Tall, Dark & Lonely (Pyte/Sentinel 1)

“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you, but she’s been with so many men since she’s moved here that she’s developing quite the reputation. This baby could be yours.”

He folded his hands together and looked down, ignoring her cold touch. Her hand was now caressing his muscles. “What do you suggest I do then? If she’s been unfaithful to me I won’t stand by her.”

“Oh, and I don’t blame you. You’re such a strong good man. You shouldn’t have to take that,” she crooned.

“What should I do?”

“Well, I think space might be the best option. She’s saved plenty of money and has a good job. You should ask her to move out.”

“What about the baby?”

Candy shrugged. “She’s been cheating on you? Do you really want to see her? If she is pregnant she’ll be fine. She’ll take care of the baby. She’s good at that and you shouldn't have to be hurt by this. It’s not like she’s your wife or anything, thank god. Can you imagine how humiliated you would be if she was?”

“So, you suggest I throw a woman out who might be pregnant?” he asked without any emotion.

She squeezed his bicep to reassure him. “I think it might be best.”

“I can’t believe this.” He shook his head in disbelief. She took it the wrong way which was incidentally the way he intended for her to take it.

“I know. I never thought she would do this again. I hoped and prayed that you would be enough to turn her around, but I was wrong. It’s not your fault. You’re such a good man.” She placed her other hand on his knee.

“What about the kids?” He knew he was speeding up her little game.

“Well, I wanted to move back here anyway. Granted I didn’t know she was playing this game again, but I would be willing to help out with them and I’d be there for you as well.” Her hand moved up his inner thigh where he caught it.

Ephraim chuckled darkly “Oh, Candy, how you amuse me.” He pushed her hand away. He looked her in the eye. “Let’s start with the basics. Madison doesn’t lie. She’s a bad cheater when it comes to games, but she doesn’t lie and she never stole a penny. I’ve never seen a woman work harder to make sure her siblings were taken care of before. She even stretched herself to the max when she took Chris in, but she never once complained.”

“She’s fooled you.” She gave him a look of pity.

“Candy, I can tell you right now without a doubt that Madison was a virgin the first time I took her.”

“Oh, you poor thing. Woman can fake that,” she said softly. He had a feeling she probably knew that from experience.

“Do you remember that doctor’s appointment at the OBGYN?”

“Yes,” she said hesitantly.

“Well, the doctor confirmed it to my face that she was a virgin not that I had any doubts and from the look on your face you really didn’t know she was a virgin, did you?”

“I-”

“So, when you realized your mother was no longer able to give you a free ride you thought I would if you offered yourself. Then you realized your possible meal ticket wasn’t interested and you thought to get rid of what you deemed to be your competition, didn't you?”

“Ephraim, don’t be like that,” she purred.

He stood abruptly. “Did you really think I would throw the woman I love and my unborn baby out on the street based on your word?”

She looked nervous for the first time since their conversation started. “She’s just using you Ephraim,” she argued desperately.

“No, she’s royally pissed at me at the moment and I don’t blame her. I did something stupid without asking her first. Even if she never wants me again I would never touch you.”

“Ephraim?”

“You never deserved her you know. You used her and discarded her and those two great kids. She gave up everything to put food on the table for those kids and you never once thanked her. Now, you repay her kindness by coming in here and trying to throw her in the street? You disgust me.” He turned his back on her to find that Madison had moved from the foyer into the doorway.

“Oh! Madison, we were just talking about you,” Candy said cheerfully, trying to pretend that nothing happened.

“I heard,” Madison said dryly.

Candy’s face dropped. “It’s not what you think. I…I…was just testing him to make sure he was good enough for you.”

“How kind.” Her eyes were locked with Ephraim’s. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“Of course.”

“Wait, what about me?”

Madison finally looked at her mother and saw nothing. She was nothing. Finally after all these years she didn’t feel anything when she looked at her mother, not love, pity, or even guilt. Candy’s pull over her was gone.

“What about you?” she asked in a cold voice.

“I have nowhere to go. You’re really not going to throw your mother out on the street, would you? What will your baby think when it finds out you threw its grandmother out or Jill and Joshua?” Candy asked, playing the game she knew worked so well with her.

“You’ve never been a mother to those kids and you certainly aren’t this baby’s grandmother,” Madison said in the same cold voice.

“How could you! I have no money and nowhere to go! Stop being such a selfish little bitch!” Candy snapped with the knowledge that she lost whatever control she had over Madison was gone.

Ephraim put a hand out to stop Madison from doing what he would like to do at that moment. “I’m going to give you five thousand dollars on the agreement that you will leave the state. I am going to go talk to Madison and when I get back you better have made your selection, because this is a one-time deal. I will purchase a one way ticket to the state of your choice. I will give you some money to cover the first two days at a hotel. Once I hear from you I will send a check to you. This will be the last time you bother us. I will never give you another cent so you better make it last until you get a job.”

“You’re giving me five grand?” Candy’s eyes lit up.

He nodded. “It’s your choice, five grand and you leave or nothing and can stick around somewhere else so you can be near your kids. What’s it to be?”

She didn’t even blink. “The five grand!” She clapped her hands together. “This is so exciting!”