Page 108 of Roughing the Player
Chapter 29
Brock
“WHEN WEREYOU GOING TO TELL ME, ELLIE?” How could she have hidden this from me?
“Tell you what?”
Can’t believe she’s doing this. “Don’t fucking play with me. When?”
Unable to look at me, she gazes down at her feet. “September, maybe October.”
“When’s the baby due?”
“Christmas time.”
I do a quick math. “So you’re four months along?”
“Yes.”
Four months ago we were in Bora Bora. Shortly before our trip, she’d developed a reaction to her birth control pills. Rather than chance a new prescription while we were out of the country, we’d opted for condoms. But there had been times—in the beach bungalow, in the ocean, on a freaking sailboat—when we’d made love without protection. I hadn’t given a damn because more than anything else I want more children with her. And now that wish is a reality.
Except.
She doesn’t want me to be part of it. Once again she’s hidden her pregnancy from me. Something easily done since we live hundreds of miles apart. She probably thought if she waited until October to tell me, I wouldn’t do anything about it. But she’s wrong. Dead wrong. That’s my child she’s carrying, and I’m not about to let her go at it alone. Not this time. Not ever again. “I may have missed out on Kaylee, but I’ll be damned if I miss out on this one.” I point to the floor. “You’re moving down here.”
She clambers off the stool to confront me. “No. I’m not.”
I want to shake sense into her, kiss her into submission, but neither is going to get me what I want. “For God’s sakes, Ellie, how many roadblocks are you going to put in my way?”
She hitches up her chin. “As many as it takes.”
Breathing hard, I fist my hands. “I want you here. With me.”
“Why? So I can watch you play hide the salami with those single neighbors of yours?”
Idiot woman. “I haven’t done it so far, and I’ve had every opportunity to do so. What makes you think I will?”
Jutting out her jaw, she slaps her fist on her hip. “One of them came up to me at the picnic.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. She borrowed some coffee.”
“Ahh. Suzi.”
“You know her name?”
“Of course, I do. She told me. You got nothing to worry about. I don’t have the least interest in her, or any of the other women who’ve dropped by.” As gently as I can, I cup her shoulders. “I only want you.”
She shrugs me off as her lip curls. “You’re only saying that because for some weird reason you want a family. And Kaylee, and this baby and I”—she hugs her stomach—“fit the bill.”
“I do want a family with you and Kaylee, and God willing, this baby. But I’ve always wanted you.”
“Really?” She folds her arms across her chest. It’s only now I notice her growing belly. How could I have been so fucking blind?
“Yes.”
“Then why did you decide our marriage would be temporary?”
