Page 57 of Billionaire Lumberjack's Bargain

And I fear that’s exactly what’s been happening.

He shakes his head. “That isn’t anything I want to talk about.”

I tilt my head as I examine him and the tension radiating through his body. “Should I ask Pops?”

“It isn’t for Pops to tell you that, and he’ll say the same thing.”

I take a step toward him, then another, until we’re standing near the far end of the hallway, with Pops so close behind him in the living room that I can hear the old man turn the page of his book. “Don’t you think I need to know? It looks painful, and I’ve seen you—”

He grits his teeth. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what? Point out your weaknesses the way you just did mine?”

His gaze softens, the anger there only a moment ago vanishing. “If you thought I was pointing out all those things as weaknesses, I think you misunderstood everything I said.”

Shit.

Why does he have to go and say something sweet like that?

“Let it go, Camille. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

He turns and walks away from me, but his absolute insistence tells me it’s something Idefinitelyneed to worry about.

Rather than following him, I sag back against the wall and try to regain some control over my body and my head.

My mind races through the potential reasons he would have those kinds of scars—none of them good—and it drifts back to that conversation I overheard months ago but that still stays so fresh in my head.

Dalton dodged my questions about both tonight.

He and Pops are keeping things from me.

Either because they’re protecting themselves or think they’re protecting me. But I don’t like being in the dark when their secrets could affect my future and that of my children.

I rest my hands over my stomach, and a tiny foot presses against my palm.

There isn’t much time before this little girl will make her appearance in the world, and I need to know what kind of world it will be.

Will I have this place?

And if I do, what will it cost Dalton to ensure it?

ChapterNine

ONE MONTH LATER

CAMILLE

The closer we get to the James property, the harder my heart races, and the more I wish it didn’t take so long to make this drive. Blood rushes in my ears, and my vision narrows on the winding, gravel mountain road that will take me there—but not fast enough.

Each minute that passes, the anxiety tightening the vise around my sternum seems to only increase until I have to force myself to take deep breaths before I hyperventilate.

It’s almost impossible to keep myself calm with Pops’ words ring through my head ominously.

“You should come down here.”

When Dalton didn’t show up this afternoon, I wasn’t worried—at first.

After all, things have been…tense ever since that night a month ago.

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