Page 40 of My Cowboy Temptation

He doesn’t have to worry that this child will ever be traced back to him.

* * *

Brody

Callie.Pregnant.

It feels like the entire world has been flipped upside down, and I’m left to try and figure out what’s up from down, left from right.

How could Callie be pregnant with anyone else’s baby but mine?

But I know it’s more than possible. I hurt her. I pushed her away. Should it be surprising that she would move to London and not move on with some other guy? She’s beautiful. Any man would be a fool to reject her. Case in point.

She’s having someone else’s baby. I would have to be okay with that.

I nod. “Congratulations.”

She barely acknowledges it as she pushes in a bite of her roll.

“So is there someone special who’s in the picture?” Everly asks.

Callie takes a second to finish swallowing. “There was, but I’m afraid he’s out of the picture now. I’m raising the baby on my own.”

A flash of anger crosses Lucas’s face. “He’s not going to step up and help you? Who the hell is this guy?”

Everly places a warning hand over his wrist.

“He doesn’t know, and to be honest, I don’t know if I’m going to tell him,” Callie says finally. “It’s complicated.”

“Honey, I know you think you can do this alone, and hell, I’m sure you can. But don’t you think he should at least know?”

“It’s a lot. Maybe I will, in time. For now, I’m just trying to deal with it myself. Please, don’t worry about me. I’m going to be fine. Me and the baby.”

“Of course you are,” Everly adds. “You’re going to have all of us to support you. And Kalispell is less than thirty minutes from here, so we can be there for anything you need.”

I study my plate, no longer having an appetite as the jealousy hits me hard.

It’s ridiculous. But I can’t help but think that had I not pushed her away, encouraged her to go, that she would be sitting here at this table with my baby in her womb.

My. Baby.

Not some other schmuck’s who probably has no idea what a catch Callie Castle is.

I shake my head, remembering why I had to send her away. “So is that why you gave up your job in London? Because you’re pregnant?”

“I gave up that job because it made me miserable,” she says, keeping her attention on her plate. “As lovely as London is, it just isn’t home for me.”

“What about your art? Your career?” I ask.

“What about it?” she asks sharply. “I can paint anywhere in the world, and right now, the only place I want to paint is here. I fought it for a long time, and maybe that’s why none of my other work resonated with anyone—especially me. I didn’t know myself. But I’m getting there, starting with realizing there’s nothing wrong with wanting everything that I have right here.”

I don’t know if she’s talking about the ranch, her dad, her friend, the entire state of Montana, or me. But I’d be lying if it doesn’t feel good to hear her say this.

At least, until I remember that she’s carrying some other guy’s baby.

I can’t sit here any longer. I need to get out and stretch my legs, maybe punch a wall or two while I’m at it.

I reach my feet. “Thanks for having me here for dinner, but I’m going to insist on leaving you all to talk.”

“All right,” Lucas says. “See you tomorrow.”

I nod to Everly. “Evening.” Finally, I turn to face Callie. “Again, congrats, brat. I’m happy for you.”

Or I will be. I have to be.

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