“You were supposed to stay in Sacramento.” There was something off about Aiden’s words, but Brooke couldn’t place it. She was too caught up in the disaster waiting to happen. Behind her the auction was continuing, but she couldn’t hear a word of what they were saying.
“But I came down here instead. I’ve got a kid here. I have rights, you know.”
It was as if a veil had descended over her. No, not a veil, a suit of armor. One that riled her up and made every muscle in her body tense. She was in fight mode, a lioness protecting her cub, and Jamie Black had no idea what was about to hit him.
Aiden reached for her arm, but she shrugged him off and walked around him. She stopped right in front of Jamie, her eyes at the same level as his thanks to her stupidly high heels. Slowly, she raised her arm and pressed the pad of her finger against his chest, feeling the heat of him through his thin t-shirt. Jamie blinked but didn’t move.
“Don’t you dare claim any rights over my son. Don’t you dare come here and tell me anything about my boy. You’ve never met him, you’ve never cared for him, you’ve never spent a dime on him. You’re a sperm donor, that’s all, and neither of us want you here.”
Jamie lifted his hands up as if to ward her off. “Hey, cool it.”
“Don’t you tell me to cool it.”
“Babe, I’m not interested in our son. I’m more interested in my brother’s cash. I want a few more dollars from him and I won’t bother you again.”
“What?” She turned to look at Aiden, confusion making her head feel woolly. “What’s he talking about? Why would he want a few dollars more?”
“You didn’t tell her?” Jamie asked, laughing loudly.
“Tell me what?”
“Brooke, go back to the table. I’ll explain it all later.” Aiden’s voice was urgent. “Go, please.”
“What’s he talking about?” she asked him again. “What cash?”
“He paid me off. Offered me thirty thousand dollars to keep away from you and your son. I’ve come down to reopen the negotiations.”
“You knew he was out of prison?” she asked Aiden. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Yeah, bro, why didn’t you tell her?”
“Shut the hell up,” she said to Jamie. Her world famous patience was wearing thin.
“You didn’t need to know.” Aiden reached for her again, folding his hands around her elbow. “He’s my problem and I’m sorting it out.”
“Talking about me like that could hurt my feelings,” Jamie pointed out, looking like he was enjoying himself a little too much.
Ignoring him, Brooke asked, “Aiden, what have you done?”
“He’s sent me a bribe. That’s what he’s done. Thirty thousand dollars to keep away from you and your kid.” Jamie pushed his lip out in a mock-pout. “What’s up, Brookey, don’t you think you’re worth more? Because I do.”
The champagne she’d drunk earlier swirled around in her stomach, making her throat contract with a need to throw up. Why would Aiden have done that without speaking to her first? What gave him the right to make decisions about her life without her input?
“Were you ever going to tell me he was out?” she asked Aiden. “If Jamie had taken your bribe would you have kept silent forever?”
The look on Aiden’s face told her all she needed to know.
He’d planned to keep this a secret forever.
“What about telling the truth always?” she asked him. “What about no more secrets, no more lies? What about letting me take control of my own life?”
“Brooke…”
“No.” She put her hand up. “I need to think this through.”
“What’s going on here?”
Brooke turned to see her father standing a couple of feet away from Aiden, and next to him was her mom, staring at the three of them with wide eyes.