always ended up wrapped around her like a blanket—and she realized just how much she wanted more from him.
But now . . .
She eyed the baby. She might not be the only female who needed more than he was capable of giving.
Or wants to give?
She pushed that painful thought aside and said, “We need to figure out everyone you slept with from late May to early July, just to cover your bases.”
“You can’t be serious. How am I supposed to remember?”
Her jaw dropped. “Have there been that many women?”
He shrugged, flashing a cocky grin, which pissed her off.
She rolled her eyes and said, “Get out your calendar, gigolo.”
“My calendar? You think I take notes on who I sleep with?” He laughed. “Let me see your calendar.”
“I’m not the one who might be supporting a dependent for the next eighteen years. Get your frigging calendar out and see where you were last summer.” Her words flew fast and angry.
He navigated to the calendar on his phone, his eyes flicking from the screen to Aurelia every few seconds. “May and June?”
“Mm-hm.” She swallowed hard. What if he’d slept with a bunch of the single women she knew? What if he’d slept with a married woman? He’d never do that. But what if . . . ? Could she handle that?
“Zane was filming that movie last summer with Remi Divine,” he said, and guilt rose in his eyes. Zane was Willow’s husband. He was an actor-turned-screenwriter, and he’d had the lead opposite actress Remi Divine in his last movie.
Aurelia’s heart sank. She and Remi had become close friends that summer. They texted often and got together whenever Remi’s schedule allowed. She was coming to Harmony Pointe to film another movie soon. How awkward would that be, knowing she’d slept with the one man Aurelia wanted but couldn’t have?
“Well, we know Remi isn’t pregnant,” she said without looking at him.
“I didn’t sleep with Remi. Not only is she my business partner’s sister, but she’s not my type.”
“A Natalie Portman lookalike isn’t your type?” Aurelia met his gaze, and boy did he look pissed. “How am I supposed to know your type?”
He looked like he was chewing on nails. “Her name was Payton.”
Bile rose in her throat. “You slept with that sweet redhead from craft services? Seriously? That’s your type?” She pressed the tip of the pen to the paper and wrote Payton, wondering what Payton had that she didn’t. “Last name?”
“No idea.”
“Payton One-Nighter. Got it.” She felt like she’d been stabbed in the gut. “Who else?”
He looked at his calendar. “I was in New York City for business . . .”
“Sex business?” she asked, feeling like she might puke.
“Jesus, I can’t do this.” He pushed to his feet. “I’m not telling you everyone I slept with.”
“Fine.” She slapped down the pen and stood up. “Do it yourself. It’s not exactly my idea of fun, either.” She stormed into the living room and grabbed her purse, tears and anger warring for dominance.
“Aurelia, wait.” He grabbed her arm, his eyes pleading for help—or understanding—or something.
She wrenched her arm free, glowering at him. “You might have a child, Ben!” she whispered harshly. “A living, breathing baby. Grow up and figure your shit out.”
“And hurt you in the process? Or piss you off?” His dark eyes drilled into her, and he stood so close his stomach brushed against her chest. “No, thank you.”
She didn’t know what to say. Yes, this fucking hurt, and yes, it pissed her off, even if she had no right to feel either of those ways, but she couldn’t tell him that. She was breathing so hard, it made it difficult to speak, but she managed, “Maybe you should get Zane to help you.”
“Zane?” He looked at her like she was crazy.
“How about Talia?” Talia was the oldest of the Dalton siblings, at just over a year older than Ben. He had always been closest to her. They’d even attended the same college, and when Talia’s college boyfriend had cheated on her, Ben had gone after him and beaten him up pretty badly. Aurelia knew how hurt Ben had been when Talia had kept her fiancé Derek’s job of dancing at a nightclub a secret from him, but Talia resonated quiet strength and meticulous thinking. Ben needed that right now, considering neither he nor Aurelia was capable of meticulously doing anything at the moment.
“I don’t want my family knowing about this until we know for sure if she’s mine,” he said. “I don’t want