No Matter What (The Billionaires of Sawgrass #4) - Delaney Cameron Page 0,20

Barb was leaving no stone unturned. “Some men might have a problem with it, but I don’t think most men would.”

“You’re a small business owner. Kids are time-consuming and expensive. Will you be able to provide the love, attention and long-term security Owen needs?”

“I’ll do my best to ensure his happiness and well-being.”

“Will your best be good enough?” Barb demanded, her voice rising. “Put aside your friendship with Piper for a minute and think about Owen. Wouldn’t it be better for him to grow up in a home with two parents and other kids to play with?

Robin ignored the implication that she’d never marry or have children. “I can’t answer that, and neither can you. Every situation is different. I understand this one hasn’t turned out the way you wanted, but you and everyone else in Daniel’s family are welcome to visit Owen in Jacksonville.”

Barb threw up her hands in disgust. “You call that a workable solution? I shouldn’t have to coordinate with a stranger to spend time with my nephew.”

Robin wasn’t going to take responsibility for a situation she had no hand in creating. “The way I see it, what I’m offering will get you more access to Owen than you’ve had so far.”

Any semblance of civility disappeared from Barb’s face. “I knew it was a waste of time to try to reason with you,” she spat out, her lips white with rage. “You’re just like Piper. Selfish to the bone. All you think about is yourself.” She shot to her feet and jabbed a finger in Robin’s direction. “This isn’t over!” she yelled. “Not by a long shot! I’ll be talking to my attorney on Monday! I have no intention of letting this absurd situation go on a moment longer than necessary.”

Without giving Robin a chance to reply, Barb stormed out of the living room. A few seconds later, a door in the hall slammed shut.

Robin glanced down at her hands, not at all surprised to see them shaking. It matched the trembling inside her. Feeling sick to her stomach, she stood up and walked over to the window. For Owen’s sake, she had to put that horrible scene behind her. He was the only thing that mattered. She couldn’t worry about Barb’s threats. She’d promised to take care of Owen, and that’s what she intended to do.

* * * * *

Reece rescued the two frogs that had wandered into his pool and went back to getting out the leaves blown around by last night’s storm. This reminded him of the summer after graduation when he’d worked as a lifeguard at the YMCA. He’d just turned eighteen and thought he knew everything. This included believing he actually had a chance with the twenty-four-year-old school teacher who taught swimming lessons three mornings a week.

He hadn’t yet learned that friendliness isn’t always an indication of interest. She was nice enough not to laugh in his face when he asked her to the movies. That wasn’t the case with the other lifeguards to whom he’d foolishly confided his plans. They’d teased him relentlessly for the remainder of the summer.

Gypsy lifted her head and turned to look at the house. One or both of his weekend guests must be awake and moving around. Addison and Clayton had rolled in to Sawgrass just after midnight. He envied their ability to sleep in. It didn’t matter when he went to bed. He always woke up between five and five-thirty.

The French door swung open to reveal his sister wearing a flaming-red silk housecoat and furry slippers. The two siblings looked nothing alike. Addison had their father’s dark hair and heavily-fringed hazel eyes. Reece got the Diamond family nose, but otherwise favored his mother whose relatives hailed from Sweden.

“About time you got up,” he called out. “It’s almost ten.”

“Have you forgotten already? I’m sleeping for two now.”

“What’s Clayton’s excuse?”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “If you were married, you wouldn’t be asking that question.”

He had no comeback for that, and she knew it. “What time does the baby expo start?”

“The doors open at eleven. You should change your mind and come with us.”

And stick out like a sore thumb. No thanks. “I’ll have to pass. I’m meeting my new student this afternoon. He’s the nephew of one of Maxine’s friends.”

Addison stretched out on one of the chaise lounges. Gypsy wasn’t slow to join her. “Speaking of Maxine, you never told me how last weekend went.”

There was a good reason for that. Reece had mistakenly thought that