“Wanna see my kid regularly. Not whenever you fuckin’ decide. He’s half mine, Ky.”
“Then I assume you’ll pay half his expenses, including his childcare.”
“Ain’t gonna need to pay for childcare once my family knows he exists.”
“Your family. Do you mean your immediate family, like your mom and dad? Or your DAMC family, including sweet butts and strippers? Because I want a say in who’s watching my son.”
He pursed his lips but didn’t answer right away.
Oh yeah, he was clearly scheming, so she quickly added, “Once he’s comfortable around you, we’ll let him know you’re his father. But not until then, Zeke. In the meantime, we need to set some rules.” When his mouth opened, she lifted a hand. “Think carefully before you say no to that. I could make you work for your time with him, even have visitations limited by a court order, and that wouldn’t turn out well for you due to your convictions and being a part of an MC. Hell, thepresidentof an MC. Lily would probably agree with me about that. If you want this to go easily and in your favor, you’ll agree to the rules. They’ll also be in your son’s best interest.”
“Fuckin’ rules,” he muttered. “What are they?”
At least he was willing to hear them. But of course, she wasn’t prepared. “How about I come up with a list and we setanother date for you to spend time with Ledger and we can go over them?”
“Not likin’ this, ba— Ky.” His expression looked like he accidentally tasted some shit thinking it was chocolate.
“It’s not about you. It’s about my son.”
“Ourson.”
“That’s right, and you should be concerned with his welfare, too.”
“Tomorrow.”
Her head jerked back. “Tomorrow what?”
“Wanna see Ledger tomorrow. Bring him by Church. Wanna show him his roots. Then we can discuss those fuckin’ rules. Be prepared for some negotiation.”
“I want more time than?—”
“Fuck that. You ain’t the only one makin’ fuckin’ rules. Tomorrow.”
She sighed. If agreeing to that got him out of her house, she’d work on that list tonight. “Fine. I’ll be there. I have to work in the evening, so it’ll have to be early. You’ll just have to kick out whoever’s in your bed before noon.”
“Should be you.”
“Been there, done that. Have the toddler to prove it.”
His nostrils flared and his jaws shifted. “Whatever.”
Relief flooded her when he spun on his boot heel and headed toward the door.
She followed to lock it behind him but before he opened it, he stopped and turned.
Now what?
Why did he have to continue to make this situation difficult for her?
“Hey, you ain’t interested in becomin’ a doctor, are you?”
Her head jerked back at that unexpected question. “What? Why?”
He shook his head. “Never mind. Just an idea I got. Where you workin’, anyway?”
“Right now I’m working per diem.”
“Per diem? What the fuck’s that mean?”
