Logan still didn’t look happy.
‘What do you think Immy’s plan is, to scam me into marriage?’ Xander said. ‘When she first told me, she said she was happy to raise this baby alone and I didn’t need to be a part of it if I didn’t want to be. That doesn’t sound like a big scam to me. I insisted we get married and she said no. So if that’s her big plan, she’s not very good at it.’
‘I… don’t think she’s trying to scam you. I like Immy, she seems nice. I just… I know you were hurt by Brook, notjust by her affair but also by finding out the truth about Etta.’
‘Possible truth,’ corrected Xander. ‘We don’t know if she is or isn’t mine.’
‘You were devastated by it,’ Logan went on as if he hadn’t been interrupted. ‘And I don’t want you to have to go through that again.’
‘I won’t because I trust Immy and that she’s telling the truth. I admit when she first told me she was pregnant, I assumed it was another man’s because it seemed so long since we’d been together. But once she told me it was mine and I did the maths, I believe her. If she says the baby is mine then the babyismine.’
Logan shook his head. ‘I don’t like it. You always lead with your heart not your head.’
‘You don’t have to like it. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a grown-ass adult who is more than capable of making my own mistakes.’
‘So you admit it could be a mistake.’
Xander sighed. This whole conversation was giving him a headache.
There was a noise at the door of the lounge and Xander turned round to see Immy standing there. She looked angry and his heart sank. She had clearly heard some or maybe even all of the conversation.
Logan had the good grace to look guilty.
‘You think I’m lying to your brother?’ Her voice was bitter.
‘I don’t… think that necessarily. I just want Xander tobe sure before he takes this any further. He’s been burned in the past and I don’t want it to happen again.’
‘I would never hurt him in that way. Partly because I care about him too much to ever want to hurt him, partly because I know his past and I could never do that to him again, and partly because I’m just not a devious person. That’s not who I am. If I had been with someone else I would be honest that the baby might not be his, but that’s not the case. There has only been Xander. I haven’t been with anyone else for at least a year. The baby is his.’
Logan rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
‘But I have absolutely nothing to hide. If a paternity test would put both your minds at ease, then I’m happy to do it.’
‘That’s not necessary,’ Xander said. ‘You don’t have anything to prove to me.’
‘But it seems I do have something to prove to your family.’
‘I’m just looking out for my brother,’ Logan said.
‘And quite honestly, I don’t need it. I don’t need you interfering with my life,’ Xander said.
‘Xander, we’re going to do the paternity test,’ Immy said, firmly, her eyes flashing with anger. ‘Then there can never be any doubt.’
Xander sighed at what a mess Logan had created. ‘I’m not doing anything to harm the baby.’
‘It’s non-invasive. They’ll take a blood test from me, and a cheek swab from you. It’s not free though, it’s quite pricey, but I presume, Logan, you’re willing to payfor it as you’re so determined to prove Xander is not the father.’
Logan nodded uncomfortably. ‘I’ll pay for the paternity test.’
There was movement at the door and they all looked round to see Etta standing there with wide eyes. ‘What’s a paternity test?’
CHAPTER TWELVE
‘Hey sweetheart,’ Logan said, gently, crouching down so he was at the same level as Etta. He held his hand out to her and she came over and took it. ‘I thought you were downstairs with Max.’
Xander shook his head with frustration. Logan adored Etta, all his brothers did. So Logan making such a fuss about how Xander had been duped before so could be again just didn’t make sense when the outcome of that dupe was this little girl they all loved.
‘I just came up to get my coat, Max is taking me down the beach. I heard you shouting.’
