Her Secret, His Baby

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Garrett shook his head. “I don’t think a second beer is really a long-term solution.” Considering how Justin Cade had glowered at him the other day, maybe Arden’s brothers would ultimately drop him off a steep cliff and eliminate the need for long-term plans. “Look, about Arden...I don’t think she’s really eager for people to know who the father is. The details—”

“Are her business. And yours,” Hugh said firmly. “I won’t keep secrets from my wife, but don’t worry. Darcy and I won’t spread any gossip.”

“Y’all are the best,” Garrett said, genuinely grateful. For the first time in days, he felt as if he could count on someone. Life had thrown him nothing but curveballs lately, and it was nice to be reminded that he had people in his corner. Hugh was as good a friend now as he’d always been in the past.

Garrett found himself nostalgic for the much simpler past. The present was full of perplexing psychological land mines. And he had no idea what to do about the future.

* * *

WHILE ARDEN UNLOCKED her studio early Wednesday morning, Justin impatiently shifted his weight behind her.

“Your secrecy is freaking me out,” he complained. “First you were cagey about why you needed me to drive you to work this morning, now you won’t tell me why you’ve called a family meeting.”

The three siblings had long ago agreed that Cade family meetings were never to be called lightly and that attendance was mandatory.

Arden shot him a quelling look. “Of course I’ll tell you—when the other part of the family gets here.”

Justin went straight for the coffee supplies in the corner and began filling the pot with water. “You had a ‘dizzy spell’ yesterday and a friend drove you home,” he commented. “Which friend? If it was Layla, you would’ve said so. I know there’s something you’re leaving out. You were a lousy liar as a kid, and you haven’t improved with age.”

She stood next to the coatrack, shrugging out of her jacket. “I got dizzy enough that I went to the hospital, okay? But I don’t want Colin to know, so you’d better not mention it. He does not need any extra reason to worry that something will happen to me or the baby.”

Justin was quick to agree. “My lips are sealed. Look, I’m as concerned about him going round the bend as you are. But you can tell me this stuff, okay? I’m too shallow to stay up nights obsessing over other people’s safety.”

The big faker. “No, you’re not.” The women he jilted might think of him as a heartless beast, but Arden knew there was more to him than that. Why was he so reluctant to let people see his caring side? “You’ve been a fantastic brother these past few months, and I don’t know how I would have coped without you.”

“Ah, is that what the family meeting’s about?” he asked, spinning around a low-backed chair and straddling it. “Am I getting a medal for outstanding brothership? Is there a cash award involved? Because there’s this new girl who works at the deli across from the ambulance station, and I would love to take her out for a night on the town.”

Ignoring him, she booted up her computer for the day. Given Justin’s flippant personality, he might be kidding about the girl at the deli. But if he was serious, she’d rather not know. His hit-and-run dating habits were too exasperating. She’d never seen him happier than he’d been with Elisabeth Donnelly. She understood that Elisabeth’s life had changed drastically after being named guardian of a little girl, but she believed Justin had made a grave mistake walking away from the woman he loved. A gust of wind swept through the studio when the front door opened again, and her heart jumped to her throat. Colin. While she’d decided that this conversation with her brothers was necessary, she dreaded having to go through with it. Silly, really. Wasn’t the hardest part telling them she was pregnant in the first place? Relatively speaking, explaining who the father was should be a piece of cake.

She watched her brothers exchange greetings. Colin’s hello was terse, his voice a low rasp. He had his motorcycle helmet tucked under one arm, and his rich brown hair had grown shaggy, falling across his forehead. It almost covered his turquoise eyes, which resembled hard stone in more than just color. All in all, not someone you’d want to encounter in a dark alley.

It tugged at her heart that he tried, for her benefit, to smile. Even if it was a dismal failure. “Morning, Colin.”

“You...look good. Glowing and all that.”

“Thank you.” She hugged him, trying not to be offended by how he stiffened at her embrace. The man who’d once cuddled her after nightmares and skinned knees could no longer bear to be touched.