Page 19 of Nothing to Beat

“No.”Her gaze switched to Roxie.“Would you stay with me?”

“Yes, absolutely.I’ll stay.”

Whatever his thoughts, he kept them to himself.In typical Breck fashion, he stood up straight, expression inscrutable, and stalked out like he had somewhere else to be.Big faker.Man had nowhere else to be.Nowhere was ever more important than right next to her.

“Are you sure you want me?”Roxie came closer to the bed.“We just met tonight, and—”

“Everyone else out there is a Breckenridge.I don’t want to impose, but from everything I’ve heard you take supporting people seriously, especially women.”

Roxie’s cheeks plumped.“We’re going to be fast friends.”The woman went around the bed to climb on the unoccupied side.“Anything I should know?”

The doctor came in carrying a bulky first aid bag.“Ms.Drury, I understand you took a tumble.”

Yes, many years ago she’d tumbled head over heels for a man she could never have.So much for her straightforward plan.This wasn’t how it was supposed to be.The pregnancy was supposed to be quick and easy, the getting pregnant part anyway.She’d figured when it was done, when he’d done his duty, she’d have what she wanted and no one would get hurt.Now it was all complicated and messy.How was she going to clean this up?

EIGHT

SITTING THIGH TO THIGH with Roxie on the bathroom ottoman, the pair fixated on the unused pregnancy test balancing on their knees.

“You don’t have to take it,” Roxie said.“We can just tell them it was negative.”

The solidarity was appreciated though not realistic.

“I work in the same building as various Breckenridges.If it came out positive, how long do you think I could keep that secret?”

Even if she managed to hide her bump, if she got one, hiding a child would be harder.

“God, I’m an idiot.”Sweeping the test to Roxie’s lap, she got up to march to the mirror and set her hands on either side of the sink.“What was I thinking choosing him?”

“From what I know of the eldest Breckenridge, which, granted, isn’t much, it wouldn’t matter who the father was.If you walked in there pregnant, he wouldn’t ask questions.Why don’t you want to know?”

“I told Breck I wanted a child the day we… you know.”

“And he was okay with it?You planned this?”

“I planned to have a child.I thought it would be an easy in and out.”So to speak, no pun intended.“I told him I was ovulating.”

“Just like that, and he was okay with it?Have you discussed it before?”

“I took advantage of him, didn’t I?I know he’s in love with me.It’s not possible for him to refuse me.I needed something and I went to him.It’s in my bones, it’s not my fault, it’s instinct.”

That was all excuses; it was her fault.Though, honestly, could she imagine any other man touching her?Ever?Maybe Alice wasn’t far wrong about the prospect of Breck’s romantic future.Hers might wind up the same.

“Looks like love to me.So what’s the problem?The Breckenridges are amazing.”

“Yes, they are.My family aren’t so scrupulous.Breck and I finished our relationship because I didn’t want my father to take advantage of such an amazing family.I don’t want them tainted; I won’t be responsible for that.They don’t deserve it.My father’s one entitled S-O-B.That’s why I told Breck not to tell anyone about the baby.Now everyone knows, I can’t envision how this will play out.Yes, there was always a chance my father would find out I had a child, but there was no need for him to ever know it was Breck’s child.”

Behind her, reflected in the mirror, Roxie approached.“Your dad isn’t just a scrounging loser, is he?”

An ironic, despondent laugh escaped on her next breath.“My father is a respectable member of society…” or so the script went.“That’s what he wants the world to think.He goes to great lengths to hide the truth.”

“What’s the truth?”

“That he’s into about every shady scheme going; he’s responsible for instigating most of them.On top of that, he’s a bully and a tyrant.Not qualities anyone wants for their children’s grandparent.”What was she supposed to do?Just never have children?Maybe that would’ve been the smarter choice.“I broke ties with him years ago.”

“You think he’ll reappear in your life if he finds out you’re pregnant?”

“I think he keeps tabs on me.I may have cut ties with him, I can’t say he’s done the same with me.”

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