Heiress's Baby Scandal

“Yes, and hasn’t it been a lovely homecoming for you?” She hadn’t meant to be sarcastic or to say anything derogatory. Lord knew, he got enough of that from his father. But the words had slipped out before she could stop them.

His lips tightened. “With the exception of my father, yes, it has been.”

Exactly. The rest of his family had been quite lovely. She shouldn’t have said what she had. Shame filled her. Shame and frustration and the overwhelming need to be in her own environment, to have time to process all the things that had happened over the past few days, over the past few weeks since Ty had rescued her at the ribbon-cutting.

Her entire life had turned topsy-turvy.

Her life would never be the same again.

She was going to be a mother, to have Ty’s baby.

“Well, good for you.” She forced a tight smile to her lips, pretended she wasn’t falling apart on the inside, because really she wanted to be strong. “I’m glad that you have had a good visit, but I want to go home.”

He stared at her as if he was looking at a stranger. “We’re not supposed to leave for another two days, Ellie.”

“Don’t call me that!”

The name did her in. Emotions were battling within her and hearing him call her that when the single word could bring her so far down or so high up thanks to him was just too much.

“But—”

“No buts, I’ve asked and asked you not to call me that, but you’re just like your father. You think you know what’s best for other people so you do what you want anyway. Even when that person has asked you repeatedly not to call her that.” Over twenty years’ worth of frustrations and hurt spewed forth all at once. “Well, guess what? I don’t like it, so don’t!”

“What’s wrong with you, Eleanor?”

The way he enunciated her name grated on her nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard. “Nothing.”

“Is this about the pregnancy? It’s normal for you to feel emotional.”

Emotional? Yes, she felt emotional. Overflowing with emotions. All of which centered around the man staring at her as if he wasn’t quite sure what to think.

“Sure, I’m probably just hormonal.” She actually felt hormonal. She felt overwhelmed. Sad. As if every nerve ending in her body was in motion.

He raked his fingers through his hair, leaving dark tufts in disarray. “I don’t understand what’s going on, why you’re doing this.”

She glanced at the open suitcase on the bed. “I’m packing my bags so I can go home. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be with you. I just want to go home. Now.”

He flinched almost as if she’d struck him. His lips tightened to a thin line. He sighed, seemed to come to some decision. “Fine, I’ll have Harry fly you to the airport. If he can’t because of the rodeo, I’ll fly us there.” At her look of alarm, he added, “It’s been a while, but I have my pilot’s license. Harry and I took lessons at the same time during our teens and have flown since.” He paused, stared straight into her eyes. “You’re sure this is what you want?”

At the moment, leaving was the only thing she was sure of. She needed to be moving, to be taking action, to soothe the anxiety rising within her that was threatening to go into a full-blown panic attack, to get home to where she could dissect the emotions rushing through her.

“Get me home, Ty.” She wanted to be as far away from Texas as she could possibly get. New York sounded just about perfect.

She watched walls slide into place as he shielded his emotions behind an expression she’d never seen on his face before. One almost of indifference.

“Fine.” He sounded as if he couldn’t care less, that what she did didn’t matter to him and he’d just as soon she leave as stay. “You want to go home. I’ll get you home.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

ELEANOR SAT ON Ty’s bed, uncertain about what she needed to do. He’d disappeared more than thirty minutes ago, saying he’d be back for her when the plane was ready. She’d finished packing and had been sitting on the bed ever since.

A light knock sounded on Ty’s door. Much lighter than Ty would have done. Not that he’d have knocked to enter his own bedroom anyway.

Although she didn’t want to face anyone, she refused to show any remorse over her confrontation with Ty’s father. She’d meant every word.

“Ellie,” Ty’s mother called through the door. “May I please come in? Please.”

Taking a deep breath, Eleanor crossed the room, opened the door and moved aside for the woman to enter.