“I’m buttering him up for the eventual custody battle over Wilbur.”
Ford scratched at his jaw. “I thought you might name the kid after me.”
“No.”
“Crawford Reed is a solid name.”
“No way,” I insisted despite having considered naming the baby after my dad. “You should get Clint to name his sons after you.”
“How do you know he’ll have sons?”
“I always assume people will have boys. I’m right fifty percent of the time.”
Zodiac smirked. “I prefer Crawford to Wilbur.”
“Don’t kiss my dad’s ass. That’s Pax’s job.”
“I heard that, Elle,” Pax said, entering the house. “You ought to watch yourself with those insults now that you’ve gotten knocked up by another random fucker.”
Gasping, I looked to my dad for an assist. “Defend my honor.”
“Don’t worry,” Ford told me and offered a soft smile. “I’ll make him pay when he least expects it.”
Hugging my dad, I glanced at Zodiac. “The baby’s name will be Wilbur.”
“No,” Zodiac replied while holding my gaze.
Giving up on my hostess role, I hurried back to the kitchen. The other women had bailed on cooking and were outside with the dogs.
With no one to play interference, Zodiac followed me. I felt him behind me and nearly started running except I was inside my house.Where the fuck was I supposed to hide?
“Did you want a daughter?” Zodiac asked.
“If I had a girl, her name would have been Charlotte. But I knew it was a boy. Wilbur will be loved.”
Suddenly at my side, Sutter frowned. “Is he bothering you?”
“Yes, baby. He’s got no manners,” I said and stroked my son’s cheek. “But Zodiac didn’t have a good upbringing, so let’s not make him feel too bad for failing miserably.”
Zodiac must have disliked my comment because he did the unthinkable and spoke to my boy.
“Kid, tell your mom to look at me.”
“Why?”
“She obeys me when she looks in my eyes.”
“Why would I help you make her obey?”
“Don’t you want an obedient mother?”
“No,” Sutter said and then asked, “Can you make her stop smothering me with hugs when people are around?”
“Sure. Just get her to look at me.”
Sutter studied me, seeming torn between his needs and mine. I thought to offer to stop smothering him in front of other people, but I tried not to lie to my boy.
"My grandpa told me it’s important to be square with other men."
