Ciar saw nothing but red. A haze of fury at seeing Gray in the arms of another man was too much. He tore his gaze from Gray and made his way to the host stand.
“Good afternoon, Sir. Do you have a reservation?”
“Gray MacGregor.”
“Right this way.”
He entered with the host, told her he saw his friends—calling that idiot a friend irritated him—and said she didn’t need to escort him further. He preferred privacy in case things went sideways.
Gray didn’t see him approach, too enraptured by Cannon holding her hand across the table and telling her what a big mistake he’d made, presumably talking about breaking up with her.No shit.
“No, asshole. Your biggest mistake is touching what is mine.”
Cannon and Gray both looked at Ciar looming over their table with similar looks of surprise, all wide eyes and parted lips. “Let go of her hand, or I’ll break it.”
He made no move to let her go, and Gray appeared too shocked to realize. “Gray.” He put enough demand in his tone to snap her out of her stasis.
She quickly pulled her hand from under Cannon’s and focused on Ciar. “How did you know I would be here?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you shouldn’t be here. At least, not with him.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And why is that?”
“In Colorado, the first night we slept together, you promised you’d stick by me even if I fucked up. You promised.”
“You promised me a lot of things too,” she whispered, tears sparkling on her lashes, gutting him.
“Is this the prick that left you when he found out about the baby?”
If they hadn’t been in the middle of the fucking Fitzwilliam, he would have made sure Cannon regretted ever speaking of his daughter.
“Cannon. Please,” Gray started, “that isn’t what happened.”
“Oh really,” Cannon scoffed. “Then tell me why you’re sitting here with a round belly and this,” he looked Ciar up and down with a sneer, “thug left you alone to deal with his mistake alone.”
Ciar was too dumbfounded by what Cannon just said to deal properly with the insulting way he spoke. When Gray turned a murderous glare Cannon’s way, Ciar felt more turned around.
“Enough Cannon. I appreciate that you’re trying to help, but you aren’t. I also want to be very clear that a baby is never someone’s ‘mistake.’ Please leave. I’ll call you later.”
“No, she won’t. You heard Gray. Get out.”
Cannon stood stiffly, noticing for the first time all the waitstaff hovering near their table, causing his cheeks to flush in embarrassment.Pansy.Ciar didn’t care who heard him claiming Gray.
Ciar didn’t take the vacated seat but chose the one closest to Gray, smirking at Cannon while he made himself comfortable, putting his arm around the back of her chair.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing here,” Cannon spoke to Ciar, “but you seem awfully proud of yourself for someone who left a woman to go through pregnancy alone.”
He turned his gaze to Gray. “Don’t take him back, Gray. I will be there for you. I’ll move home, baby. I swear I will. He doesn’twant you. He’s just selfish enough not to want anyone else to have you. Please call me tonight so I won’t worry.”
She nodded in agreement, causing a growl to rumble up his throat. Cannon turned abruptly on his heel and left. Finally.
Now that the threat to his relationship with Gray was gone, his brain was starting to come back online. He was missing something.
He removed his arm from around her stiff shoulders and turned her chair slightly toward his so that it was easier to speak. “What was all that about? What did he mean by me leaving a woman alone and pregnant? I,” he hesitated and had to clear his throat twice before he could get out, “didn’t know Imogen’s mom was pregnant. You know that.”
Gray shook her head and huffed in disbelief or disgust. “Back up. You’re too close.”
She was pissed, so he obeyed and moved back enough where their legs no longer touched. He felt the loss of her warmth down to his bones.
