The Texan's Baby (Texas Rodeo Barons)

“Did Chris ever tell you we were seeing each other?”

“No.”

She watched Nicole closely. The other woman met her gaze evenly. If she was lying, she was very good at it.

“Did you ever ask him for information about Baron Energies?”

“No. Wait, yes, we did speak of it, just once. When I offered him the job.”

Oh, God. “Do you remember what was said?”

She nodded. “It wasn’t much. I just asked what he’d heard through the grapevine. The press release had just been sent out about your dad, and he asked why I was interested. I think I responded that you’d expressed an interest in alternative energy a few times, but that’s it.”

Lizzie closed her eyes. She wasn’t feeling 100 percent, probably because of her lack of sleep last night and the whole roller coaster of the past few days catching up with her. She really should go home and decompress.

“Are you all right?” Nicole asked, concern in her voice.

Lizzie opened her eyes. “I’m fine,” she answered. “Nicole, please be honest here. Did you offer Chris the promotion in order for him to give you information on Baron Energies?”

Nicole’s eyes hardened. “You’re asking if I bribed him to spy on you, to give me information we could use?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m asking.”

“First of all, I already told you that I didn’t know you guys were even seeing each other. And secondly...if I so much as suggested such a thing to Chris, he’d tell me to stick it up my...you get the picture.” She frowned. “If you blamed him for yesterday, you’re barking up the wrong tree, sister.”

Lizzie believed her. “I had to know for sure,” she said quietly.

“Why? Wasn’t his word enough?”

Oh, she knew exactly how to make Lizzie feel worse. “It wasn’t, no,” she admitted. “You’ve known him a long time?”

Nicole picked up her fork again, looking deliberately nonchalant. “So, the tables are turned, huh? You’re going to use me for information about Chris.”

Lizzie shifted in her chair. She’d been sitting too long today and her back was aching. “I know. But it’s not for professional gain, Nicole. It’s... There’s a lot at stake.”

“You’re in love with him.”

She nodded. There was no sense denying the truth forever. “We’re also expecting a baby.”

The blank surprise on Nicole’s face would have made her laugh any other time, but not now. “We’ve only told family so far. But you can see why I’d be a little freaked out if he betrayed me.”

Nicole raised an eyebrow. “Or why he’d be freaked out that the woman he cared about and who was carrying his child accused him of something he wasn’t guilty of. It all makes sense now.”

“What does?”

“I went to visit the local office this morning. Chris gave me his resignation and two weeks’ notice.”

He’d quit. Why had he done that? Maybe it made sense to Nicole but it wasn’t crystal clear in Lizzie’s mind. She let out a breath as a cramp rippled across her abdomen. Maybe the cafeteria salad hadn’t been a good idea today.

“Will you excuse me for a moment?” she asked, getting up from her chair. “I’ll be right back.”

She found the public bathroom and stepped into a stall. Her heart began to race when

she saw the spotting on her panties. The backache, the cramp, the feeling off...something was wrong. And with the knowledge came a fear so all-encompassing it stole her breath.

She found an old sanitary pad in the zipped pocket of her purse and put it on, then left the stall, pausing to wash her hands before going back to the café. Nicole was still at the table, nibbling at the chocolate pie when Lizzie stopped, not sitting but resting her hands on the back of the chair.

“I’m sorry, but I think I have to go.”