Caden led the way out of the office and to the foyer where Noah was taking the coats from the ladies.
"Maddie."
The stacked redhead turned, and I saw immediately why Caden liked her. He wasn't kidding when he said she was stunning.
"This is my cousin, Burke Gallagher, and this is Logan Keller." He pointed to us as he said our names. "Boys, this is my Maddie."
Maddie kissed Caden on the cheek and held her hand out to me first and then Logan. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"I've filled her in," Anna said. "We have a game plan."
"A game plan?"
We all looked at the newcomer standing on the stairs. With her hair brushed and what looked like a little makeup on her face, I almost couldn't tell she'd been crying nonstop since I found her.
Anna approached the staircase. "Hi, I'm Anna, Logan's wife and Burke's sister."
Kinsley smiled briefly. "Actually, Anna, I was at your thirteenth birthday party. I'm Kinsley Hawthorne."
Anna smiled politely, but I could tell she honestly didn't remember Kinsley.
"I'm Maddie. I'm also new since I just started dating Caden." Maddie's smile was warm, and Kinsley gave her a more genuine smile in return.
"Our plan is to get you out of the house, get you some appropriate clothing, and try to lift your spirits. If that's okay with you?" Anna added at the last second.
One of Kinsley's brows went up. "And if it isn't okay?"
Darting a glance at Logan, Anna licked her lips and then said, "Um, well, then I'd love to see the room you picked for the nursery. It's been a while since I've been up there."
Kinsley descended the last tread and stood in the foyer looking around at the other five people. "I'm not a fish at the aquarium. Stop staring at me."
Caden and Logan suddenly found things to do in other parts of the house. Without humor, I closed the distance between me and Kinsley. The glare she leveled at me would have cowed a lesser man.
I, however, felt my temper reach the boilover point. "For fuck's sake, get out of the house and enjoy yourself. Make friends. Buy stuff."
"Funny, I remember clearly telling you more than once I don't want or need stuff."
With that, she swept past me and yanked on the front door seconds before Noah could open it for her. I was forced to trail after her, biting back my anger. "Kinsley!"
Hugging herself, she kept going down the front walk in the direction of the circular driveway.
"Kinsley, for fuck's sake." When I caught up to her, I grasped her elbow to stop her. It was nearly freezing outside, and she didn't have a coat on. "Do you not recall me saying you can't just waltz out the door without protection?"
Ire blazed brightly in her eyes when she rounded on me. "I remember plenty of things that came out of your mouth, Burke Gallagher, but I've yet to see any evidence proving you know what telling the truth is."
Fuming, I dropped my hold on her before I hurt her and leaned in close. "There are only so many times I can let your bullshit slide before I snap. What the hell happened to the Kinsley I knew?"
"You happened."
Sensing I should let it drop for now, I watched her head back to the house, belatedly realizing how she cradled her belly as she walked. There was a fierce protectiveness inside me screaming at me to follow her, to fix things, but I didn't know what to say. Suddenly, I heard Caden's advice in my head.
"Kinsley."
I didn't think she'd heard me, but when she stopped, I caught up with her.
"I planned to let Anna explain this to you, but Caden seems to think I should be the one to do it." Clearing my throat, I continued. "We need to get married so I can protect you as an officially recognized member of the Family. Our child won't be acknowledged as my heir unless we're husband and wife. Anna and Maddie will plan everything, so you don't have to worry about it, but I need you to understand how important this is."
Jaw hanging open, she stared at me. All I saw was the anger, the hurt, and the fucking incessant tears. Of course she didn't want to marry me.
