times. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were pink, and her eyes were red and puffy.

  She’d been crying.

  “Oh, Rachel,” I murmured.

  I moved closer, going slowly so she could have time to reject me if that was what she wanted. She didn’t, though, her expression crumpling as I tugged her into my arms. She buried her face in my shoulder, and I rocked her gently as she sniffled a few more times. She held onto me just as tightly for a minute, before her hands moved from my back to my chest, pushing until I let go of her.

  “Sorry,” she whispered. “I’m just a little overwhelmed.”

  “Because of Louise,” I said, flattening my lips.

  She nodded her head tentatively, glancing up at me as she bit down on her lower lip.

  “Jason, she said she was your girlfriend.”

  Ah. That must have been what got her to run. Louise hadn't mentioned being pregnant. I was partly relieved, and partly dreading having to tell her the news myself.

  “That’s not exactly what she was to me,” I told her. I held her by the tops of her arms and made sure her eyes met mine so that she could see the sincerity in them. “Rachel, I swear to you. Yes, I was with Louise, but she was never my girlfriend. We met maybe a few times a week, or a month, and that was it. I haven’t seen her in more than two months.”

  Rachel tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, then folded her arms across her chest.

  “So why did she come here claiming to be your girlfriend?”