Lowe’s eyes grew tormented. He tugged his girl in closer to his chest. Reese impressed the fuck out of me when she rubbed his arm soothingly. It made me wonder what would happen if I were ever put into this situation. After nearly raising Caroline, Brandt, and Colton, I knew I could never turn my back on the likelihood of being a father. But now that Aspen was in my life, it’d kill me think of having anyone else’s child.
Realizing what I’d just thought, I sliced her a startled glance. But had I really just—? Did this mean I wanted no one’s babies but hers? Whoa. I think I had just thought that.
That was whacked out.
“Hey, I’ll volunteer to find out if the bump’s real.” When Ten rubbed his hands together with a leering grin and took a step toward Mrs. Garrison, she yelped and hopped away from him, raising her finger threateningly.
“Come near me, and I’ll call battery so fast your head will spin. No one touches me.”
“Then I’m not convinced you’re pregnant.” Lowe nestled his face against Reese’s, seemingly emboldened by her presence. His skin tone was no longer ashen, and now he looked more pissed than scared.
“It’s a boy,” the persistent woman went on. “I bet he’ll have your eyes and your beautiful hair. I’m thinking of the name Christopher Mason.”
When Lowe once again went sheet white, I decided I’d had enough. Someone needed to take control of this situation and nip it in the bud.
“Stop already,” I said, glaring down Mrs. Garrison.
“You’ve already gone too far,” Aspen added, slipping off her stool and opening her purse. “Because this is one lie you can’t support. We can stand around here, bantering all night and accomplishing nothing. Or we can prove whether you’re telling the truth within minutes.” Pulling a small brown paper bag out of her purse, she opened the end and extracted a box. When I squinted to focus on it, I realized it was a home pregnancy test.
What the—?
Stunned speechless, I gaped at it, my mouth dropping toward the floor. Lifting my gaze, I met Aspen’s apologetic cringe just as Ten exploded, “Shit, Gamble. You knocked up Dr. Kavanagh?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
“With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.” - Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
ASPEN
Noel wouldn’t stop staring. Unable to answer the blaring question in his eyes, I turned toward Mason and Reese. “Here. Get your answers.”
They looked about as shocked as Noel did, though. Finally, Reese shook her head as if to clear it and slipped the box from my hand. “Thanks.” Her jaw setting with determination, she faced the woman who was too freakily like my mother. “Well, alright then. Where’s the bathroom in this place?”
“I’m not taking that thing.” Mrs. Garrison took a horrified step back.
“Yes, you are,” Mason said, his voice determined and hard. When she looked as if she was going to object, he smirked. “I’ll tell you what. You take that test, and if it comes out positive, I’ll go with you right now.”
“Excuse me?” Reese spun to gape up at him. He clasped her shoulder as if begging her to trust him.
“But if you refuse, I want you to leave and never enter this state again.”
A moment of indecision crossed the older woman’s face, but she finally nodded.
“Okay, then,” Reese said. “I’m watching every step you make until this is over.”
“You’re not going with her,” Lowe insisted at the same moment Mrs. Garrison bristled and said, “You’re not coming with me.”
“I’ll go.” Eva, the true pregnant woman, raised her hand.
But Pick grasped her elbow. “I don’t think so, Tinker Bell. If Lowe doesn’t trust his woman alone with that broad, then you sure as hell aren’t going near her. Not in your condition.”
I had a feeling Mrs. Garrison would try to trick Eva into peeing on the stick for her. So, I drew in a deep breath and took matters into my own hands. “Give me the box.” When Reese readily handed it over, I glanced at Mrs. Garrison. “This way.”
“And who do you think you are?” she sneered, not moving.
“She’s Dr. Kavanagh,” Reese answered for me, emphasizing the doctor part as if she wanted Mrs. Garrison to think I was a medical doctor, not an academic one.
Mrs. Garrison merely narrowed her eyes. “Well, isn’t that nice?”
“Pleasantly so.” Well acquainted with how to treat her kind, I gave a stoic nod, demonstrating my stiff indifference. “Now, shall we?” I turned away, not waiting for her and not surprised when I heard her fall into step behind me. “Mr. Gamble,” I called, notching my chin high. “Would you please escort us?”
He was out from behind the bar before I could blink, taking my elbow gently. Without saying a word, he directed us into the hallway. No one else followed. We were halfway down the dark corridor before he leaned in close and whispered into my ear. “We are so going to talk about this.”
I nodded. “It’s the reason I came to see you tonight.”
He blew out a long breath. “Shit. Do you really think you’re—”