Page 146 of The Billion Heirs Boxed Set
“Yeah, it did. You kind of dropped a bomb on me.”
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you about it.”
“I know, but we are long over and I never expected…this. Besides, I’m suddenly a rancher, and then…” I plunk down onto my bed. “It’s a long story.”
“I heard. The short story is I’m pregnant. What do we do about it?”
I sigh. I can’t do anything about it. The child is growing in her body, so it’s her choice, but I sure as hell can make sure it’s mine before I think about anything.
“How far along are you?”
“Four months.”
I run the numbers in my head.
I breathe out a sigh of relief.
Then I get angry.
Yeah, Rhonda and I hooked up, but there was snow on the ground. I remember that because I left my coat behind and it was fucking freezing. It rarely snow in New York after March. That means the baby’s not mine.
“You going to say anything?” she asks.
“Yeah, just a minute.” I walk to my desk and sit down in front of my computer. I type in “paternity test in early pregnancy.”
“Yes!” I say, louder than I mean to.
“Yes, what?”
“Sorry. We can do a non-invasive paternity test. A simple blood draw for you and a cheek swab for me.”
“Are you kidding me, Miles? You want me to do a paternity test?”
“Well…yeah. I want to know for sure that the kid is mine, Rhonda.” Because it’s not.
“And my word isn’t good enough for you?” she screeches.
“I’m no mathematician, but I sure as shit can’t be that baby’s father if you’re four months along. What do you really want?”
“Miles,” she sputters.
“You said you heard I’m a rancher now. That means you heard why I moved to Montana. Let me guess. From Dave at the shop who gave you my number. Probably the real father.”
Her huff comes through the phone line clear as day.
“You want the money. Jesus. You’re a piece of work, using your baby to get your hands on some cash.”
She doesn’t say anything, so I plow on.
“You’ve got two choices. Take the paternity test and prove I’m the father. Or fuck off.”
“Fuck you!” She ends the call. Just as I thought.
Christ. What a total nightmare. No wonder Chance is single. He must be scared of being trapped by a gold digger just by sinking his dick into a woman.
Hell, who could blame the man?
Sadie isn’t like that. She didn’t know who I was when we first hooked up. And now she thinks I’m some rando’s baby daddy. We couldn’t have had a rockier start to a relationship—if it could ever be considered one after all the ups and downs we’ve been through in such a short time. I want to hunt her down, but I have no clue where to go.
