His Baby Agenda

“No way? What happened? Was it what I said last night? Because I’m not going to apologize for that. I mean, I know it was the middle of the night when doubts are strongest, but in the clear light of day—”

“I realized that you were right. Doubts aren’t just clearest in the middle of the night, Gabi, they are also revealed to be the truth. You were right when you said I’d never be free of the repercussions of revenge, but you didn’t mention the other item. The past. I’m never going to be free of it.”

“That’s not true,” she said, getting up and coming around her desk. “Today the county commissioners stopped by and apologized. They are honored to have you sponsor the park.”

“That’s nice. But I’m sure it was financially motivated and it changes nothing. People are always going to remember the headline arrest and the truth—whatever it is—will hold no sway over them.”

Gabi reached for him but he stepped away. He wasn’t sure he could handle her touching him right now.

“Really? Is that the way things are between us now?”

He looked into those eyes, the same ones he’d avoided last night, and knew that he didn’t want it to be over. He wanted to find a way to have her and keep her and protect her. To create the family he’d been searching for with her. The family he wanted for Conner and for himself, too.

“Yes.”

“Bastard.”

He nodded. Better to end it now and like this. So he’d never be tempted to come back and try again. “I’ll bring Conner in to say goodbye.”

“If that’s what you must do. I’m not sure why you are cutting me out of your life. I thought this time we were being honest with each other and building something real.”

“I don’t know how I lied.”

“When you invited me to have dinner with you and we walked on the beach. You seduced me with romance and I let you because...well, it doesn’t matter. Why did you do that? Was it just a game to you?”

“No. It was never a game,” he said.

“Then why?”

“The reason no longer matters,” he said.

“Figures you’d say that,” she said.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Just that you’ve been covering up for Hunter, so I guess I should never expect the truth from you about anything.”

“I haven’t lied to you,” he said. “What the hell are you talking about with Hunter?”

“He and Stacia broke up the night she died. I find it hard to believe you didn’t know that.”

“I didn’t.”

“Well, maybe you should be cutting the people who have hurt you from your life instead of the ones who are just trying to help you,” Gabi said.

“How were you trying to help me?” he asked. He’d figure out the Hunter thing later.

“By loving you, Kingsley. But a man like you is too hard, too locked away in the past to let something like love lead you out of it. And frankly, I’m tired of trying.”

She walked out of the office and down the hall to Conner. She hugged him and told him she had to start working for another family. And the smooth, professional way she handled it made Kingsley realize she’d said goodbye to children before.

He wondered if she even cared for his son, but when she stood up and turned her head he saw the tears glistening in her eyes and realized that she did.

He wondered if he’d made a mistake. She was making him question things he’d always thought were true, but it was too late to go back.

Kingsley was angry. Gabi’s arguments made a certain kind of sense, but surely Hunter hadn’t been lying to him the entire time. He texted Hunter to come over to his place, and they met there twenty minutes later.

He looked haggard. His friend wasn’t dealing with being back in California well at all. His family had never really believed in his innocence and Kingsley didn’t want to heap onto him the same accusations as they had.

But there were questions that needed answering. And he needed those answers now.

“What’s up? Did Gabi find out anything useful?” Hunter asked. He walked straight to the sideboard and poured himself two fingers of scotch. He downed it in one gulp before turning to face him.

Kingsley couldn’t speak for a second. This was a man he thought he knew better than anyone... Did he really know any person at all?

“She did. She found several witnesses who saw you and Stacia fighting the night she died.”