Page 6 of No Regrets

If anyone knew him, she did, and she knew how close he was to his grandfather. His eyes were puffy enough as it was, but he didn’t shed any tears. He allowed himself to revel in her softness while she was here.

“You didn’t have to come, but I’m glad you’re here.”

She smiled, looking up at him. “Tim was like a grandfather to me, too. Hell, he even planned on us getting married when I was what, twelve? You weren’t much older.”

He nodded. “Fifteen.”

She shook her head. “How’s Evelyn?”

“Grandma’s holding up well.” He led her to the side, where a glider sat in a secluded patio. She took a seat and he sat beside her. “Georgie and Buster are taking it pretty hard. They don’t understand Granddad isn’t coming back.”

“Poor things.” They slid in silence, gliding back and forth.

“I’m sorry about the whole restaurant thing.” Kaden blurted. “I-I didn’t know what to say to you, and I sure didn’t expect to see you that night.”

“Kaden, I really didn’t want to talk about us. I’m here for you and to pay my respects. Talking about us only makes me angry.” She leaned forward, stopping the gentle gliding motion. “Do you agree with your mother?”

Kaden furrowed his eyebrows. “Agree with what?”

She turned toward him. “She thinks you should be in Shiloh’s life and even threatened to take her away from me if I didn’t let you. I can’t let you take my baby away, Kaden. She’s everything to me now.”

Kaden stiffened as if all his muscles had a charley horse at the same time. “I’m not taking anything away from you. When did she say this?”

“A week or so ago. She stopped by on a Saturday and told me all this.” She looked like she wanted to cry to him, and instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her.

“Don’t worry about her, sweetheart. I’ll take care of it.” She still smelled of the same strawberry shampoo she favored. The same damn stuff he had to use every time he showered at her place.

For so many years they’d had a platonic relationship. He had spent so many nights at her house when he visited town and never once thought about touching her sexually. Not until she called him that one afternoon and needed his shoulder to cry on.

Brett, her current boyfriend, had dumped her and along with the relationship had gone her job. He had to admit, the damn job paid well considering all she did was wait on tables, but then again the damn meals cost almost as much as a normal working class citizen made in a week.

She’d called him for support, and he gave it to her. He opened the wine and let her have at it, knowing she’d be perfectly safe in the comforts of her own home. He must have been drunk as well, because never in his right mind would he have allowed himself to take her. Not in the condition she was in. And never, ever, would he have not used a condom. Even drunk he still made sure he covered himself before taking a woman—for his protection more than theirs.

But that night he had let his good sense and good judgment go out the window, along with his rational brain. And now they had a baby because of it.

He pulled back staring in her eyes. “Will you let me see her?”

“Uh, I thought you didn’t like kids.”

She had him there. “Maybe my kid will be different.”

When she hesitated, he continued. “Just for an hour. You can be there the whole time, and I give you permission to beat the hell out of me if I do something wrong with her.”

She laughed. “I suppose. How could a girl refuse that kind of offer? I told you I’m off tomorrow. You can come by my place any time.”

He nodded. For some reason, Brianna had been blessed with the peacemaking skill. She always looked for a way to solve people’s differences, no matter what the situation.

“Oh, I don’t live at the house anymore. Mom and I rented a small townhouse on the opposite side of town. It’s in a nice neighborhood. Not as nice as the house, but Mom likes it. It’s closer to town, and she doesn’t have to wait that long for an ambulance if she needs oxygen.”

He knew Regina had a lung condition, and it had to be difficult for Bree to take care of her mother and the baby. Especially since she worked at the restaurant and did more than her fair share of supporting her family.

“But anyway, remind me to give you directions.”

“Kaden? We’re about to start—oh, Brianna. When did you get here?” Blair stepped around the corner looking elegant as ever with a wine glass in her hand.

“Earlier, Mom.” Kaden turned toward her. “Did you tell Bree that I’d take away Shiloh from her?” Blair looked like the cat that ate the canary. Kaden shook his head. “Unbelievable, Mom. You know damn good and well, I’d never take that child from Bree because she’s an exceptional mother. And how dare you go see her at her home and threaten her with something that is none of your concern.”

Blair tipped the glass back, downing the last of the drink. “I was looking out for the benefit of the family. You should have demanded a paternity test and, if the baby was yours, demanded that you get visitation rights.”

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