by Mia Carson
“You were looking for my family with her? That woman who obviously wants you back at whatever cost?”
He nodded. “She’s good at tracking down people,” he said quietly. “I thought she was the best choice.”
“Your ex-lover, who tried to break us up,” she said, voice shaking.
“Yes, but—”
“And you kept trying to find my family, even after I asked you to stop,” she continued, holding up her hand to shut him up. “You betrayed my trust—again. You lied to me again. Hell, you knew I was pregnant before I did! I can’t… I can’t do this, I’m sorry,” she whispered, backing towards the door. “Mel, could you give me a lift back to his house—and please don’t follow me,” she added when Greyson moved to go after her. “Please, I just need… I need a minute.”
Mel nodded and hurried over to find her purse and keys.
“Belle, can we talk about this?” Greyson pleaded, but she shook her head.
“No, alright? Just… no.” She walked out the door, Mel right behind her, and hurried as quickly as she could to Mel’s car, her heart torn between wanting to believe Greyson trusted her, wanted what was best for her, and him still finding a way to push her out of his life and away from who he really was.
Chapter 29
Greyson paced furiously on the back patio, running a hand over and over his beard as he replayed Belle’s face going from anger to horror to embarrassment and back to rage before she walked out of the house—and possibly his life. Why hadn’t he told her everything? He should’ve stopped looking for her family when she asked, he knew that, but what did he do? Kept looking, kept pushing, and kept working with Aiden.
“Greyson?”
“Go away, Mom,” he snapped, as angry at her as he was at himself, even though he knew she really didn’t deserve it. “Just please, I can’t deal with you too right now.”
“Why are you still here is what I want to know?” she asked.
“What am I supposed to do? I messed up with her, just like I messed up with Dad. I shoved them both out of my life with my stubbornness and my lack of trust! Why didn’t I just tell her?”
“Your dad? What are you going on about?” Sally asked.
Greyson hung his head, his hands planted firmly on his hips. “I’ve been dreaming about the fights I had with him,” he muttered. “I don’t know why, but he’s been there, and I’m terrified I’m going to make the same mistakes with Belle I made with him.”
“Sweetie, look at me. You know you weren’t to blame for what happened with you and your dad,” she said sadly.
“Not completely, but I was part of it,” he said. “Why does this happen?”
“You can’t control everything,” she told him. “And you certainly can’t always assume what you think is best is what someone you love wants. Belle loves you, I know she does, just as you love her, but if you stay here, pouting about it, she might not be around for you to tell her that.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, pissed at Belle for getting so mad while he was trying to do something good for her. Granted, he’d lied, and it was with Aiden, but couldn’t she see past that? And why did she get to run away from him and all he wanted for them? Part of him knew his mom was right, but his anger filled his mind and all he knew was Belle yet again held his good intentions against him when all he wanted to do was make her happy. Give her a chance to know her family. And for all he knew, she did know she was pregnant and didn’t want to tell him. Kept it from him just as he kept things from her.
“I have to go,” he grumbled and pushed past Sally, ran through the house and out the front door. He floored it in his Mustang, praying she was still at the ranch. The only other place she could go would be Carrie’s, and she’d moved across the damn state.
Wherever she went, he’d track her down and find her. She was not running out on him, not when he’d finally found the one damn woman he wanted in his life, despite their ups and downs. She would learn to understand that being taken care of—having someone love her—was not a bad thing. Even if it took years, he’d make her see it, one way or another.
“I’m not finished with you yet, Belle Hall,” he muttered to the night.
She was pregnant with their child—his child—and though he feared he would turn out just like his dad, he would not let her disappear into the night.
“I’m an idiot!” Belle yelled as she threw clothes out of Greyson’s closet onto the bed.
“I think my brother’s the idiot,” Mel corrected her, lounging on the bed.
“No, it’s me. I’m pregnant! What woman doesn’t realize she’s pregnant before her fiancé and his mom do? Why the hell didn’t I realize I missed my damn period!” She yanked down a few pairs of jeans and chucked them out, too. A suitcase lay open on the bed, but she missed it with every throw. Not that she cared. She paused, her eyes wide, and pointed at Mel. “It’s his fault.”
Mel frowned. “That’s usually how pregnancy works. The guy has to… you know,” she said, using her hands to demonstrate.
“That's not what I meant,” Belle said, holding her face in her hands. “I’ve been so busy dealing with his shit that I didn’t even pay attention to myself!”
“You haven’t peed on the stick yet, to be fair, so he and Mom could be wrong,” Mel reminded her gently. “Just thought I’d throw that out there.”
Belle tilted her head back and forth before walking back into the closet and stared absently at the clothes. She’d picked up a test from the drugstore on her way back with Mel, but she was too scared to know the truth and hadn’t used it yet. What would happen when it was positive? She wasn’t even sure she could trust Greyson anymore, and she might be caring his damn baby. Her mind a torn jumble of thoughts and hands shaking from her growing anxiety, she didn’t hear Mel call out until it was too late.
“Where are you going?” Greyson snapped from the doorway of the closet.
“Far away from you and your lying ass,” she shot back. “You lied to me—again!”
