Holiday Baby Scandal

Ryker felt for the souvenir penny inside his pocket, the reminder he needed right now. Family was everything to him, and he’d slashed right through that shroud of trust. Now he had to pick up the pieces and make some vain attempt to put them all back together.

* * *

Laney’s nerves were shot. She didn’t have the energy to argue with her brothers, and she was furious at Ryker for dropping their bombshell the way he had. She’d had things covered, she was trying to keep him out of the hot seat until her brothers had a chance to process the pregnancy.

And she could think of so many other times that would’ve been more appropriate.

The caterers were gone, the room now a skeleton of a beautiful Christmas party. The employees had all mingled, chatting about the upcoming spring auction, the biggest one of the year. Laney had tried to zero in on who she thought could be capable of betrayal, but after the intense scene with her brothers and Ryker, she had lost focus.

“I’m so, so sorry, Laney.”

Laney turned toward the doorway to the ballroom leading off the foyer. Zara had her hands clasped in front of her as she worried her bottom lip.

“None of this is your fault.” Laney moved toward her sister-in-law and let out a sigh. “I have no idea where the guys went, but I hope Ryker is still alive.”

Zara nodded. “Braden and Mac are outside, and I saw Ryker go up to the study. Jenna is finishing up in the kitchen, but I wanted to slip out and see you without the others.”

Tears pricked Laney’s eyes. “I was so worried how you’d take the news. I didn’t want to bring back all of those memories.”

Zara reached out, taking Laney’s hands in hers. “The memories are always there. The hurt will never go away, I imagine. We are trying to have another, and my doctor says he sees no reason why we can’t get pregnant again. Don’t worry about me, Laney. This is a special time for you and Ryker.”

Laney blinked back the burn and moisture. “I don’t know what Braden and Mac are going to do. I mean, they’re all like brothers, they’re best friends. Ryker needs them in his life. He had no one before coming here. He—”

“You love him,” Zara said softly.

There was no denying the truth. “Yes.”

“Then fight for this. Your brothers are in a state of shock, and most of their anger stems from getting caught off guard. Make them see how much you care for Ryker. Does he feel the same way?”

And wasn’t that the question? How did Ryker feel? The man was so closed off. She knew full well how he felt about their physical relationship, and she was almost positive he had feelings for her, but she wanted him to say it. To admit how he felt and stop hiding from everything.

“It’s okay.” Zara squeezed Laney’s hands. “Go on upstairs. Your brothers will be up shortly, I’m sure.”

Laney wrapped her arms around Zara. “I’m so glad you’re in our lives.”

Returning the embrace, Zara whispered, “Me, too.”

Pulling herself together, Laney made her way upstairs. She wasn’t ready for this talk, didn’t think she’d ever be. She knew going in that harsh words were going to be exchanged, some things that could never be taken back. But she wouldn’t let her brothers blame Ryker. That was an issue she refused to back down on.

When she eased open the study door, she saw Ryker across the room, facing the floor-to-ceiling windows behind the desk. With his hands in his pockets, he looked as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Laney knew different. He carried everything on his shoulders.

She closed the door at her back, and the click had Ryker glancing over his shoulder.

“You need to leave,” he told her, turning back to look out the window. “I’ve got this.”

Yeah, carrying the entire weight, as if this pregnancy was one-sided.

“We’re a team, remember?”

She moved across the floor, nerves swirling in her stomach. If he shut her out now, Laney didn’t know how she’d handle his silence.

“Why didn’t you let me manage things earlier?” she asked as she came to stand beside him. When he didn’t look at her, Laney’s heart sank just a bit more.

“I don’t want you to think I was keeping your name from them for any reason other than it wasn’t the time or place to get into this.”

Ryker whirled, eyes blazing with fury. “I’m not hiding behind a woman. You think I was just going to stand there and let Braden speculate? How would that have worked out for either of us when he did find out the truth? If we’d let that go, his rage would’ve been worse.”

Once again, Ryker was the voice of reason. Plus, it wasn’t his style to let a woman take the fall, especially her. She should’ve known he wouldn’t stand by while she made excuses and skirted around the truth.