Reckless Love (Cowboys & Angels 7)

My breath caught, a bit of panic raced through my veins, but I did my best to hide it. The picture looked like a little blob, but it was the most beautiful blob I’d ever seen.

“So, you’re not that far along.”

“No,” she replied. “Like I said in the text I sent, I’m about ten weeks. I’m guessing it was that night we…when you…”

“When we made love with no condom?”

She nodded, her hands wringing together. “I’m not looking for anything from you, Trevor. I want you to be a part of this baby’s life, but I’m not going to force you into anything.”

A sharp pain hit me square in the chest, and for a moment it felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“You honestly think I’d walk away from my own child?”

Her sad eyes lifted to meet mine. “You don’t have a problem walking away from me.”

A bout of nausea hit me. “I guess I deserved that.”

Her brow lifted, something like resignation showing on her face.

“I need you to know something. I haven’t been sleeping around.”

She scoffed. “I’ve seen you flirting with women. That girl you walked out of Lilly’s with. That was the day I found out I was pregnant. Do you know how it felt to see you flirting with her after I had just found out I was carrying your baby?”

“Nothing happened. I was being nice to my buddy’s fiancé’s maid of honor. That was all.”

Scarlett looked away, wiping a tear as she shook her head.

“Maebh knows about the baby, doesn’t she?” I asked.

When she didn’t answer, I went on. “Does Cord know?”

Scarlett swallowed hard.

“Well, a few things make a bit more sense now. Like how Maebh wanted to rip my head off.”

Glancing my way, she said, “I asked them not to say anything to you, so please don’t be mad at them. I wanted to tell you myself. I was going to tell you yesterday morning before you had to leave. Then when you said you were going to Lilly’s for lunch, I was going to see if we could take a walk, but Eric showed up, and well…we know how that all went.”

My own fucking brother knew before me. My stomach rolled.

“When did Eric find out?”

Scarlett looked like she didn’t want to answer. “The day I did. Maebh had gone into his office to call Cord because I had cried myself to sleep in hers and…”

I sucked in a breath. I fucking knew she had been upset when I saw her that day. I figured she thought I might be hooking up with someone. It was the whole reason I went over to Aisling to talk to her. That asshole lied to me when he said they weren’t there.

Prick.

“He lied and said you weren’t there. I knew you were upset, and I wanted to explain to you who that was, but he lied and said you weren’t there.”

Her eyes filled with regret.

“I’m…I’m sorry.”

With a frustrated groan, I shook my head. “Why didn’t you just fucking tell me?” Anger laced my words.

“I was going to but then I saw you making out with that stripper and Eric started telling me how you were never going to change, and I…I was confused, Trevor. You haven’t exactly made this relationship…or whatever was between us, very easy.”

“Was?” I asked, feeling my heart practically stop at that one word. Had she given up on me? On us?

Scarlett wrapped her arms around her body and stared at me. My eyes scanned her, and I caught sight of a spot of yellow paint still in her hair. Walking up to her, I picked up the piece and smiled.

“You have paint in your hair.”

The way she looked up warmly gave me hope that maybe she hadn’t given up on me, but she surprised the hell out of me with her next set of words.

Scarlett shook her head. “I can’t do this with you anymore. One minute you’re hot, the next you’re cold. I have to think about my baby.”

“Our baby,” I corrected.

Her eyes closed, and she whispered, “Our baby.” Opening them, her eyes filled were full of sadness. “Since that first moment you asked me to dance with you when we were just kids, I’ve had feelings for you. I thought maybe you did too.”

“I did. I do,” I quickly added.

“You don’t know what you want, Trevor. I can’t do this with you. I refuse to be the type of woman who sits at home and wonders how many women you’re flirting with, or how many more are on your mind.”

I took a step back. “I’d never cheat on you. I mean, we were together Scarlett, but I never said we were exclusive. Still, I haven’t been with anyone else in months.”

“Have you tried? To be with another woman?”

Guilt ripped at me, my silence her answer.

“Right now, I need to focus on me and the baby.”