Each time, Becca jolted awake, tears streaming down her cheeks, trembling with anxiety. The nightmare never varied. Quinn, the outsider, watching the family he didn’t know existed. With every nightmare, she’d vow to track him down and tell him about his son. She never had.
This day could very well become her Waterloo.
Chapter Six
Wrangler stretched out his long legs, crossing them at the ankles, impeding Becca’s attempt to leave. He’d said nothing when she grabbed her purse, watching various emotions cross her face before she set it back down.
What bothered him was the panicked look in her eyes, the tense muscles in her face and jaw. He’d never seen her so strung out, as if she might crash at any time. The Becca he remembered had always been easygoing, slow to anger, quick to forgive, with a spine of steel. The woman across the table from him showed none of those traits. Another pang of guilt stabbed him. Had his leaving been the cause of such a dramatic change?
She’d been correct about him having no right to expect anything from her. He’d lost the privilege ten years ago.
“I’m not asking for you to allow me back into your life, Bec.”
“Don’t call me that. It’s Rebecca or Becca.” She set her clasped hands on the table, her knuckles turning white.
Yep, right on the edge. “What I’m trying to say, Becca, is I just want some time to explain my reasons.”
“If memory serves, your reasons were clear. We were young. You wanted time to explore the world. You weren’t ready to make a lifetime commitment. I don’t believe you mentioned other women, but I could read between the lines. What I didn’t foresee, never expected, was not to hear from you again.”
Shifting in the seat, taking a quick glance into the game area, she straightened her spine. “We’ve been over a long time, Quinn. My dreams changed years ago. I’ve created a good life. There’s no reason to dredge up old wounds. I’m sorry my being in Liberty Lake bothers you, but you’ll have to learn to live with it. The same as I learned to live without you.”
Becca prayed he’d get the hint and leave. “I’m sure you have more important things to do than sit here, waiting for something that will never happen.”
“Never is a long time.”
Out of habit, his gaze moved around the large interior to the darkened room packed with arcade games. Attention landing on two young boys playing air hockey, his lips tipped into a grin, recalling all the times he, Caid, and Ethan had challenged each other. That hadn’t changed in all the years since.
“Aren’t you even a little curious about my life over the last ten years? I’m definitely curious about you.”
“No.”
He ignored her curt reply. “For instance, why are you working as a paralegal instead of a lawyer?”
“I changed my mind.” The tick at the corner of her eye signaled the lie.
“I’ve never known anyone so focused on a goal. You talked about it from the time we started going out. After getting your law degree, you planned to work with one of the big firms in Phoenix. Stay long enough...” His voice trailed off, recalling the rest of what they’d discussed.
“Long enough to get a job wherever you were stationed,” she continued for him.
A pain so sharp he grimaced slashed through him. “Was my leaving the reason you never pursued it?”
She’d been taking slow, measured breaths, willing herself to stay calm until convincing him to leave. Her will was fading. She wanted to scream that his leaving changed her entire life, demolishing her dreams and dashing her hopes.
“I appreciate you wanting to know about my past, but that isn’t going to happen.” Gripping her purse, she stood, not sure what her next move would be, knowing she had to get away from him. “There’s some place I have to be.” Her body rigid in indecision, she waited for him to give up. Thankfully, she didn’t wait long.
Standing, he looked down at her. At just over six feet, he towered over her five-foot-four height. It had been one reason he’d hesitated asking her out in high school. It hadn’t taken long to realize her short stature hid a core of steel, big heart, and determined nature.
He’d loved her quick mind, sweet sense of humor, and loyalty. Within weeks, he’d fallen in love.
During college, after he’d made his decision to follow his oldest brother into the Navy, she’d been there for him. Supportive, willing to follow him anywhere, excited for their future.
A powerful rush of reality hit him. If he’d stayed, Wrangler would still be a SEAL, probably be a member of Eternal Brethren. She’d have become an attorney. They would’ve fulfilled all their dreams. And they’d still be together.
