Risky (Adventures in Love 2)

The only reason I’m second-guessing how I should reply is because of my own ego. The fact that he would text things like Do I need to ask you for a DNA test? or My mom said she thinks the guy you brought to meet her and my dad for lunch is Sampson’s real dad makes me feel like I need to defend myself. It doesn’t matter what he or his mom thinks, does, or says, and they only have power over me if I give it to them. I just need to talk myself out of defending my own virtue.

With a sigh, I stop in front of the diapers, then scan the selection for the brand and size I need while trying to calculate in my head if they’re cheaper here or at the store down the street.

“Everly?” I hear my name and look down the aisle, then smile when I see Margret carrying Taylor on her hip, with a very handsome guy pushing a cart right behind her. “I thought that was you.” She comes over to give me a one-armed hug, then looks at Sampson. “Hey, buddy, are you having a good day?”

“Nona, baba, dada,” he rattles off, making us both laugh.

“I hear you, kid. I feel the same,” she tells him as I peek around to Taylor, who’s avoiding any kind of attention.

“Hey, pretty girl.”

“Hi,” she says quietly before she burrows into her mom.

“She just woke up when we got to the store,” Margret explains, then motions to the guy a step away. “Everly, I don’t know if you’ve met Mason or not.”

“I haven’t.” I lift my hand and wave at him. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too.” He jerks up his chin, then takes Taylor when she reaches out for him to hold her.

“What are you guys up to today?” I ask, looking among the three of them.

“Just doing some shopping, then cleaning and laundry before the week is up and I have to do it all over again.”

“Same.” I smile, and she smiles back.

“You’re coming to Mom and Dad’s for dinner, right?”

“Yeah, Blake is picking Sam and me up at five,” I tell her, and her eyes start to twinkle, which puts me on edge. I haven’t figured out if she either really likes the idea of her brother and me together or if she really likes giving him a hard time.

“Awesome, did you guys have a good day yesterday?” she asks, and I’m not sure how to respond to that question. We did have a great day, or at least I did. I just don’t know how he felt, because he’s not the easiest guy in the world to read.

“I think so.”

“Cool,” she says; then her eyes go over my shoulder and narrow. When I turn, I see a very good-looking man with dark hair and timeless features with a gorgeous redheaded woman. The two of them have stopped at the end of the aisle, looking like they’ve seen a ghost.

“Margret?” Mason rumbles, reaching for her arm, but she shakes him off and storms past me.

“I cannot believe you,” she hisses, approaching the couple, and the woman backs behind the man while he holds up his hands.

“Margret, this is not the time or place to cause a scene,” the guy with dark hair says as Margret stomps toward him.

“You are a liar.” She shoves her finger in his face. “I cannot believe you.”

“Calm down,” he orders, and even with Margret’s back to me, I can tell by the sudden stiffness in her shoulders that she doesn’t like him telling her to calm down. Then again, what woman likes it when a man says that?

“Do not tell me to calm down.” She tosses her hands in the air, then points at the woman, who’s attempting to blend in with the baby formula. “Let me guess—you just so happened to run into him here.”

“Umm.” She looks around like she’s confused, and I hear Mason sigh. Then his hand lands on my shoulder, and I turn to face him and notice that Taylor looks upset.

“Daddy,” she says, and for a moment, I think she’s talking to Mason, but then I realize she’s looking at the man Margret is arguing with.

“Everly.” Mason pulls my attention back to him and holds out some cash in my direction. “Will you take Taylor to the café at the front of the store to get something to eat?”

“Daddy,” Taylor repeats, sounding upset, and my eyes ping between her and the man at the end of the aisle, who’s obviously her father and Margret’s ex.

“It’s okay, pumpkin,” the man says to Taylor, and Margret’s hands ball into fists while the redheaded woman seems to pale.

“It’s okay, honey.” Margret spins on her heel and walks back to us, then takes Taylor from Mason.

“Daddy.” She reaches for her father, and Margret looks like she wants to cry or physically hurt someone.