Page 44 of Broken King

Scarlet isquiet as we drive back to her office. When we left the doctor’s office, I asked her if she was okay, and the look she gave me was glacial. But now, as we get closer to her office, my chances of getting her to open up about how she’s feeling are dwindling. “Talk to me, Scarlet. I’m worried about you.”

She doesn’t turn her face toward me. Handicapping me by not giving me her eyes. “I’ve managed to survive thirteen years without your worry or help, Cade. I think I’ve got this.”

Her cold words cut like ice.

She’s good at that.

It would be foolish to correct her.

To remind her that the eighteen-year-old punk I used to be might not have been able to take care of her. But he’s long gone. The man I am today takes care of what’s his.

Is she mine? She was once. At least I thought she was.

Frustration keeps me from telling her that she needs to get over herself and let me help since she’s carrying my child. I’m a lot of things, but I’m not a fool.

When we pull into the Kings parking garage, she gives me directions to her car instead of the entrance to the offices. I take that as a small win.

The passenger side door opens, and she moves to get out without saying anything, so I reach out and grab her wrist, stopping her. “Scarlet.”

She finally turns her gorgeous face my way, only to break my heart when I see tears in those midnight-blue eyes of hers. Instead of staying in the truck, I hop out and walk around the front of it until I’m face to face with this infuriating woman. When I reach out for her, she tries to push me away, but I don’t give in. Instead, I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest.

I might as well be holding granite at first.

But after a moment’s hesitation, her arms wrap around my waist, and she lays her head against my chest, finally taking the small comfort I can give.

I run my fingers over her hair and cup her face. “Let me help you, Scarlet. You don’t have to do this alone.”

She lifts her head. “I wish you were right. But don’t worry about me. I’m good at being alone.”

“Scarlet...”

She pushes away and adjusts the bag on her shoulder. “Thanks for coming with me today, Cade. We’ll talk this weekend, okay?”

I stand there, stuck in place as she settles herself inside her sporty little car.

Not sure how much I can push her without it being too much.

Frustrated, I get back into the truck. My phone is ringing with a call from Rylie.

“Hello?” I watch Scarlet’s car in the rearview mirror as I exit the parking garage, hoping she’s going home.

“Umm, Cade? Any chance you can stop by?” My older sister sounds frantic.

“What’s going on, Rylie?” I send the call to my Bluetooth and turn on the car.

There’s a loud screech in the background and then the sound of wood scratching against wood. “OH MY GOD! There’s a really big snake in my kitchen. Like really big. I can deal with mice and spiders. Hell, I can deal with bats. But I don’t do snakes, Cade. And Jillian is at work. Please come get it.”

“I’m on my way. I’m just leaving Kings Stadium now. Where are you?”

A semi-hysterical laugh escapes from Rylie’s lips. “Well, I’m currently sitting on my kitchen table, watching the damn thing sun itself in front of the sliding glass doors. Was the doctor’s appointment today or were you just meeting up with Scarlet?”

Rylie was great when I told her about Scarlet and the baby. There was no guilt trip with her like there was with Mom. “It was the appointment. Scarlet and I haven’t progressed to the meeting up for lunch kind of friends yet.”

“You’ll get there. I never met a girl you couldn’t charm. How was the appointment?”

I take the dig at my former player ways in stride. I earned them. I definitely spent my twenties playing the field once I was back home. “Not so good. Scarlet’s blood pressure was up. Doc wants her to cut back on the stress in her life, watch what she eats. That kind of thing.” I picture the tears gathering in her eyes and wish to God I could fix this for her.

I take a deep breath and then admit, “I don’t know how to help her, Ry.”

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