“No matter what you believe, I never stopped thinking about you, Becca. Leaving was the greatest mistake of my life. This time, I’m not walking away. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be waiting.”
Watching him turn, closing the short distance to the door, she had the strongest urge to run after him. But the middle of a crowded restaurant wasn’t the time to confess the secret which burned within her. The secret she’d begun to believe should’ve been voiced years ago.
“Mom? Are we leaving?”
Her panicked gaze shot to Jamie, then to Quinn, praying he hadn’t heard the breathless shout. Her heart sank.
Quinn stopped, shoulders tense as he slowly turned around.
No, no, no. Becca’s panicked gaze shot from Jamie to Quinn, who stood frozen a few feet away, staring at the boy in front of her.
“Do we have to leave already?”
The feel of Jamie’s hand on her arm had her looking down. “I, um…”
“Can’t we stay a little longer? Please?”
Again, her attention moved from Jamie to Quinn, her stomach twisting into a painful knot. It constricted even more when he began walking toward them. Stopping a foot away, his gaze narrowed on Jamie before it flashed back to bore into hers.
“Mom?”
She’d known this day would come, had been preparing for the right time to tell him. After seeing Quinn today, she’d made up her mind not to put it off any longer. By the look on his face, the decision had come too late.
She felt her face drain of color. “Quinn, I…I…”
He tore his gaze away to focus on the boy in front of him. “Hey there. I’m Quinn, a friend of your mom’s.” He held out his hand.
Flashing a wary look at his mother, his small hand shook Quinn’s. “I’m Jamie. My middle name is Quinn. That’s pretty cool.”
He shot a scathing glare at Becca before crouching down. “Yeah, it’s real cool. You’re what? Seven, eight years old?”
A chuckle burst from Jamie’s lips. “I’m nine.”
“Nine, huh? You’re almost a man. I’ll bet you and your dad take real good care of your mother.”
Jamie shook his head, his features turning solemn. “I don’t have a dad. It’s me and Mom.”
Becca winced, feeling a sharp ache seeing surprise, pain, and anger flash across Quinn’s face as he stood. He knew. Guilt and shame thrummed through her at what she’d withheld.
“Mom? Can we please stay a little longer?”
Reaching into his pocket, Quinn extracted some money, shot a warning look at Becca before handing it to Jamie. “Here you go. I need to speak with your mom for a bit before you leave.”
“Thanks!” Taking the money, he ran off, leaving them to stare after him.
After a moment, Quinn broke the silence. Lowering his voice, he glared down at her. “Is he mine?”
“Quinn, I…”
His voice hardened until what came out was a guttural growl. “Is…he…mine?”
Staring down at her clenched hands, her body trembling at the impact of what she’d kept from both of them, she nodded. “Yes.”
Becca cradled the cup of coffee, staring into it as if the dark liquid would give her the courage to explain her actions, provide answers to the questions he must have burning inside.
After the initial shock, he’d take
n her hand, walking to a table in the back where he could watch his son. Leaving her for a few minutes, he’d gotten each of them coffee before taking a seat across from her. She didn’t know how much time passed. Long enough for the cup to cool in her hands.
“Were you ever going to tell me?” The pain in his voice ripped through her already damaged defenses.
Feeling her lower lip quiver, she caught it between her teeth. There were reasons she’d stopped trying to locate him. Reasons she didn’t reach out to his parents. At the time, they made sense, encouraging her to continue a life that didn’t include Jamie’s missing father. Even if he never understood, most of them still held true. Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin, her gaze unwavering.
“Yes, I would’ve told you.” She glanced around the restaurant, relaxing at the sight of Jamie laughing with his new friend.
“I see.”
Setting her cup aside, she rested her arms on the edge of the table. “No, you don’t see.”
