by Joss Wood
Through Brodie’s shock and anger she saw Poppy blink back tears. Poppy was the strongest person she knew and not given to showing emotion. “I want you to be brave, Brodie. I want you to start living.”
Brodie felt her anger fade. “I don’t know how,” she whispered. “I’ve forgotten.”
Poppy walked toward her and pulled her to her slight frame. “You start by taking one step at a time, my darling. Go talk to the father...” Poppy pulled back to frown at Brodie. “Who is the father?”
“Kade Webb.”
“My baby has taste.” Poppy grinned. “Well, at the risk of sounding shallow, at the very least the baby will be one good-looking little human.” Poppy grabbed Brodie’s hand and pulled her from the bathroom. “Now come and tell me how you met and, crucially, how you ended up in bed.”
Six
Date one of three and he was officially off the publicity wagon until he had to do this again next month.
Well, he would be done as soon as she left his apartment. He wouldn’t offer her any more wine, Kade decided. He wasn’t going to extend the date any longer than he absolutely had to. He’d wanted to have supper at a restaurant but Wren had insisted he cook Rachel dinner in his expansive loft apartment. Cooking her dinner would show the public his caring, domestic side.
The public, thanks to the photographers who’d hovered around, would also see his residence in downtown Vancouver and Simon, his mutt. Kade stroked his hand over Si’s head, which lay heavy on his thigh. Simon, whom he’d found in an alley on one of his early-morning runs, considered Kade his personal property and any woman would have to fight his dog for a place in his life.
Kade stifled his sigh and resisted the urge to look at his watch. When he’d received the portfolios of his potential dates from Brodie, he’d flipped through the three candidates and opted to eat with the doctor. Then he’d contacted Wren and instructed her to arrange his first date for as soon as possible. Breakfast, lunch and supper...whenever, she just had to get it done. Wren, efficient as always, had done exactly that. One down, two to go.
“And then I spent three months working in the Sudan with Médecins Sans Frontières.”
His buzzer signaled someone was downstairs wanting to come up. Kade smiled at his guest, hoping Wren had read his mind and come to rescue him.
You’re a big boy, he heard Wren’s amused voice in his head. If you can talk them into bed, then you sure as hell don’t need my help to talk them out of your apartment.
Or maybe it was Quinn downstairs. The doctor was his type—brainy and built. Quinn would, if Kade asked him, take Rachel off his hands. Kade stood up and walked across the open space to his front door and intercom. He pressed the button, called out a greeting and shrugged when no one answered.
It had to be Mac or Quinn. They both usually hit the buzzer to signal they were on their way up.
Kade turned to walk back to his guest. It was definitely time to maneuver her out the door. Please let Quinn be thundering up the steps, he thought. Please.
A tentative knock told him it wasn’t Quinn, or Mac, and Kade frowned. Who else would be visiting him at 9:45 p.m. on a Saturday night? Then again, whoever it was would be a distraction and he’d take what he could get.
Sending a fake smile of apology in Rachel’s direction, he walked back to the door and opened it. As per usual when he saw Brodie, his mouth dried up and his heart flipped once, then twice.
What was it about this woman that turned his brain to mush? If he compared her to Rachel, Brodie came up short. She was wearing ratty jeans and a tight T-shirt in pale gray, a perfect match to her complexion. Pale gray tinged with green. Her eyes were a flat, dark, mossy green and accessorized by huge black rings. Her hair was raked off her face and she looked like a spring ready to explode.
“We need to talk... Can I come in?”
Kade tossed a look over his shoulder and sighed when he saw Rachel walking in their direction, a puzzled look on her face. “Hi, there.” Rachel appeared at his shoulder and he watched Brodie’s eyes widen as she gave the buxom doctor a good up-and-down look.
“Doctor Martinez.” Brodie’s voice cooled.
Brodie stepped to the side and looked across his apartment to the small dining table at the far end of the room. Kade sighed. Fat candles, muted light, wineglasses, her heels next to her chair. It looked like everything it really wasn’t, a romantic dinner for two.
Kade heard the click of Si’s nails against the wooden floor and waited for the dog to take his customary place at Kade’s side. Si, to Kade’s surprise, walked straight past him and up to Brodie. Kade waited for the growl and cocked his head when Simon nuzzled his snout into Brodie’s hand. Brodie immediately, and instinctively, dropped to her haunches and rubbed her hands over Si’s ears and down his neck.
Delight flickered in her tired eyes. “Oh, he’s gorgeous, Kade. I didn’t know you had a dog.”
“We haven’t exactly had a lot of time to talk,” Kade pointed out and Brodie flushed. “Meet Simon, part Alsatian, part malamute, all sappy. I’ve had him about two months.”
“He’s a lovely dog,” Rachel said, her tone bright and chirpy. Oh, hell, he’d forgotten she was there.
Kade watched as Brodie stood up slowly, a blush creeping up her neck. Kade could see she was ready to bolt. He wanted to hustle Rachel out, pull Brodie in, pick her up and cradle her in his arms and find out, in between kisses, what was making her so very miserable.
Because she was—he knew it like his own name.
