Page 47 of Tempted

“To play it as dumb as possible. Make like I know shit when I know everything. Until those signatures are on the contract, at least.”

“And her da will be there, too.” She checks.

“Aye. They don’t sign anything separately. That’s what she says, anyway.”

“Does daddy dearest know about the bairn?”

“I have no idea. I’m not sure if that’s even the truth. The jury is still out on that score, lass. And that’s the part that’s making my head spin. This changes everything if she is.”

“Not necessarily, Malcolm.”

I tilt my head, intrigued. “How so?”

My phone rings and I lift my finger, telling her to hold that thought. It’s my brother, Rush. “Timing, brother. Not your strongest suit.” I answer with, placing him on speakerphone.

His voice is slurred. He’s clearly been drinking. “You know that bitch never even gave me head?” He opens with.

“Have you been into Dougall’s scotch again?” I ask, getting pissed off immediately.

“Declan’s, actually.”

“You’re a fucking freeloader, and now you’re turning into a fucking drunk. What do you want, Rush? I’ve got company.”

He ignores my statement. “She ever give you head?”

“I’m not fucking answering that, asshole. Next.”

Steph’s face mirrors mine. I’m sure the idea of that bitch doing any sexual favor is unsavory to her as much as it is to me.

“So, what are you going to say to her? Now that she’s carrying my bairn, that is. What if she decides to get rid of it? I’ll never know my own kid.”

I shake my head, raking a hand through my hair. “Rush, the facts, man. Before you go jumping to that, make sure you’ve got all the facts.”

“When you went out to lunch with her...did she drink anything?” He probes.

I rewind that part of the date in my head first before answering. It’s painful to recall that she refused a bottle of wine when I suggested it. But I brush it off, thinking that maybe that was just part of the act. Keeping me on my toes. “No. She didn’t. But that doesn’t mean anything.”

“She’s pregnant, man. I know. I saw the fucking test myself.”

My heart stops. My voice raises to a shout. “Then why the fuck didn’t you say so, you asshole! This complicates everything, goddammit!” I punch the table so hard the waterglasses rattle. Steph lifts her hand and waves, but I’m too pissed off to care. “You fucking idiot! I have to meet with this bitch and her da tomorrow, on Dougall’s orders, and now I have to look her straight in the eye, knowing this! Knowing that she’s got the fucking power to burn us all!”

Rush raises his voice, screaming at me. “Don’t you think I fucking know that! I know that I fucked up! And now I’m going to pay for it for the next eighteen fucking years! How do you think that makes me feel!” He’s shouting so loud his voice is distorted. If he was here right now, I’d plough him one, but instead, my fist balls up, and I’m about to punch a hole right in my fucking wall, when Stephanie hangs up on Rush. My chest is heaving, my teeth are grated together. Steph is on her feet, hands on my shoulders, eyes searching mine as I flip out, shouting out more expletives for my brother that isn’t on the phone any longer.

“Malcolm, you don’t have to worry about this.” She says, voice calm, even though my eyes are wild with rage, and my blood is boiling.

“What the fuck are you talking about! Of course I have to worry about this! Fuck, you’re as crazy as she is! All you lasses are fucking crazy!”

Her fingers comb through the hair at the sides of my head. “No...no, you don’t understand, Malcolm.” Her nose meets mine as her arms snake around my neck. “I went and saw someone today that’s going to take care of all that shit for you.”

My voice has lowered, but I’m still completely unconvinced. “You really are a nutcase, Steph. What the fuck are you talking about?”

“If you calm down, I’ll tell you.” She assures, kissing my lips softly, in an effort to calm me. It’s surprisingly effective as her hand slides down my chest, skating over my nipples, waking my cock up, whether it’s intentional to her or not.

“I’m calm, lass. Talk.” I tell her, falling under her spell.

“I did some digging on Clare. It seems that she’s stupid enough to keep her social media profiles wide the fuck open, like an idiot. That’s prime for someone looking for a weakness, and I found one. A good one.”

She’s almost purring, and her skin is on mine, as her breath grazes my face. Steph smells so good and her body on mine feels fantastic. It’s difficult to stay pissed off, especially when, for once, it’s not her that’s pissed me off. I want to kiss her so bad, to feel her lips on mine, since they’re so close I can almost nip her. “What do you mean?” I ask in a murmur, hands sliding down to her waist, trying like hell not to let them linger down to her ass, even though my dick is telling me to.

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