“It was for your own good—again,” he retorted, blocking the door when she tried to rush past him. “No, you don’t get to take off and leave me twiddling my thumbs, woman. Not until we talk!”
“About what? Mel, don’t you dare leave me,” Belle yelped when Mel crossed her view over Greyson’s shoulder, but she held up her hands. “Mel!”
“Nope, you two need to work this out. I’m leaving. Call me when you two are done fighting.”
“Mel!” Belle heard her steps run down the hall and the front door open and slam. “Great. That’s just great.”
Greyson leered at her with his wolfish grin. “Now you don’t have a choice but to stay and chat.”
“You need to move,” she said and shoved at his chest. He planted his feet, crossed his arms, and his grin only grew wider. “You can’t keep me in the damn closet. I have to pee,” she said, tapping her toe anxiously.
He rolled his eyes and shifted so she could push past him, but she went straight for the front door instead of the bathroom. Greyson cursed and chased after her.
“I wouldn’t have to lie to you if you would just let me do something nice for you.”
“Nice? You call sneaking off with your ex-lover nice? You call trying to track down a family that clearly never wanted me nice?” She laughed harshly, whipping around to glare at him. “You think I want to go through that pain again?”
“Sometimes, we have to do things we don’t like,” he insisted hotly.
Belle laughed even louder before it died and she snarled. “That’s rich. Says the man who can barely stand to talk about his past with his dad and all the shit you two went through.”
Greyson’s face fell and she leered at him. “We’re not talking about me.”
“Yes, we are. You stand there and yell at me for getting mad at you because you think you’re doing what’s good for me, but you never stopped to think if I wanted you to! Should I start pushing you about your dad every day? Should I call your mom
behind your back and get her to come over and force you to relive your memories with your dad?”
He stalked towards her, his hands clenched at his sides. “That is not the same. I want you to find your damn family.”
“And what happens when you track them down and they say they don’t want me?” she cried, her eyes stinging with tears as the hormones and her rage reached their peak. “What happens when you find they’re dead?”
Her words echoed around the house, lingering between them, and Greyson’s face softened briefly. “I know where I come from,” he said gently and reached for her, but she stepped away, not ready to simply forgive him for lying so much. “I know I can be an arrogant ass, I push too hard, and I worry every day I’ll wind up like my dad.”
She nodded for him to go on, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“You’ve helped me probably more than you realize,” he told her and swallowed hard, pain and his love for her filling his eyes. “I’m terrified I’ll lose you, do something stupid, so yeah, I lied, and yeah, I went behind your back. I don’t know how to navigate these feelings. I don’t know how to explain to someone how much they mean to me or to tell you that this is for your own good.”
Belle pushed her tongue behind her lips, her heart melting, but she didn’t give in, not yet.
He blew out a breath and ran his hands over his head. “And now, on top of everything else, you might be pregnant. I didn’t want to freak you out when I was too busy freaking out for you.”
“I’ve never seen you freak out,” she said quietly.
“I don’t like to show it, especially around you,” he admitted. “I’m here for you, Belle, and I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m not backing down because it worries you or makes you face your fears. You need to face them, head on, and deal with whatever consequences come your way. I learned that the hard way and I was alone. You won’t be, not ever, not with me.”
Belle sighed, holding her arms over her chest. Telling him he was right was too easy for what he’d done to her, but deep down, she knew he was. No matter where the path led them, she should know where she came from. If she were pregnant, didn’t she want to be able to tell their baby who its grandparents were? What they did in the world, even if it wasn’t a pretty story? She took a step towards Greyson when the doorbell rang and she paused.
“Maybe it’s Mel checking on us,” he said and walked over to answer it.
Belle stayed where she was, reeling from the tornado of emotions from the last few hours alone, when she heard a woman’s voice she knew was not Mel’s at the front door.
“What are you doing here?” Greyson snapped.
“You didn’t answer your cell, and I wanted to make sure you had the latest update,” the woman said.
Belle’s blood ran cold as she straightened, listening to Greyson speak to the woman. “Aiden, get off my property. We’re finished, you hear me? Finished.”
“So you don’t want to hear what I found?”
“Leave me a message,” he growled and moved to close the door when a high-heeled foot appeared in the doorway, blocking him. “Move, or I’ll remove it for you.”
“Oh, come on, at least let me in for old time’s sake. Can’t you offer me a drink?”
“Not tonight, and not ever again,” Greyson growled.
“Then I won’t tell you what I found out,” she threatened.
Belle caught Greyson’s hesitation, his hand tightening on the door, but when Aiden laughed that high-pitched, cheery sound—a sound saying she’d won and Greyson was going to let her in—any thought of holding onto her anger went out the window. She stormed over to the door and yanked it open further, shocking Greyson into taking a step back.
“You must be Aiden,” she said brightly.
Aiden’s eyes widened, and her smile fell before she quickly recovered. “Yes, I am, and you must be Belle.”
“Yes. Yes, I am,” Belle confirmed. She drew back her fist and punched Aiden squarely in the face. She fell backwards, landing hard on her butt with a squeal, clutching her nose. “And my fiancé said to leave, so leave, bitch, and remember who lives here now.”