Eyes flickering with a mixture of anger and distrust, he snorted. “Then help me understand why you’d keep my son from me for nine years. Nine damn years, Becca. Nine years I can never have back. Not ever.” His voice grew harder, louder, more incredulous with each word.
Licking her lips, she told herself the decisions made all those years ago were right. Becca had done the same every day of every year since Jamie’s birth.
“I tried to locate you, Quinn, tell you about the pregnancy. The people at the base refused to pass along my messages. Even when I told them I was carrying your child.” Her voice broke on the last.
Refusing to let her distress distract him, he forged ahead. “Why didn’t you call my parents? Their number hasn’t changed since I was born. They would’ve known how to reach me.”
“And what? Tell them you abandoned me? And, by the way, I’m pregnant?” Nostrils flaring, she felt her face heat. “Why would I want to be tied to a man who couldn’t wait to get away so he could explore the world, along with other women? You did not want me, Quinn. Why would I think you wanted our child?”
Jaw clenching enough to crack a tooth, he glowered right back at her. He was not the one in the wrong. He wouldn’t have kept a secret as important as a child from her.
“You should’ve let me know about Jamie. No matter what happened between the two of us, I had a right to know about my son.”
“Any rights you had walked out the door the morning you boarded the bus with no intention of ever coming back.”
Uncrossing his arms, he settled his palms on the table, leaning toward her. “Well, I’m back now, and I want to get to know my son.”
Face paling, the breath whooshed from her. “What?”
“You heard me, Becca. I’m Jamie’s father and want him to know I didn’t abandon him.”
“But it’s too soon. He needs—”
“His father. And I’ll be damned if you keep him away from me any longer.” Standing, he stepped next to her and bent down. “I’ll call you, but I expect to see you and Jamie at my place for dinner tomorrow.”
“But—”
Reaching past Becca, he grabbed her purse, pulling out the phone. Punching in his number and address, he handed it back.
“And don’t even consider leaving town or seeking shelter somewhere else. Tomorrow, Jamie will know he has a real father, one who loves him and will always take care of him.” Straightening, he took one more look at Jamie before turning toward the door.
“Quinn, please don’t do this.”
Glancing over his shoulder, he pinned her with a look which would cower most grown men. “And, Becca?”
“What?”
“I want joint custody.”
Chapter Seven
Wrangler pounded on the front door of Wrath’s house, his temper easing a little since leaving Becca and Jamie. It was hard wrapping his head around the fact he had a son. Harder still to understand why she’d kept him a secret.
“Hey, bro. You disappeared from the clubhouse before we had a chance to talk.”
“Did you know?”
“Know?” The surprise on Wrath’s face mollified him a little.
“About my son. Did you know Becca has been keeping him from me all these years?”
A string of curses had Wrangler relaxing. His brother obviously had no idea of Becca’s treachery.
“Hell no, I didn’t know.” Holding the door wide, he motioned him inside. “Did she just tell you?” Heading to the kitchen, Wrath pulled out two beers, handing one to his brother.
“She and Jamie, my son, were at the Burger Palace when I stopped for dinner.” He took several long swallows. “When I went to leave, a boy ran up and called her mom.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. Right there in front of all the customers was when I learned about my nine-year-old son. And get this. She blames me.” Finishing the beer, he opened the refrigerator, pulling out another. “Becca says because I left her, I wouldn’t want to know about my son. What a load of crap.”
“What the hell is going on?” Cara walked in, gripping a phone in her hand, glaring at Wrangler. “I just got off the phone with Becca. What did you do to her?”
“Me? What did I do to her?” Slamming down the bottle, he took a step toward her.
“Back off.” Wrath stepped between them. Crossing his arms, he formed a protective wall in front of his pregnant wife.
Scrubbing a shaking hand down his face, he let out a breath, moving away. “You know I’d never hurt Cara.”
“You’re still in shock and angry…” Wrath began, his voice trailing off when she stepped in front of him.
“Of course you’d never hurt me.” Setting her phone down, she rested her hip against the counter. “Becca says you want joint custody.”
