Marrying My Billionaire Hookup - Nadia Lee Page 0,29
about the problems in Tempérane.”
I smile at her. “Thanks. But I’ll eventually have to go back to handle the situation.” As soon as I sort out the Jo problem. It shouldn’t take that long.
When dinner’s over, Pascal and Ivy decide to linger over cups of decaf tea to consult each other on baby stuff. I head to Tony’s study, where he keeps some excellent liquor, and pour myself two fingers of scotch.
Before I can toss it back, the door opens and my brothers walk in. They’re wearing frowns so identical that it’s almost comical. But then they look alike, while I do not. I have Dad’s wide, solid frame, along with his rougher, less polished features.
“Shouldn’t you be with your women?” I ask, keeping my tone casual. I sit down on a plush leather armchair and prop one ankle on my knee.
“Cut the bullshit,” Court says, shutting the door.
“You didn’t fly out here just because Nora didn’t get promoted,” Tony says.
They join me, taking the other armchairs.
I sigh. My brothers know me too well. I take a healthy swallow of the scotch. “It’s a personal matter.”
“Are you dating?” Court stares at me like I’ve announced I enjoy fornicating with unicorns.
And that incredulous expression offends me in a way I can’t quite put my finger on, even though I know he isn’t doing it on purpose. “What if I am?”
“Who?” I can almost see the names of women I’ve been involved with—or could be involved with—cross Tony’s face.
Ignoring both of them, I knock back the rest of the drink.
Tony blinks. “Wait… Yuna?”
The scotch gets caught and goes up my nose. I cough and sputter, trying to clear the burn in my sinuses.
“Okay, maybe not her. So who?” Court asks.
They aren’t going to quit until they know. I can’t even get angry, because they’re just worried about me, and I’m already feeling guilty about the family secret I’m hiding. “I got a letter from a lawyer. A guy from a firm called Jones & Jones.”
Then I tell my brothers the broad strokes of what happened between me and Jo. They don’t need the details of our night together.
Court whistles. “So what you’re saying is, she doesn’t want to be…Jo mama.”
“Har, har, har. At least she didn’t leave me fifty dollars on a hotel nightstand.”
“Yeah, but my woman isn’t going to hire a famous divorce law firm to get rid of me.”
“Famous divorce law firm?”
“Jones & Jones. It’s one of the best in the state…if not the best,” Tony says.
Huh. So it’s not some strip mall outfit, which is something of a relief. Jo and her cousin aren’t totally incapable, even though they shouldn’t have bothered.
“Are you going to let her marry her fiancé?” Tony asks, leaning closer.
The idea is revolting, even though I’m not certain why it bothers me so much. It isn’t like Jo and I professed undying love for each other. And if she’d tried to use the baby to squeeze money out of me, I wouldn’t have reacted well. But she didn’t… And perhaps that’s why her engagement turns my stomach.
Along with the fact that I want to be a proper father to the baby.
You don’t have to marry the mother to be a good father, my mind whispers.
Perhaps not. But I detest the idea of my child calling some other man “Dad.”
“Is there another option? Drag her away, kicking and screaming?” I ask with a calmness I don’t feel.
Tony shrugs. “That’s what Court did. Of course, you want to make sure it’s the right girl first…”
Court ignores him. “It’s your baby.” He points at my stomach, as though I’m the one with an occupied oven.
I shrug, not wanting to discuss possible solutions with him. He’s too young and idealistic, and he isn’t going to understand. He thinks love matters, happiness matters, and the world can generally be a nice, bright place if you just try. And I’m happy he believes that, because I’ve done my best to shield him from the influence of our parents, especially our mother.
But that doesn’t mean I’m blind to the truth of how the world truly works.
Love makes people crazy. They do terrible things in its name.
My phone buzzes, and I pull it out, grateful for the interruption. It’s Yuna. What could she possibly want? She isn’t inviting me to another party, is she? Or does she plan to grill me about my meeting with Jo at Starbucks?
On the other hand…didn’t she already interrogate Jo?