Page 67 of Tease Me

“I don’t know what happened yet, remember? I’m just giving you the benefit of the doubt, unlike Vee.”

He nodded. “Well, I appreciate it. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Beau?” Lisa whined. “Come on. I need to get off my feet.”

You need to get off your fucking feet?he thought bitterly.She was barely eleven weeks along. How could her feet be swollen already?

Wordlessly, he stalked in her direction.

“It was about time,” she muttered under her breath.

He bit his tongue, yanking open the door of the café when they arrived. Lisa smiled as she passed, a gesture he had no desire to return.

“What will you have?” she asked as she sat down at a table.

“Just coffee.”

“You’re not going to let me eat by myself, are you?”

“I’m afraid so.”

His answer was met with a scowl. “You’re not being very supportive, Beau.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Physically, but definitely not emotionally.”

He sat down, pulling his chair in closer and resting his elbows on the surface. If she wanted to have this discussion now, then he’d damn well give it to her. “You know what? You’re right. And do you want to know what else isn’t going to happen?”

She shook her head, her eyes hard.

“I’m going to continuenotbeing here for you emotionally because I have no emotions attached to you. I don’t want to be here, but I am becauseifthis kid is mine,” he said, jabbing his finger in the direction of her stomach, “then I’m going to do the right thing and support it financially.”

Like the petulant child she was, she folded her arms over her chest and stared at him.

“What can I get y’all?” a middle-aged waitress asked, sidling up to their table, a notepad at the ready.

“Just coffee for me, thank you,” Beau told her.

She nodded. “And for you, darlin’?”

Lisa’s gaze was still on Beau, but she said, “The same.”

“Just coffee. Got it.”

After the woman bustled off, Beau said, “You shouldn’t have caffeine. It’s bad for the baby.”

“And you know this, how?”

Jerking his chin a little higher, he said, “I read about it.” And about how caffeine could cause a miscarriage. He didn’t want that. If this was his chance to become a father, he was going to take that as seriously as he could, even if that meant having to have Lisa in his life.

“Can we just discuss how this is going to work for us. Please?” He forced that last word out, hating how bitter it tasted.

“Yes.” She settled her hands on top of the table, folded, demure. “I’d like for us to have a relationship.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

A flicker of annoyance shadowed her face. “Okay, well, I’ll need your financial support with this pregnancy. All the ultrasounds and appointments are expensive.”

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