Brodie darted a look at Rachel and he saw her suck in a breath. He watched how she added two and two and somehow ended up with sixty-five.
Brodie lifted her hands and stepped back. “I am being inexcusably rude, I’m so sorry.” She gave them a smile as fake as this date.
“But you said you needed to talk,” Kade reminded her. “I’m sure Rachel will excuse us.”
“Please... It’s really not important,” Brodie insisted and jammed her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “I’m so sorry to have disturbed your evening. Good night.”
“Brodie.” Kade didn’t want her to leave.
“Good night!” Rachel called, turning and walking back to the table. He watched, irritated, as she picked up his full glass of wine to take a healthy sip. She cradled the glass between her ample breasts and sent him a speculative look.
Kade stopped by the coatrack and pulled her bag and jacket from a hook and held them out to her.
Rachel put down her wine and cocked her head. A small, regretful smile tilted her wide mouth upward.
“Well, that sucks,” she cheerfully stated, suddenly looking a lot warmer. Kade scratched his forehead in confusion. But before he could ask for an explanation, Rachel spoke again. “Want to tell me why you are doing the dating thing when you are completely besotted with your matchmaker?”
“I am not besotted with her!” Kade responded, thoroughly disconcerted by the observation.
“Well, something is happening between you two.” Rachel slipped into her shoes, then walked over to him and took her jacket and purse from his hands. “Pity, because I rather like you.”
Kade rubbed his hand across his forehead. “Look, I enjoyed our evening...”
Rachel laughed. “Oh, you big, fat liar! I’ve never worked so hard in all my life to impress someone and most men are easily impressed!”
He had to smile and was so damn thankful he wasn’t dealing with the drama queen he’d expected her to be. “I’m so sorry. I’m really not besotted with her but it is complicated. And these dates are...” Could he trust her not to spill the beans?
“A publicity stunt?” Rachel had guessed before he could say more. “I figured that out as soon as I saw the look on your face when you opened the door. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
Kade let ou
t a relieved sigh. “Thank you.” He bent down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I really appreciate it. I’ll take you home.”
Rachel patted his biceps. “I’ll call a cab and you can go and find your girl so that you can sort out your complications.”
Kade watched her walk out of his loft, resisting the urge to deny there was anything between him and Brodie besides some great sex and a couple of laughs. There was nothing to sort out, nothing to worry about. If that was the case, then he shouldn’t be desperate to find out exactly what it was Brodie wanted to say.
He was just curious, he told himself. It didn’t mean he had feelings for her. He wasn’t besotted with her.
Besotted? What a ridiculous word! He wasn’t... He couldn’t be. He didn’t do besotted. But he would admit to being curious, that wasn’t a crime.
* * *
Brodie left the rain forest and the Willowbrae Trail and walked onto one of the vast, sandy beaches characterizing this part of the west coast of Vancouver Island. She stared at the huge waves rolling in from Japan and slipped out of her sneakers, digging her toes into the cool sand.
This place—Poppy’s cabin—with its magnificent sea views, was her hideout, the place she ran to every time her life fell apart. She and her family had spent many holidays here, in winter and summer and the seasons in between. This was where she felt closest to them. After the accident, she’d spent six weeks up here, to recuperate. Her body healed quickly but her heart never had.
Despite the memories, she still wanted to run up here when life threw her curveballs. Here, if she didn’t think too much, her soul felt occasionally satisfied. This was her special place, her thinking place.
Two days had passed since she’d left Vancouver and she’d spent all that time thinking of Kade, and trying not to obsess about what happened between him and Doctor Delicious after Brodie left.
The thought of him and another woman so soon—was six weeks soon?
And she still had to tell him about the pregnancy. Brodie placed her hands on her stomach and sucked in a breath. She also needed to tell him she intended to keep this child, to raise it on her own.
Poppy was right. Keeping the baby would take courage and sacrifice and...well, balls. Brodie also knew her parents would have wanted her to keep the child, to care for the next generation of Stewarts as they’d planned to do.
So she’d decided to be a mommy. She needed to tell Kade he was going to be a daddy. There was no rush, Brodie thought, as she picked up a piece of driftwood and tossed it toward a bubbling wave. She had eight or so months.
Or, hell, maybe not.
Brodie recognized his stride first, long and loose. His blond hair and most of his face was covered by a black cap. Simon, Kade’s huge, sloppy mutt, galloped between him and the waves, barking with joy. Then Simon recognized her and let out a yelp of elated welcome. Brodie was glad that he, at least, looked happy to see her.
Kade did not. He stopped in front of her, tipped back the rim of his cap and scowled. “Sixteen missed calls. Six messages, Stewart. Seriously?”
“I needed some time alone,” Brodie replied, rubbing Simon’s ears. She looked up into Kade’s frustrated eyes. “Why are you here?”
The wind blew Kade’s cotton shirt up and revealed the ridges of his stomach. Brodie had to stop herself from whimpering. “I’m here because you came to my loft, looking like hell on wheels, saying we needed to talk. I’ve spent the last two days looking for you.”
