Sydney tried to feign nonchalance. “It happens.”
The girl smiled and went on her way. Sydney took Sapphire back to the stalls and cleaned her up.
After she’d taken care of the mare and blown the congestion out of her nose, hoping she’d shed her last tear, she went out into the stands to find Sam.
She walked for a while, her brain in a haze, seeing only blurred faces in front of her. No blurry Sam. When she’d nearly given up, he appeared.
“Lord,” she groaned under her breath.
Next to him, jabbering in his ear, was none other than Rod Kyle.
Chapter Seventeen
“Look,” Sam said, “I’m not interested in all the documentation you have. I know the kid is mine. The DNA results will be in today, tomorrow at the latest. In fact, they might be in right now. I haven’t checked my phone in a while.”
“What I’m trying to tell you is that Roy and Carrie Buchanan are not who they seem to be,” Rod said. “I thought for sure you’d be interested.”
“You think I’d trust anything you told me?”
“Look, I get that Sydney’s not going to marry me. I’m not thrilled about the gossip and shit it’s going to create. My father had his own reasons for wanting me to marry her, and her family had a lot to do with it. He’s livid about the broken engagement.”
“What the hell would her family have to do with it? And why the fuck does your father care who you marry? Jesus Christ.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I found some information—”
“What exactly have you found, then? And why were you looking?”
“Fair question. I started looking to find a way to keep Sydney from breaking our engagement. My father wanted the marriage more than I did, and my father doesn’t ever do anything without a reason, so I dug deeper.”
“Say I want this information,” Sam said. “What’s it going to cost me?”
“You need to leave Sydney. Give her up.”
Sam shook his head. “You’re dreaming. I have a child with that woman.”
“But you’re not in love with her.”
“That’s none of your goddamn business.”
Rod’s meticulously groomed eyebrows shot up. “Shit, are you telling me you’ve fallen for that manipulative little tramp?”
Sam grabbed Rod’s collar. “You want another punch in the face? ’Cause I can sure arrange it.”
“Ease up,
ease up.”
Sam let him go.
Rod rubbed his neck. “Christ. What a mess you’ve gotten yourself into.”
“Nothing like the mess you’re gonna be in if you ever say anything like that about Sydney again.”
“Fine, fine.” Rod rubbed his jaw. “Are you willing to give her up?”
“It depends on the information. Why don’t you give me a preview, and I’ll think about it?”
“Fair enough.” Rod moved closer to him. “Sydney has an older brother.”