Silas generally keeps the brunch menu pretty simple—lots of bacon, eggs, sausages and hash browns. Some token croissants and jams. If Silas serves homemade jam, it means he’s having issues, but we’re getting lucky.
When I walk in, my brothers’ faces light up with sly grins.
“Look at you, Mr. Billion Dollars,” Finn says.
“How does it feel to have your girlfriend tell you that you’re worth a billion dollars in front of everyone?” Xavier asks with a laugh.
“Has to be amazing. Although I have no idea how she got the money,” Liam says.
“From her father, supposedly. But it must’ve been recent,” Roarke explains. “If she’d had that kind of money before, she definitely wouldn’t have put up with working for Rhys.”
“Come on, I’m not that bad,” I protest, trying not to show my emotional upheaval.
Finn gives me a flinty look. “Not that bad? Are you kidding? Do you know how many plans you made her cancel by asking her to work late?”
“It was for a good cause. Work had to be done, and her dates were inferior.” But maybe I’m even worse than they are. As bad as Slick is, I’m certain he doesn’t have parents like mine. Or semiannual family scandals, whether they go public or not.
Roarke rolls his eyes. “When I make my employees work late, I at least provide good liquor. Unlike you.”
“Have some sausages,” Silas tells us. “They’re made with some wild venison I got from this hunter in Montana. He came highly recommended.”
I grab a plateful of food. No homemade jam, so life must be going smoothly for Silas. I settle down in my seat, then look at the drink options. “I need vodka,” I mutter before I can catch myself.
Silas slides a cup of coffee in my direction.
“Why do you look like somebody just stole your teddy bear?” Xavier frowns at me. “A beautiful woman publicly staked her claim to you.”
“Exactly. Is she demanding her money’s worth? Even at a million bucks a date, you’d need to stay with her for almost three years,” Gideon jokes.
Roarke mock-scoffs. “He isn’t worth that much.”
“No, no, nothing like that,” I say. “I just—” I sigh, then adjust my glasses a couple of times then give up. They simply won’t sit properly. Or maybe it’s my emotions that won’t settle. “What do you think it means when a woman says she’s pregnant, but doesn’t want you to do the right thing?”
“It isn’t your baby…?” Roarke offers.
“Maybe she doesn’t want to keep it?” Xavier says with a shrug. “Just because she’s pregnant doesn’t mean she wants to be a mom.”
I clench my jaw.
Gideon stops in the middle of biting into his sausage and peers at me. “Define ‘the right thing.’”
“It’s my baby, and I’m sure she wants it,” I say, although I’m actually not one hundred percent sure on the second point. Max demurred quite a bit, looking utterly torn. I turn to Gideon. “As for ‘the right thing,’ I think it means getting married, forming a family and all that.”
Liam frowns. “Are we talking about Max or somebody else?”
“It has to be Max. Otherwise he wouldn’t be this depressed,” Finn says.
Xavier shakes his head in confusion. “So she spent a billion dollars on you, but doesn’t think you’re worthy of being the father of her baby?”
“Something like that,” I say, hating that the way he put it makes it sound like there’s something seriously wrong with me.
Of course there is.You aren’t worth the hassle your parents bring to the table.
“Wait a minute. Do you want tomarryher?” Roarke’s eyes are wide.
“Yes,” I say tightly. I’d have asked already if I were certain of her answer. But if she doesn’t want to stay with me forever, she’ll probably pack up and leave right there. I can’t risk that possibility.
“You sound anything but happy at the prospect.” Roarke studies my expression. “Do you at least like her enough to want to spend the rest of your life with her? A baby is a big deal.”