“I’m not letting her keep Jamie from me any longer, Cara. No matter what you say, he’s my son and I intend to have him in my life. If I have to go to another attorney to handle it, I will. Just say the word.”
A hurt expression crossed her face before she masked it. “I’m not trying to keep your son from you, Wrangler. I’ll tell you what I told Becca. You’re my brother-in-law. You’re family. I’d prefer to represent both of you in an amicable custody agreement. Personally, I believe joint custody is the fair solution. However, if it comes to it, you will always be my priority. Becca understands that.”
Shoulders relaxing, he tilted his head from one side to the other, stretching the tense muscles in his neck. “Thanks, Cara. What a damn clusterfuck.”
Picking up the beer, he drained the bottle before grabbing another from the refrigerator, smirking when Wrath held out his hand. Digging into his pocket, he withdrew the keys to his bike, handing them over. Lifting the bottle to his lips, he stopped, eyes narrowed on Cara.
“Did you know about Jamie?”
She let out a weary breath. “It’s complicated.”
Wrath shot her a disbelieving look. “You knew?”
“I’d seen the picture on her desk, noticed the resemblance, but didn’t ask. I wasn’t certain until you guys had your little disagreement at Robbie’s.”
“Hell, it was a damn tsunami,” Wrangler muttered, sipping his third beer in less than twenty minutes.
“When I confronted her, Becca promised me she’d tell you right away. I think she needed to get her thoughts straight before contacting you.”
Rubbing fingers along his brow, he scoffed. “Get her thoughts straight? All she had to say was, ‘Quinn, I was pregnant when you left. You have a son’.”
“And you would’ve exploded the same as you did tonight. She wanted it to be the two of you, alone, so she could explain the last ten years. It was unfortunate you saw her tonight, but perhaps this was for the best. It’s in the open now, and you’ll be forced to talk it out.”
“There’s nothing to talk out. I want joint custody as soon as possible. I’ve got a job, my own house with plenty of room for Jamie.”
Cocking her head, Cara studied his set e
xpression. “And what about Becca?”
Lifting a brow, his mouth twisted. “What about her? She kept him from me. Now she’ll be forced to share. If I were a real bastard, I’d file for full custody and let her know how it feels to be kept from your child.”
Clearing his throat, Wrath put an arm around Cara’s shoulders. “What she means is, what about you and Becca? Before finding out about Jamie, you were all gung-ho to get back together.”
“I can’t think about that now. Maybe never. She kept him from me. Do you have any idea how I feel, knowing I can never get back those nine years?” Staring down at his boots, Wrangler shook his head. “He’s a great looking kid.”
“Of course he is. All us McCords are one percenters in that area.” Wrath winced when Cara’s elbow jabbed him in his side. “What?”
Glancing up, a slight grin formed on Wrangler’s face. “I’ll bet he’s real smart. Seems to have good manners, too.”
“And where do you think he learned those manners? Who do you think helped him with his homework, encouraged him to succeed?”
When Wrangler didn’t answer, Cara continued.
“Becca. She’s gone it alone for over nine years. Been mother and father.” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth. “I don’t condone her keeping him from you. Becca admitted she should’ve called Stuart and Belinda, and she regrets not doing it. The reality is that’s all in the past. All you two can do now is go forward, be the best parents you can be for Jamie. He deserves more than two bitter people haggling over him. I love you and care a great deal about Becca. Given time, I’m certain you two can work through the hurt. Do it for Jamie, if not for yourselves.”
Grabbing his bottle, Wrangler stalked into the living room, dropping onto a large easy chair with a view to the valley below. In a split second, his life had changed from a man who would’ve done anything to win Becca back to learning he had a son. A son she’d chosen to keep from him. He didn’t know how to reconcile the woman he thought he still loved with the reality of Jamie’s mother.
Untamed (Eternal Brethren Military Romantic Suspense Book 4) Page 5