He glances up from his plate of egg whites, spinach, garlic, and peppers—everything nutritious, because that’s Beau. He’s the most neurotic person I know.
“No,” he says with a finality that pisses me off.
“No?” I ask. “You can’t tell me what to do.”
“I can tell you when you’re in jeopardy. You don’t understand what’s out there. You’ve been off the ranch once, to go to that doctor’s appointment, and news has traveled tenfold since then. There’s no way I can get you off this ranch and into any place secure where pictures won’t be taken.” He forks another bite of egg whites and sips his coffee. “Why do you want off so bad?”
“Because I feel cooped up.” I wiggle in my seat like a toddler. “I feel caged in.”
“Hmm…” he says and goes back to eating his eggs.
“Beau,” I snap.
“Are you sure it’s the ranch making you feel that way?”
“I don’t need your psychoanalytical bullshit right now.” I pick up my coffee mug and watch Darla smiling and talking to everyone. What must it be like to be a person like her? So free with her kindness.
“We’re dodging the question. Gotcha. But I see you and Romy walking all the time. Seems like you guys really enjoy the fresh air.”
My coffee mug thuds on the table from my annoyance at not having control over my own life. “I’m not sure what you’re implying, but yeah, sure, I love the nightly walks I’ve been going on with Romy.”
“Speaking of which, we need to talk. There’s paperwork to be done. There’re tests to be had. We’ve got to figure this out.”
I slouch back in my seat and glare at my best friend. “There’s nothing to talk about. I told you no to the paternity test. I’m not going to bring it up to her, and we’re not having one.”
His fork clatters onto the plate, and he leans back in his chair as if we’re about to have a showdown. We’ve both got temper problems, and this was probably a long time coming.
“I’m telling you now, Zander, this is a big mistake. Get the paternity test. When we have proof, we can draw up paperwork. But you don’t want to be listed on that birth certificate if you’re not the father.”
“I am the father.” My voice is louder than I intended, and a few heads turn in our direction, Darla’s included, so I lean in closer. “I am the father. End of discussion.”
“You hired me a long time ago to protect you, and I think I’ve done a damn good job. Don’t get me wrong, I like Romy. I like her family. Hell, this place is like fucking paradise. Who even knew families like this existed? Sure as shit, not us. But we’ve seen the other side of people, and you’re ignoring that reality. You’re ignoring how many people you’ve trusted who turned around and fucked you over.”
“Not her,” I say firmly. “She’s not the enemy.”
Beau’s hard lines on his face soften, but he doesn’t back off. “Listen.” He straightens and picks up his fork again. “I know you have feelings for her. I know she is someone special to you.”
I give him a scathing look. “You don’t know shit.”
He shakes his head. “Are we really playing this game?”
“I’m going to be a dad, but I’m not going to screw her again.”
Beau smirks. “I guarantee you’re fucking her within a month.”
“Piss off.”
“Come on, I know you better than that. I can already see it in these nightly walks. You guys are always together. Laughing and smiling and flirting.”
“She’s helping me with the video.” My eyes narrow.
“She’s helping you plan a video for a love song. A love song that?—”
I point at him. “Don’t fucking say it.”
Beau lifts his hands in his usual calm down gesture. “I’m just saying, it’s inevitable. You’re going to have a kid, so we need to put some parameters in place. Because if you cross that line, Zan, and break things off again, it won’t go as smoothly as it did before. She’s not just going to disappear this time. You think she’ll want to share custody after you hurt her again? A woman can only take so much. You’ve got to get this shit together now or stay the hell away from her.”
I stare at my plate. He expects me to stay away from her? I can’t. She’s the mother of my child—she’ll be in my life forever.
