"Theres this girl. "
"Oh?"
"Shes a good girl. Perfect grades. Hardworking. "
"And shes relevant to us how?"
"I hired her in September. She works at the restaurant about twenty hours a week. You know, after school, weekends. Mama hates to admit it, but shes the best waitress theyve ever had. "
Conlan eyed her. "Whats her tragic flaw?"
"There isnt one. "
"Angie Malone, I know you. Now what the hell are we really talking about here? And dont tell me its a girl who is a great waitress. "
"Her mother abandoned her. "
"Abandoned?"
"Just walked out one day. "
His gaze was steady. "Tell me you found her a place to live--"
"Gave her a place. "
Conlan blew out a heavy breath. "Shes living with you at the cottage?"
"Yes. "
Disappointment stamped itself on his face--in his blue eyes, in his frowning mouth. "So you have a teenager living in the house. "
"Its not like that. Not like before, anyway. Im jus
t helping her out until . . . "
"Until what?"
Angie sighed and covered her eyes with her hand. "Until the baby is born. "
"Oh, shit," Conlan said, throwing the covers back, getting out of bed.
"Con--"
He stormed into the bathroom, slammed the door shut behind him.
Angie felt as if shed been kicked in the gut. Shed known this would happen. But what choice did she have? With a sigh, she bent down for her clothes and got dressed. Then she sat on the bed, waiting.
He finally came out, wearing a pair of worn old Levis and a pale blue T-shirt. His anger seemed to have gone; without it, he looked tired. His shoulders were rounded in defeat. "You said youd changed. "
"I have. "
"The old Angie brought a pregnant teenager home, too. " He looked at her. "That was the beginning of the end for us. I remember, even if you dont. "
"Come on," she said, feeling as if something inside of her were breaking. She moved toward him. "Ive hardly forgotten. Just give me a chance. "
"Ive given you a lifetime of chances, Ange. " He looked around the room, then at the bed. "This was a mistake. I should have known better. "
"Its different this time. I swear. " She reached for him. He sidestepped out of her grasp.