Page 18 of Nothing to Beat

“Then what?Your father is persistent.”He linked their hands.“Any child you have will be at risk.”

“He’s not at risk.”In offense, she snatched her hands back.“My child will grow up healthy and happy.We don’t know that my father will be interested at all.You know how he feels about promiscuity.”

“You’re not promiscuous.”

“You know what I mean.”

“How he feels about sex before marriage when it comes to his little girls?Yes, I do.Is that the—you think because this child will be born out of wedlock he’ll let it slide?”

Archaic way of putting it, but accurate.“His rules are specific.”

“And you’ve never played by them.”

She had, actually, for years, as a child, before realizing there was another way.

“This is my life.I will live it how I want to live it.”

“Except you won’t because you won’t marry me.”

“That’s my choice, not his.”

“You make it because of him…” Pouncing up from the bed, he stalked to the glazed wall to gaze out over the city.“Coy, we’ve played this game for too long.”

“Which is why we need a clean break.”

“You think that’s possible?”He spun around, throwing an arm out to his side.“I stare at you all goddamn day.I can’t hear myself think when you’re in the building.”

Which was all the time.“Are you telling me to quit my job?”

“No,” he said, stalking back to her.“You belong to Breckenridge and you always will.I’d never let anyone else hire you.If they tried it, we’d initiate a hostile takeover not long after.”

The words “Breckenridge” and “hostile” were contradictory.Trust her Breck to be the first breaking the mold, and for her to be the one prompting it.Such a good family didn’t deserve to be connected to someone like her.

Oh, it was fraught, and so much could go wrong, but she sighed.“That’s a ridiculous statement.It’s arrogant, misogynistic, abusive behavior…”

Again, he sat with her.“And you can’t get enough of it.You know you belong to me, Coy.You want me to own you, like you own me.”His fingers brushed across her cheek.“I’d never let any man take you from me, including your father.”

Her stomach lightened.He always did that, got close and inspired need, hope… naïveté.

“This responsibility isn’t on your shoulders,” she stated.“I’ve told you that.How many times have I told you that?We’ve had this conversation.We are through, Breck, finished, over, finito.My business is no longer your business.”

She hated being abrupt.Though it wasn’t like he couldn’t take it.In his job, he dealt with tough customers every day.The role demanded he bear responsibility for corporate Breckenridge.And at home?He shouldered responsibility for every one of his brothers.You know that saying about the camel and the straw?She wouldn’t be the straw.That decision was clear cut when it came to them.

Ending their relationship was the most difficult thing she’d ever done.Until then anyway.It wasn’t about her biological clock, not as such.Having children had always been an ambition.For years, it was one of those things out there on the agenda that they just hadn’t got to yet.And when the time came?It could only be him.Why could it only be him?

A knock at the door interrupted his scrutiny.Opportunistic, because what could he say?

Roxie poked her head around the door.“The doctor’s here.Alice is getting twitchy, you need to see this guy.”

“Yeah, send him in.”

“Coy—”

“We’ll finish this later.”

So much of her time was spent thinking about what he’d do for her.She spent little acknowledging just what she’d do for him.Although he couldn’t see it, putting up barriers protected him.Regardless of what he thought of her, she would act in his best interest.And when it came to her father, she was a world authority.

“Do you want me to stay?”Breck asked.

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