“Of course, darlin’.” Duke cut in before he could respond. “We’d give you one hell of a discount.”
Celine wet her lips and darted her gaze between Duke and Lane before finally meeting Lane’s eyes.
He held his breath, unsure what he’d do if she refused because no matter what, there was no way in hell he’d walk away and leave her alone in this house.
“Okay,” she said. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
A sliverof doubt nagged at Celine as she stuffed clothes into a duffle bag. Had she really just agreed to spend one hundred percent of her time with Lane Tipton until the mess she’d found herself in was over?
Okay, so Lane and Duke, but she wouldn’t lie to herself. The only person she trusted with hers and Parker’s lives was Lane.
A light tap at her bedroom door lifted her gaze.
Lane stood in the doorway. “Duke’s getting all of Parker’s stuff in the truck. While we had a second alone, I wanted to check in. Make sure you’re okay with this arrangement.”
She fixed a tight smile on her face and finished folding a sweatshirt before shoving it into the bag. She zipped it closed then plopped onto the bed and shrugged. “I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
Leaning against the frame, he crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. “You have options. Just not many of them, and most that aren’t as logical as coming to stay at my place for a few nights. Best to get you away from your house. There’s no reason for this guy to think you’d be with me.”
Her earlier conversation with Kevin skittered in her brain.
“What?” Lane asked, taking a step forward.
She blinked herself back to the present moment. “Nothing.”
He tilted his head to the side, eyes narrowed. “I know that look. You thought of something you didn’t want to think about.”
She wrinkled her nose, hating how well he could read her. It’d always been that way. The two of them could have an entire conversation across the room without saying a single word. She used to think it was romantic, now it was just annoying.
She could lie, refuse to tell him what was on her mind. But she’d never been one to hide from the truth, and right now, there was no telling what little nugget of information could protect them.
“Kevin stopped by to see me earlier,” she finally said.
“Your ex-husband?”
She nodded.
“And?” Lane’s dark eyebrows arched toward his hairline.
“I told him you’re Parker’s father.” The words rushed out of her mouth before she could change her mind and keep the information to herself.
The hint of a smile played on his lips.
And damn if it wasn’t sexy as hell.
“Is he the only person you’ve told?” Lane asked.
“Besides you, yes. But he brought me food and spouted the same nonsense about wanting to get back together. I was tired and cranky and not in the mood to be nice, so I told him you were back in town and ready to be Parker’s father. He wasn’t very happy.”
“Wait a second,” Lane said, holding a hand. “Not that I’m not thrilled you told him the truth about Parker’s paternity, but how did him bringing food and talking about your relationship lead to me?”
Her stomach dropped. “He’s tried to use Parker needing a father as a way to worm his way back in my life.”
Lane clenched his jaw and tightened his fists at his side. “Excuse me?”
“But I’ve never let him,” she rushed ahead, wanting to diffuse Lane’s anger. An anger he had every right to feel. “He’s never even held Parker. Always would just show up like he did tonight. Either here or at work and grovel. Beg. Barter. Whatever he could think of to weaken my resolve to keep him away.”
Lane blew out a long breath. The red that had clashed against his cheeks moments before faded. “And you don’t think the sheriff’s department should know any of this?”
