in the belly from giving birth a month ago. Yet she’s still the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.
Also, one of the most terrified. Lana/Maude walks very slowly toward us. I’ve never seen anyone who wasn’t using a walker take this long to travel six feet. She shows me the baby’s perfect, little face.
“Her name is Carina,” Lana/Maude says. “There’s a place in the town over that can do the DNA test.”
When I reach for the baby, Lana/Maude nearly backs away. I see her struggling to stay put and allow me to tug the pink blanket away from the kid’s face.
“She looks like Barbie.”
“Who?” River asks while standing too fucking close.
“My sister,” I say and then glance at Lana/Maude, who stares everywhere except at me. The idea of her conning me that night feels farfetched, but she’s clearly suffering from guilt over something. “My oldest daughter has the same nose,” I say, nearly running my finger over my kid’s cheek. Then I become very aware of everything I’ve touched since the last time I washed my hands. “We can do the DNA test. Is there any chance Carina won’t be mine?” I ask Lana/Maude.
Finally focusing on me, she shakes her head. The sexy stripper/baby mama looks scolded. I imagine she knew I’d ask. Or maybe River gave her shit. Who knows? I’m in enemy territory with a one-night stand holding my kid. I can’t currently wrap my head around the nuances of this situation.
“Let’s assume the DNA test shows exactly what we all expect it to show. What happens next?”
“What do you want to happen next?” River asks when Lana/Maude lowers her gaze and stares at our kid as if she fears I’ll steal the baby away.
“I want Maude and Carina to visit Elko, so my daughters and sisters can meet the newest member of the Parrish family. Is that doable?”
Lana/Maude glances at River, who shrugs. “Sure. When?”
“The sooner, the better. Trust me that you do not want my sisters showing up here.”
River starts to speak until a woman enters the room, holding a baby older than mine. Based on her resemblance to Lana/Maude, I assume they’re sisters. River’s woman gives me a quick, curious glance and then whispers something to him. They excuse themselves once Lana/Maude signals she’s okay.
“Maude, huh?” I say when we’re left alone.
“I prefer Lana, but, yeah, my name is Maude. That was my sister, Max. River calls her Maxine, but she prefers Max.”
Amused by her nervous babbling, I sigh. “Well, I don’t care what’s on any legal papers. I’ll call you whatever you want.”
“I didn’t plan this,” she says and leans back defensively. “I started a new birth control pill, and I hadn’t tested it out yet. I mean, since I ended things with my husband.”
“Well, I could have used a condom. But I hadn’t planned on anything happening during my trip down, and I don’t walk around with a pharmacy in my back pocket,” I say, admiring her full lips and warm blue eyes. “As problems go, this one sure did come out beautiful.”
I eye the baby cradled in her arms before lifting my gaze to Lana/Maude’s. She watches me in a real naked way as if she’s too tired or scared to hide how scared and tired she feels.
“So which will it be?” I ask, stepping back. “Maude or Lana?”
“No one calls me Lana.”
“I did.”
She allows a little grin. “Is Bronco your real name?”
“On all my legal papers. My father gave all his kids names that start with a ‘B.’”
“Is there any particular reason why?”
“He claimed to be a B-student in school. Then he never achieved more than that in life. Never an A, never an F. Though truth be told, he was an F in a lot of ways. However, that was the reason he gave for naming me Bronco and my sisters, Bambi and Barbie.”
“What are your daughters’ names?” she asks, loosening up.
“Summer, Sidonie, and Carina.”
Lana allows her first real smile since I arrived. It’s a sexy fucking smile too. Right here, right now, I’m reminded of why I was so keen to jump in the back seat of this strange woman’s SUV.
MAUDE “LANA” LEROUX
Contrary to what most people think, I’m not a whore. I’ve been with four men—three willingly—in my life. I was faithful to my shitty common-law husband, Kenny Tappan, for the ten years we were together. Even though I was certain he cheated on me, I never strayed. I had one hookup before Kenny, mostly brought on by booze