Page 41 of Secret Baby for the Triplets

My gaze shoots downward again, and I adjust my glasses nervously. “If I do what’s required and keep up with my appointments, nothing like that will happen again.”

Brock doesn’t look convinced.

“Guys, I can still do my job,” I plead. “This is what you hired me for, isn’t it? Otherwise, what am I doing here?”

“Why don’t you go inside and have a shower and get changed?” Owen suggests. “Give us a few minutes to talk things over.”

Toby nods encouragingly, and I sigh heavily, sensing I don’t have much of a choice.

“Fine,” I agree, making my way into the coach house. But when I’m inside, I don’t head to the bathroom. Instead, I sit near the open living room window to listen in on their conversation. I want to get some idea of what they’re planning to do with me.

“Fuck,” Brock grumbles. “Now what?”

“She wants to get back to work,” Owen replies. “I say let her. She’s still amazing at her job. That was never in question.”

“I agree,” Toby concedes. “She looks like she’s back to her old self.”

“And if she collapses again?” Brock barks. “This is a disaster!”

“Stop being so fucking dramatic,” Toby snorts. “We’ll keep an eye on her. You heard what she said. As long as she’s eating properly and not overdoing it, she’ll be fine.”

“I wonder what the deal is with the daddy,” Brock says. “That bastard should step up, wherever he is.”

I almost guffaw, and I cover my mouth with my hand.

“Maybe she’ll talk about it when she’s ready,” Owen proposes. “In the meantime, let’s try to regain some semblance of normalcy around here, okay? Let’s offer her some support and get back to business.”

There’s a moment of silence as Brock considers his brothers’ proposal.

“Fine. Tell her she can get back to work when she comes out. I’m going back to the office.”

The crunch of gravel follows his words, and I back away from the window to retreat to the bathroom, a smidgen of relief flooding through me.

Another small disaster averted for the time being, but I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to uphold this charade. Sooner or later, I’m going to have to let these boys know the truth about the baby I’m carrying.

CHAPTER11

Toby

As I dismount the bronco, dust kicks up over the corral and spreads across my spurs. A spattering of applause and hoots echo across the fence line as my usual group of admirers leans over the post.

The afternoon sun is fading to early twilight, and the staff unwinds for the day.

I grin at the barrel racers and ranch hands in my midst, but my smile freezes when I see a very welcome, but unusual face among the group. Peeling off my riding gloves, I stalk to where Emerson beams proudly, and I realize she’s there for me.

Well, how about that?

Before I make it to Emerson, someone stops me, placing a hand on my bicep.

“You were amazing, Toby,” Melissa purrs.

She’s one of the ranch hand’s sisters, and we hook up whenever she’s in town, which is only once every couple of months.

“You’ll have to show me how to make those buck kicks look so flawless,” Melissa goes on.

Absently, I nod, my eyes still fixed on Emerson. “Yeah, sure,” I tell her without meeting her eyes. “I can do that.”

Brushing her off, I head toward Emerson, my grin overtaking my face to match hers.

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