Brodie picked up a small stick and threw it for Simon, who ran straight past it into a wave. “I suppose Poppy told you where I was.”
“When I managed to find her,” Kade muttered.
Brodie frowned. “She’s not difficult to find. She lives below me.”
“Not for the last two nights. She finally came home, on a Harley, with a guy who was at least fifteen years younger than her.”
Brodie grinned. “Good for Poppy.” At least one of them was having fun.
Brodie felt her throat tighten. She had to tell him, now.
“Kade...” Brodie met his eyes, dug deep and found a little bit of courage. “The night we were together... Do you remember how we brushed off the issue of the split condom?”
Kade frowned and his face darkened. She didn’t need to say any more, she could see he’d immediately connected the dots. “You’re...?” He rubbed his hands over his face.
“Pregnant,” Brodie confirmed.
“But you said you were on the pill,” Kade stuttered and the color drained from his face.
“I was on the pill, but apparently it fails sometimes.”
Kade linked his hands behind his head. He looked shaken and, understandably, mad as hell. Brodie couldn’t blame him; she’d experienced those emotions herself.
“Might I remind you,” she added, “the condom you brought was faulty.”
“So you’re saying this is my fault?” Kade shouted, dropping his hands. Simon whined and Kade patted his head to reassure him everything was okay. Brodie wished he’d reassure her, too.
Brodie made an effort to hold on to her own slipping temper. “I’m not blaming you, I’m explaining what happened.”
Kade dropped a couple of F-bombs. “I’m not ready to be a father. I don’t want to be a father!”
“Being a mother wasn’t in my five-year plan, either, Webb.”
Kade folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. “You don’t seem particularly upset about this.”
Where was he the last couple of nights when she’d cried herself to sleep? The same nights she’d paced the floor? “I’m pregnant and it’s not something that’s going away. I have to deal with it. You, however, do not.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
Brodie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged. “If you want I’ll sign a release absolving you of all responsibility for this child.”
Kade stared down at the sand and Brodie noticed his hands, in the pockets of his khakis shorts, were now fists. He was hanging on to his temper by a thread. “Is that my only option?”
“What else do you want? You just said you don’t want to be this baby’s father. Have you changed your mind? That would mean paying child support and sorting out custody arrangements. Is that what you want?”
“For crap’s sake, I don’t know! I’m still trying to deal with the idea you’re saying you’re pregnant!” Kade yelled.
“I’m saying I am pregnant?” Brodie frowned. Did he think she was making this up for kicks and giggles? “Do you doubt me?” she asked, her voice low and bitter.
“We slept together several weeks ago, how can you be sure?” Kade retorted. “Have you done a blood test? How can I be sure you’re not jerking my chain?”
Brodie’s mouth fell open. How could he, for one moment, think she would lie about this? Didn’t he know her at all? Actually, he didn’t, Brodie admitted. They’d shared their bodies but nothing of their thoughts or feelings. And now they were going to have a baby together... No, judging by his lack of enthusiasm, she was going to be walking this road solo.
Brodie slapped her hand on his chest and pushed. He didn’t shift a millimeter and her temper bubbled. “I am not lying, exaggerating or jerking your chain! This isn’t fun for me, either, Webb, but I’m going to be an adult and deal with it!” Her chest felt tight and her face was on fire. “I’ve done my part. I’ve informed you. I’ll get my lawyer to draw up a document releasing you from your parental rights.”
Brodie spun around and started toward the path leading back to the cabin. God, she was tired. Tired of stressing, tired of arguing. Just plain exhausted. Tired of dealing with the emotions Webb yanked to the surface whenever she was around him. She just wanted some peace, to retreat, to shut down.
“I don’t know what I want!” Kade hurled the words and Bro
die felt them bounce off the back of her head.
Brodie slowly turned and shrugged. “I can’t help you with that. But accusing me of lying certainly doesn’t help make sense of the situation.”
Embarrassment flashed across Kade’s face. He stared at the sand and then out to sea. She could see the tension on his face. “It’s happened before...with two other women. They said I made them pregnant.”
Brodie tipped her head. “Did you?”
His look was hot and tight and supremely pissed off. “Hell no! When my lawyers asked for DNA proof they backed down.”
Of course they did. Brodie sighed and tried to ignore the growing hurt enveloping her heart. “So, naturally, I’m just another one-night stand, another woman you slept with who wants to trap you.” She released a small, bitter laugh and lifted her hands in a what-was-I-thinking? gesture. “That’s an example of how extraordinarily stupid I can be on occasion. Goodbye, Kade.”
Brodie took a couple of steps before turning around once more. “My lawyer will contact yours. I really don’t think we have much more to say to one another.”
Brodie walked away and Kade didn’t call her back, didn’t say another word. When she hit the trail to the cottage, Brodie patted her stomach.
So it’ll be you and me, babe. We’ll be fine.
Of course she would. She always was.
* * *
So that wasn’t what he’d been expecting, Kade thought as he sank to the sand and stared at the wild waves slapping the beach.
Brodie was pregnant? With his child? What the hell...? He scrubbed his face with his hands. What were the chances? And why was fate screwing with him?