Wicked Ever After (Wicked & Devoted 2)

“It shouldn’t be that complicated. He loves you, too.”

“I thought so, but…”

“Listen, I’ve spent twenty years fixing hair, and I’m damn good at it. But there’s one thing I’m better at, and that’s reading people.” She leaned closer. “You don’t look pregnant now, but you will at some point. Even if you start wearing Cutter’s ring, that man is going to know he’s the one who got you pregnant, isn’t he?”

She paled. Eventually, there would be no hiding it from anyone…especially Pierce.

“And once he figures that out, do you really think he’s just going to give up? Walk away?”

Brea hadn’t thought he’d care if she was pregnant—until today. “He said he wanted to take a step back. I thought it was over. I hadn’t seen him in a while. But…”

“I’m guessing he made it clear pretty darn clear today that it’s not over.”

And then some.

She was so confused.

“Until he showed up, I never imagined he’d even want to see me again. I thought Cutter and I would announce the baby shortly after we got married and…” Pierce would be long gone.

“You’d planned to let the town gossip that you and Cutter had been fooling around and decided to get married once you were expecting?”

“Yes.”

Rayleigh shook her head. “I have a feeling you’re going to need another plan. When Mr. Studly realizes that’s his baby you’re having, he’s not gonna go away quietly, honey.”

On the one hand, she didn’t see a single scenario in which the Pierce who had stormed into her salon today wasn’t as possessive about his child as he was about her. But he was also the same stranger who’d seemingly walked out and confessed to killing his own father.

“I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“Oh, I do. You’re kidding yourself if you think you’ve seen the last of him. Why don’t you tell him you’re pregnant, honey?”

“I was going to the day he seemingly broke up with me.”

“What about now?”

She and Cutter had made all these plans and announced their engagement. What would the town think?

Did any of that matter if she and Pierce could manage to work things out and he wanted a future with her? If she had to make a choice between appearances or happiness, she’d pick being ecstatic with Pierce every time.

But to get to that place, there were so many ifs in their way… If he truly loved her and believed in the same kind of abiding devotion she did. If he wanted to be a father to their baby. If she could explain everything to Daddy without triggering his delicate heart. If Pierce would be willing to ask him for her hand.

“I don’t know.” But she needed to tell Pierce about the baby. She owed him that much.

“Well, I’m around if you need anything.”

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it, honey. Just be happy. I married the man I thought was ‘safe’ when I was young, and it turned into a disaster. The one who got away left for good…and I’m alone. I’m doing all right, but I look back and think about what might have been. And I wish I could do that summer over.” She sighed. “Don’t make my mistake.”

Rayleigh made a good point. Hiding behind Cutter wasn’t fair to either of them, especially since he was in love with his starlet. He didn’t think it would work out, but for his sake, Brea prayed it would. He deserved to be happy. And weren’t they both entitled to a chance at a future with the person who held their heart?

Yes.

“Thanks. I’m going to do some thinking.” Brea needed a plan, and she’d rather not be scheming at home. After his date, her father would want to talk about town gossip, and she didn’t want anyone influencing her decisions. She needed to decide her next step alone.

“Got someplace to go?”

“I should.” She didn’t think Cutter would mind if she spent a night or two at his place, and the silence would do her good.

“If it falls through or you need anything else, you have my number, honey.”

“I appreciate it.”

“Get a good night’s sleep.” Rayleigh clasped her hand across the table. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

One-Mile left Sunset in a really shitty mood. Brea wasn’t marrying Bryant, and he needed to figure out how to convince her to his way of thinking fast. That meant using his brain and asking the right questions.

Mentally, he sifted through his options. They all sucked. As usual, he was on the outside. Yeah, his sparkling personality was probably to blame. He didn’t go out of his way to make friends, never had. SEALs like Hunter and Logan formed bonds as deep as brothers with their teammates. One-Mile had always worked alone and that hadn’t bothered him.

Until now.

As Led Zeppelin ground out “Kashmir” over his Jeep’s speakers, his phone rang. He hoped Brea wanted to talk…but he was half expecting Cutter, itching to cuss him out. Instead, he saw Zy’s name on his screen.