Page 142 of Blue Moon

Did he not see the irony in his words?

“Thanks for helping out.”

I felt sick inside. He was staff. When I moved into the suite at the Nile Palace, I’d played right into his hands.

“You’re very welcome, my queen. Anyhow, it was quite understandable that you’d want men prevented from going near your suite, but it did make things a little challenging.” A chuckle. “I picked up Nola’s son, and then arranged an exchange.”

“Picked him up?” A chill ran through me. “Like, you kidnapped him?”

A child? There was a child involved in this crap show? Ohmigosh. Where was he now? Tell me Ryder was looking for him too?

“‘Kidnapped’ is such a strong word. Nola’s a lovely lady, bless her heart, but irresponsible when it comes to motherhood. Whenever she couldn’t get a sitter, she’d just leave the boy alone in their apartment. If you think about it, I actually did her a favour.”

“How? How did you do her a favour?”

“I doubt she’ll make the same mistake again. This has been a learning experience for her.”

“Where’s the boy?”

“I left him eating breakfast in a fast-food restaurant.”

“And he’s okay? Nola picked him up?”

“I expect so. He promised not to speak with strangers while he waited for her to arrive.” Mark Antony echoed my earlier gesture and reached for my hand, and I fought the shudder when he ran a thumb over my knuckles. “I’m sure you’re going to make an excellent mother. You won’t need to work, of course.”

What the actual heck? He thought we were going to have kids together? That it was a unilateral decision, no discussion required? I hadn’t even had that talk with Ryder, and he was the man I wanted to marry. I mean, a baby would be amazing—when I was little, I’d always imagined that I’d have a family—but it seemed premature to go there when I hadn’t even managed the sex part yet. Plus there were our future careers to think about. A break in Virginia would be balm for my soul, but I couldn’t expect him to support me forever.

Hurry up and rescue me.

I opened my mouth to change the subject, then jumped as a bang sounded from outside. Ryder? Had he found me already?

Mark Antony didn’t bat an eye. “Relax, it’s only hunters.”

“They sound close?”

“We own the whole hillside, but only six acres around the house is fenced. Hunters occasionally stray onto the rest of the property. If you ever go for a walk, make sure you wear orange—nobody wants an accident.”

Sheesh. That made the decision on whether to run screaming into the night much easier.

“What are they hunting?”

“At this time of year? Foxes and jackrabbits, I expect. Maybe a coyote. Or…” He glanced at his watch, which was one of those fancy ones with lots of little dials and the date. “Yes, summer bear season just started.”

My heart stuttered. “There are b-b-bears around here?”

“And the occasional mountain lion. Sometimes they come right up to the gates.”

Yikes. Staying put was definitely the way to go. And besides, what would I do with Rocky if I made a break for it? He was still meant to be on restricted exercise, and if the roofie had damaged his heart, I was gonna chop off Mark Antony’s balls and feed them to the freaking coyotes. Or maybe I’d get Ryder to do it because Mark Antony was bigger than me, but it was the thought that counted.

“I hope you keep the gates shut.”

“There’s a sturdy latch.”

A latch? He hadn’t mentioned a padlock. Did that mean they weren’t locked? I wasn’t about to become bear chow, of course, but it would mean Ryder could get in more easily. Unless he got eaten by a bear. No. No, that wouldn’t happen. I had to think positive.

“Phew.” I bit into a pain au chocolat, but the pastry turned to sawdust in my mouth. “Do you ever go hunting?”

“Only in season. I shot the deer we ate for dinner last night.”

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