Page 70 of Bedroom Rodeo

Avril nodded. “Oh yes. He’s growing. Right on track. It’s just that…I won’t be able to keep him.”

Sylvee’s heart lurched. Setting aside the water, she reached to place a hand on Avril’s knee. “Why not?”

“I won’t have a job soon. This one at the ranch pays so well. If I can keep it, I’ll be able to support us both. But if I lose it, I’ll have to move back to the village, or worse, home with my family. They don’t approve of my decision to have the baby even though I’m a grown adult. I don’t need permission to live my life. But their real problem is that I refuse to name the father.”

Sylvee’s mind shifted into work mode. “You say that your job is threatened? Maybe I can help. I’m a lawyer.”

Avril blinked at her. “I don’t have money.”

“I don’t need money. I have enough money.”

She had enough money to live like a god here.

She straightened.

Oh my god. I have enough…to live like a god here.

“Why don’t you start at the beginning? Tell me what’s happening and I’ll see if I can find a way to help.”

Avril started talking in slow words, recounting that she got pregnant, knew she wanted to keep the child but didn’t know who fathered it. Sylvee wasn’t shocked—the woman was striking and had that romantic look that men fell for every time.

“I don’t want to get a paternity test either. The big bosses from Texas are pushing me to do that, but I won’t out the Boot Knocker.”

“And it states in your contract that you can’t have relations with other employees.”

Avril nodded. “They can sleep with each other—and their clients of course. But not the staff personnel. I suppose it’s to stop things like this from happening.” She massaged her belly again. “And they’re always supposed to use condoms. It’s typed in bold.”

Her last statement had Sylvee’s insides gripping. Piers and Ash had knowingly and willingly broken that condition in order to give her a chance at happiness. But in the end, it could take them out too, just like Avril.

Unless she could fight for all of them.

“I need to see the contract. Can you provide me with a copy?”

Avril nodded. “I can have it delivered to your bungalow. And thank you for listening. For helping me. The world needs more caring lawyers.”

She stared at Avril, the gears of her mind working.

She was beginning to think that Alaska needed one—her.

* * * * *

Piers searched most of the ranch for Ash and still hadn’t found him. Where the hell was he? Didn’t he know Piers had a lot to share with him?

The bungalow was empty—not even Sylvee was inside. The pair of them might have gone off together and hadn’t bothered telling Piers. He was the champion at hide-and-seek, but his lovers were damn good at the game today.

Lengthening his strides, he took the ring leading around the outer edge of the paddock and he even searched the fields for Ash. When he started back toward the greenhouse, he spotted Maggie up ahead.

He called out to her. When she turned, he kicked into a jog to catch up with her.

As he reached her side, he noted the deep red flush climbing her throat.

She let out a groan. “Please don’t tear into me, Piers. Ash already grouched at me.”

He stopped. “For what?”

“For telling him that Riggs wanted to speak to him.”

Fuck. This wasn’t good. They got to Ash too.

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