“Answer me, Keir.” I don’t look at his mother as I address him.
That woman, I can deal with later. It’s her son I have an issue with right now.
“Because I’m to be married to her. You know this.”
I shake my head. “Even after?” Surely not. That bitch tried to kill me, and he threatened her because of it.
“The contract still stands,” he states unemotionally.
“Don’t lie. You’re a powerful man, as your mother so kindly put it. You could break it off if you wanted to.”
“I’m not discussing any more of this here with you now.”
“That’s fine. Give me my daughter and we’ll leave.” I hold my hands out to take Wren, who wiggles to get to me. At first, my heart jumps a beat thinking he may not pass her to me, but he eventually does.
“Stay. At least come in for a drink,” Keir says.
I should deny, I want to leave. But I’m not here for me, I’m here for Wren.
I turn to face his mother. “I would love a drink.”
The old bag doesn’t smile or even attempt to move until Keir walks in, then she follows. I hold Wren close to me as we head inside.
I can see where he gets his taste in décor—everything is so dark and expensive. The couch is a dark gray and is in an L shape. The dining room table isn’t as big as Keir’s, but it’s still impressive. It seats six people and has large wooden legs with black velvet chairs, and it backs up to a large, white kitchen. Keir pulls out a seat at the table for me and then does the same for himself. His mother sits opposite us with a drink tray already on the table.
“So, how’s life?” I ask her, smiling. It’s fake, as fake as this relationship is right now. Non-existent. But I am trying because that’s the right thing to do, right?
“Bit of attitude, I see. This must be why my son was attracted to you.” His mother picks up a small piece of cake and bites into it, so I do the same thing.
“No, actually… he kidnapped me. Did he not tell you?” I look at Keir, who’s watching me.
His mother’s dark eyes flick to him, then back to me. “No, he did not.”
“Figured as much.” I shrug. “Knocked me up as well. After he told me he never wanted to see me again, that is.”
“I didn’t know,” Keir interjects.
I wave him off. “Doesn’t matter if you knew. You said you didn’t want girls. Only boys to carry on the line.”
“Boys do come in handy.”
“Girls are just as important and are just as fierce, dominating, and headstrong. You name it, what a boy can do a girl can do too.”
“But they shouldn’t, and they can’t,” his mother jumps in.
I ignore her and focus on Keir. “You think a girl can’t be you?” I ask him.
“No.”
“I bet you I could be you.” I straighten my spine. He shakes his head, brushing me off. “I bet I could be you,” I repeat.
“You can’t. No one can. It’s why I am who I am.” His mother reaches over the table and grabs his hand. “But I won't lie to you, I think if any woman had a chance it would be you. You are feisty.”
“Better than your papa, that’s for sure,” his mother adds.
“You couldn’t kill if you had to,” he snaps.
“Sure,” I bite back.
“I shot your friend. Did I tell you that?” I stare at him, confused. “What was his name… Harry? No, Henry.”
Well damn! If I wasn’t holding Wren, I would get up and move away. But I remain seated right next to him. “Was going to kill him but chose to shoot him in his hand instead. I think he got taught a valuable lesson.”
I’m angry now.
How dare he do something like that.
Henry was always so kind to me.
Dammit! Even being my friend was enough to get him in trouble.
“And what’s that?”
“To not perve on what’s mine.”
“He never—”
Keir interrupts with his hand and then pulls his phone from his pocket and brings up pictures showing Henry hiding behind a garden bush in front of my house, holding his camera up to my window.
Well, shit.
“You didn’t have to shoot him.”
Asshole.
“How about dinner?” his mother asks and walks around the table. Wren and I both look at her as she stops next to us.
“Can Wren help me get dinner out?” she asks nicely, clapping her hands at Wren. The last thing I want to do is give this woman my child, even if she is her grandmother. So I decide to leave it up to Wren, and she does what I don’t want her to do, she opens her arms and goes to her. I groan softly as she takes her and walks into the kitchen.
“You want to be me for a day?” he challenges once they’re out of hearing range. “You really think you could do what I do?” he asks, picking up a piece of pineapple and sucking it in between his lips.
I lick mine as I watch him and answer, “I know I can.”
“Done! I’ll pick Wren up tomorrow and Roberto will collect you.” He sits back, crossing his arms over his chest. “This is going to be interesting.”
“If you say so.” I shrug my shoulders. “Maybe I’ll retire your ass and make you my nanny.”
He throws his head back and chuckles.
And for the first time, I resist the urge to kick him in the balls.
Chapter Seven
Keir
“Why are you staring at her like that.” My mamma sits opposite me while Sailor is using the bathroom.
“Like what?” I ask her, curious.
Wren is asleep and lying in a portable crib next to me.
Dinner was filled with tension, clearly my mother and Sailor were not comfortable with each other but somehow we got through it.
“Like she’s more than you say she is.” My mamma’s not dumb—she knows. You can’t put anything over on her and in some ways that is a great thing, but in others not so much, like now. “And why are you still punishing your brother? He did what he thought was right.”
“He lied to me,” I point out.
“So did a lot of people.”
“And those that I know of are dead.”
“She’s not.” Mamma lifts her wine glass in Sailor’s direction. “Actually, I don’t think she ever will be…” She pauses and takes a large drink before continuing, “I wasn’t your father’s first choice. You know that, right?” I’d heard my asshole father say that numerous times. When the old bastard got drunk, he would ramble about a pretty blonde who stole his heart. He never cared about Mamma or her feelings when he was drunk.
“Hmmm,” is all I can give in response.
She waves me off. “I know in the end it was the blonde he wished was with him, even though I gave him everything he wanted. It’s the only reason I stayed around so long.” She looks to make sure Sailor isn’t there before she returns her eyes to me. “I know your father still saw that woman. Do you plan to do the same? To see Sailor on the side? Have her as your dirty little secret while you’re off marrying Paige?” I choose not to answer. “Your father should have left me… he should have left me so he could be with the woman he wanted. Instead, he kept me around like a stray cat, came to me when he needed things, and left to always be with her. Do you know what that does to a woman, how that makes her feel?” She answers her own question, “Like shit.”