Page 45 of Beyond Question

She smiles in that sheepish way she sometimes does.

“You’re going to be a great mom. Not only isyourmom pretty great—”

Rylan’s lips twist into a thoughtful pout.

“She made some mistakes,” I admit. “But, honey, wealldo. No one reaches adulthood unscathed, even with picture perfect parents.”

From what she’s told me, Rylan’s parents were far from picture perfect, and I don’t know every detail, but I do know that her mom is here now, very present in her life, and she’s a wonderful, kind woman. There were a handful of years there, between adolescence and adulthood, that Rylan was estranged from her parents because her father was an angry alcoholic and her mother was an enabler. “But look at her now, Ry. She’s so strong and so devoted to you. I think she’s given you a wonderful example of what loving your baby can look like.”

Her cheeks flush pink but she nods.

“And,” I add, “even if something is missing, some little detail you haven’t thought about and planned for, it won’t matter. Because you two together will be unstoppable. And, as much as I hate to admit it, that man won’t let you fail on his watch. Cabot will wrangle the stars for you if you decide you want to string them up for a baby mobile.”

She laughs, shaking her head. “Thank you, I know that was difficult for you to say.”

“What?”

“That Cabot has my back.”

I lean back with a sigh. “He treats you well, I know.”

Rylan nods. “Very well.”

“It’s not him, really,” I admit.

“I know, Paige. I know. It’s his kind.” She leans forward, rolling her eyes dramatically as she lowers her voice and recites, “‘It’s that generational wealth, Rylan, and the type of people it breeds.’”

“Oh, good grief, I don’t sound like that.” I wave my hand toward her. Between her and Bronte, you’d think all I’ve ever done is harp about men and nepotism. Surely, they realize there’s more to me than that—

“Speaking of generational wealth,” Rylan says, her voice dropping into a whisper as if she’s about to share top secret information with me. “Travis has been asking about you.”

I roll my eyes and ignore the way her words make something flutter in my chest because although the man is unfairly attractive, he’s not for me.

He’s far too young—okay not really; far too arrogant—although, to be fair, I kind of like his unwavering confidence; and far too rich for my liking. Well, his family is, anyway, and that’s a connection I want nothing to do with. “No,” I say to Rylan, giving her a pointed look.

“No?” She chuckles. “No, what?”

“Nip that in the bud.”

I swear, the way this girl looks at me like she doesn’t take me seriously. “Sure. Okay. Consider it nipped.” She pauses, then adds, “But he’s coming here with Cabot today, and I’m supposed to convince you to join us for lunch.”

I bark out a laugh. “That’s not happening, honey.”

“Come on, go to lunch with us.”

“No.”

“It’s justlunch, Paige.”

I narrow my eyes as I say, “It is definitely notjust lunch.”

Rylan mirrors my expression, those deep brown eyes narrowing into slits. “What does that mean,definitely not just lunch?” Her eyes widen excitedly. “You think he wants to Jesse Ward you right here in your office?”

“Rylan!” Pushing aside the imagesthatNSFW statement calls forth, I sigh as I stand and walk to the door, hoping she’ll take the hint and leave me to tend to the stacks of submissions and résumés on my desk. I’ve never been one for chitchat orgirl bonding, and definitely not on company time, though I do make an exception for Rylan because she reminds me so much of myself at her age—and of my own daughter who’s not much older than Rylan is now. “Men like Travis Wilder never wantjust lunch, Rylan.” I laugh as I cross my arms. “They also never want women like me. He got this crazy notion in his head and he’s running with it on the simple basis that I’m unattainable.”

“That’s not—”

“He’s like a child with a shiny new toy,” I continue before she can tell me again that he’s not what I think he is. He’sdifferent. “I’m the first woman to turn him down, that’s all this is. He wants me because he doesn’t know what to do with me. And, yes, I know he loved my speech”—hismultipleemails immediately following the awards ceremony said as much—“but that was simply about shock value. I can guarantee you that menlike Travis Wilder don’ttrulywant a woman who speaks up for herself.”

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