Page 95 of Undeniable Temptation

“She’s not going to lose her job.”

She gave a derisive laugh. “One phone call from me and she will.”

“She’s not your enemy, Julie. If you want someone to blame, I’m your man. Leah has only ever tried to keep us together.”God. How hadn’t he seen that? He raked his fingers through his hair. “I told her she was the cause of our divorce, but I was wrong. She tried to save our marriage.Iwas the one who ruined everything.Iwas the one who quit trying because I couldn’t stop loving her. This is all on me.”

“It doesn’t have to be. You can still fix it. I can give you the family that she never will.”

“If she doesn’t want kids, I’ll deal with it.”

Julie stared into the distance and drew a deep breath. “It has nothing to do with her wanting kids. You’ll never be able to give them to her. This is your only chance.”

He waited for her to elaborate, to establish any sort of meaning to the puzzle. If she wanted to manipulate him, she could take her best shot, he was more than willing to be her target. He just wouldn’t be her victim.

“I tried to give you children for years. It never happened. It was one unsuccessful attempt after another.”

It never happened.

It.Never. Happened.

He dropped his hands to his sides, unable to hide the effect of her verbal sucker-punch. “The baby isn’t mine.”

“It could be.” She raised her chin and met his eyes. “The father didn’t want to settle down. He doesn’t want a family. But you do. This is all you’ve ever wanted. And it’s the only opportunity you’ll get.”

He had no words, not even a scoff. Torment clogged his throat. Grief cemented his lungs.

“Ryan, I know you’re hurt, but you need to listen to what I’m going to say.” She pushed from the wall and came to stand before him. “We tried to make a family, year after year. I never once became pregnant.” She glanced down between them and ran a hand over her belly. “Obviously, the lack of success hadn’t been because of me.”

“Fuck.” His shout reverberated off the walls, startling her.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He ran a hand over his face, trying to wipe away the disgust. He’d gone from hating the nights in the tour bus, to loving the thought of them because he could hide away with Leah. He went from thinking the world was against him, to not caring as long as he had the woman he loved in his arms. He’d gone from despair to hope due to Leah’s love, and he’d cast it all aside for this woman. For loyalty. For responsibility.

“We can still make this work,” she murmured. “Nobody else needs to know. You could have everything…”

One by one his dreams of having children burned to ash. He wouldn’t learn to braid hair, or teach guitar. He wouldn’t cradle his own child. Couldn’t give a father-daughter speech about the merciless charm of boys.

“Yeah.” He began to nod. “I want everything.”

Her eyes brightened, her hope spurring the words clogging his throat.

“I want the apartment.” He straightened. “I want the car.” He leaned close. “I want the bank balance.” He smirked, the expression filled with a threat he hoped she understood. “I want every damn thing I gave you that you didn’t deserve.”

Her face went pale. “Ryan—”

“As soon as tonight’s show is over, I’ll be on the phone to my lawyer. He’ll be informed of your infidelity and told there’s no length I won’t go to in an attempt to drag your name to hell and back… Unless you sign the next settlement that’s drawn up, and never contact me again.”

“Please.” She tried to implore him with the bat of feminine lashes. At one point in their relationship it would’ve worked. “Do you realize you’re giving up your dream?”

Giving it up, letting it go, and never looking back.

“I do.” He turned and strode for the side-stage door. “And funnily enough, I’ll still be happier than I ever was with you.”

This was all because of his need to do right by people. He hadn’t pressed her for paternity. He’d blindly trusted someone he no longer cared for at the cost of someone he adored. No more. He was going to take a leaf out of Mason’s book.No. He was going to rip out every fucking page. If the lead singer of Reckless Beat could be an unscrupulous asshole in the name of getting what he wanted, Ryan was going to do the same.

His veins thrummed with the need to make shit happen.

He was done pandering—to Grander, to Leah’s boss, to life in general.

He shoved the door leading to the wings, and let the rush of chanting voices wash away the carnage. One by one he passed the crew, security, and approached his non-blood family.

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