“You horrible woman! I’ll get you back for this. You won’t hear the end of—”
Belle slammed the door and locked it, leaning her back against it. Greyson eyed her warily, his lips twitching. When they stretched into an impressed grin, her anger disappeared and all she wanted was to be alone with a man who loved her enough to risk her wrath.
“If you want to look for my family,” she said, poking him hard in the chest, “we do it on my terms—and no Aiden. Got it?”
He reached up and held her hand tightly, bending down to kiss her. “You’re the boss,” he whispered against her lips.
“Damn right I am,” she answered and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Chapter 30
Greyson sipped from his silver flask, watching from across the cemetery as the procession of people moved beneath the canopy set up for the family and friends of the great and late Richard Taylor. He’d died from a massive heart attack only days ago. The amount of people who’d turned out to say their farewells made Greyson sick. Only a few of them knew the real man. Only a few were truly his friends.
Sally, flanked by Mel and Molly, glanced up with tear-stained eyes, searching for her son, but the priest opened his mouth, the words flowing out, and she bowed her head reverently. Greyson couldn’t hear and didn’t want to. He continued to drink from his flask, watching the mourners as the wind blew through the treetops, scattering dead leaves across the grounds. He wanted to be like that—to let the wind carry him off, disappear into the sky, vanish from the sight of those of who cared. His dad was dead, and a hole appeared in his chest the second his mom had called with the news. His dad was dead, and the last words they’d spoken to each other were of hate.
All his fault was what Richard had told his son. It was all Greyson’s fault. But he wasn’t going to cause pain, not to anyone else he cared about.
Tucking his flask away in his suit jacket pocket, he waited for the priest to finish saying the prayers before he bowed his head and turned towards his car. Sally looked for him again, and when their eyes met, she moved to go to him, but Greyson walked faster, leaving her behind with his sisters. They wouldn’t understand that all he caused was pain to those he loved. If anything happened to any of them, he’d never forgive himself. The time had come for him to disappear, to blow out of their lives like those leaves, and never look back.
Greyson reached his car, climbed inside, and tore off through the cemetery, leaving the ghost of his dad far, far behind him.
Greyson shot awake, sitting straight up in bed, the last images of the cemetery fading from his mind. Belle yawned beside him but stayed asleep, rolling over and taking half the covers with her as she always did. He smiled and tucked them closer around her. He leaned down and kissed her head gently, musing over his dreams. He remembered that day so vividly—turning away from his mom and sisters, walking out of their lives. He’d pushed them away when they needed him the most—when he'd needed them the most—and dug himself into a hole in the process.
Watching Belle sleep, knowing he wanted to wake up to her beautiful smile every morning and fall asleep to the sound of her quiet snoring every night, he couldn’t push her away anymore. Nor could he push away anyone else he cared about. Life was messy and love was complicated. It was time he dealt with the consequences of whatever came next, no holding back.
Picking up his cell from his nightstand, he slipped quietly out of bed and crept into the bathroom. He knew it was early but hoped Kelly would forgive him after he’d told her why he was calling so early.
“Yeah?” she muttered and sounded half asleep.
“Kelly, sorry to wake you up.”
“Greyson? What’s wrong? You aren’t at the office yet, are you?” Something dropped on a hard surface, and she mumbled curses. “It’s barely five in the morning.”
“I know
, but I need your help. Belle told me you already know about our engagement.”
“Sorry about that—I kind of blurted it out,” she mumbled guiltily.
Greyson paused when he thought Belle got up, but when he didn’t hear footsteps, he relaxed. “It’s fine, really, but I want to let everyone else know. Sort of a surprise for them and Belle.”
“I do enjoy a good surprise. What do you want to do?” she asked, more alert now.
“Have a pen and paper? We have to move fast. I want everyone to know by the end of today, and I want Belle to be able to wear her ring out of that office for the first time,” he said, grinning as his heart pounded with excitement. Announcing their engagement was a small thing, but it was a step in the right direction. No more hiding or lying, and no more keeping his emotions and his dreams to himself. Today was going to be the first day for real change and proving to Belle that he did want everyone to know how much he loved her.
Belle eyed Kelly suspiciously as she carried a vase of red and white roses across the office floor, headed straight for her. When she set them on the corner of Belle’s desk, grinning wildly, Belle knew something was up and Greyson had to be a part of it.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
“What? Can’t your fiancé have flowers delivered to you?” Kelly asked, attempting to look innocent and failing.
Belle’s lips screwed up to the side as she leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed. “Really? That’s the best you can do?”
Kelly shrugged. “I have been sworn to secrecy, but you’ll find out.”
She walked away, Belle staring after her, debating whether she should track down Greyson and demand he spill, or chase after Kelly and corner her in her office. Her nerves were already on edge. Tonight, she and Greyson were going to sit down and go over everything Aiden and he had found out so far about the leads on her family. She wanted to know what was covered so when she started making her own inquiries on Monday, she knew where to start—or where not to start. He was right about finding her parents, but she couldn’t say she was particularly thrilled about it. It was rare a story like hers had a happy ending of finding parents who had some tragic and completely understandable story of why they couldn’t keep their baby.