Page 98 of Steele

For the beat of my heart, I thought he meant the baby, but of course, he couldn’t know. It wasn’t fair not to tell him. Yet, he’d finally gotten Lili back, and more importantly, she’d just gotten her daddy back. Another baby would crush her. She shouldn’t have to think about sharing him when her little world was already so chaotic.

“I’m happy for you.” I handed the papers back to him and blinked to keep tears from my eyes. I reached for the heavy skillet hanging from the hook.

“We had to negotiate a couple of things.” Brett pressed in close behind me, grabbed the skillet, and set it on the stove. The scent of his cologne lingered on his skin. The warmth of his breath teased my neck.

“Thanks,” I whispered and set the burner flame on medium.

He smiled, stayed close to me, and kept talking. “Nat doesn’t want Lili at the MC. We compromised. She can come to the club, but no sleepovers.” His hand ran across my ass as he shifted to the side of me. “I admit, I didn’t fight her on that.”

My tummy tumbled, and I took a step away from him. I’d reasoned with myself that I’d have this week to figure out what I was going to do. But now, he insinuated that he’d be with me every night. That nothing had changed between us, but I’d changed. I wasn’t strong enough to resist him. If he was in my bed, I’d want to sleep with him. I was already in love with him.

“What happened in court?” If I could keep him talking, he wouldn’t notice my hands trembling or the fear pricking my thoughts.

“You had court?” Holly asked. “I used to be a paralegal. Well, technically, I worked for the paralegal of the lawyer I was dating. I needed a job, and he liked seeing me around the office.” She wagged her brows.

“It’s complicated,” I said. I hadn’t mentioned the restraining order to Holly. When faced with the choice of discussing my pregnancy or discussing his legal issues, I’d rather talk about the weather.

I opened the fridge, grabbed the chicken tenderloins, and set them in the sink. As the pan heated, I washed the chicken.

Brett shifted his gaze from Holly to me.

“My ex made accusations against me,” he said. “This morning, I had my day in court.” Brett sipped his drink and ran back the morning. “The hearing didn’t take long once Natalie called her brother as a witness.” He refilled his whiskey glass and realized I wasn’t drinking with him. “Can I get you a drink?” He pulled another glass tumbler from the cupboard and went to the icemaker in the door of the fridge.

“Just water,” I said. “I…I’m tired tonight. If I drink, I’ll crash.”

His brows furrowed. He set the glass on the counter, wrapped his palm around the back of my neck, and tipped my face. “Baby,” he softly said. “If you’re tired, you should rest. You don’t need to cook.”

“I’m fine.”

He lowered his head and kissed me. “Sit down. Tell me what to do.”

Holly jumped from the stool. “I’ll help him.”

My face must have expressed my horror.

“You’re a teacher,” she said. “Teach us how to cook.”

I pushed her away from the sink. “We’ll starve.”

“That’s why there’s delivery.” Holly gave up the pretense of cooking and turned to Brett. “So you have a little girl, you’re getting divorced, you ride a Harley, you’re part of a motorcycle club, and you’re dating my best friend?”

“Yes to all of the above. Lili’s six, loves bugs, and has an attitude like her old man. I’ve been separated a year. Divorce should be final in a couple weeks.” He slipped off his cut and draped it over the back of the chair. Then he joined me at the stove again and bumped his hip against mine. “We haven’t been on an actual date yet.”

“Not yet.” I used tongs to drop the chicken onto the hot pan. “You were telling us what happened with her brother.”

“I’m lucky he refused to perjure himself.” He took over cooking the chicken, and I grabbed a bundle of asparagus out of the fridge. While I cut the ends, I handed him spices for the chicken, and he continued to talk. “After the hearing, I had the chance to talk to him. He wants me back on the job. I haven’t said yes. I don’t know what’s crazier. Taking the job with so much bad blood between us or turning it down when I need the money.”

Holly poured another glass of wine and refilled Brett’s glass with whiskey. “I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if her brother would’ve lied for her.”

His voice quieted. “I’d have lost Lili.”

“What a bitch,” Holly said.

“Pretty sure I made her that way.”

“No, Brett.” I spread the asparagus on a baking sheet and shoved it into the oven under the broiler. Then I faced him. “Nothing you’ve done justifies what she’s done.” Pressure tightened my chest. “Being Lili’s mother doesn’t make her more important than you.”

I glanced at Holly. I needed saving. But she looked at me as if to say, “I don’t know what you want me to do.” Because I’d told her not to say anything. Tears burned in my eyes. If I didn’t tell Brett about the baby, I’d be just as bad as Natalie.