Page 35 of Forsaken Trail (Runaway 4)

If he abandoned our baby, at least I wouldn’t have to convince Clara to quit and move to Oregon. There was no way she’d stay with him if he turned out to be a deadbeat dad.

“It’s cold out.” Andy nodded toward the french doors that opened to the deck on the ocean side of the hotel. In the summer, those doors were rarely closed. “I was just taking off for the day. Would you like a ride home?”

He was just so . . . clueless. And nice. Refusing him was not easy. When was he going to realize this was never going to happen?

I opened my mouth, my brain scrambling for a gentle rejection, when a flash of dark caught my eye over Andy’s shoulder.

A man in a crisp black suit strode into the hotel, his green gaze locked on my face.

Brody.

Chapter Seven

Brody

“What are you doing here?” Aria asked through a clenched jaw.

The guy beside her stepped closer, hovering beside her elbow. He lifted his hand, ready to touch her, but at my glare, he must have thought better of it and let his arm drop to his side.

I dismissed him and focused on the woman.

Aria’s face was pale. The circles under her eyes looked more like bruises. And she’d lost weight—weight she hadn’t had to lose.

“You look awful.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You came all the way to Oregon to tell me I look awful.”

The man stepped closer to Aria, positioning himself between us.

The look I sent him was the one I’d used countless times in the conference room. One I’d learned from Grandmother. People withered under the look. This guy did.

The only person who seemed immune was Aria.

Her scowl deepened, then vanished when she turned to him. “Andy, would you excuse me?”

“Is everything okay?” He touched her elbow.

I tensed.

Aria tensed. It was slight but visible. She gave Andy a tight smile. “All good. Thank you.”

He reluctantly nodded and dropped his hand once more, but did he leave? Andy just stood there, staring at her like she was the sun and the moon and the stars.

Christ. I didn’t have time to deal with a boyfriend. Was he her boyfriend? Because I wasn’t okay with that. I wasn’t okay with another man touching her. Kissing her. Definitely not sleeping with her.

My head, which had been spinning since her phone call earlier, was close to exploding. It was only by sheer force of will that I hadn’t had a complete and total mental breakdown—not that I’d ever ha

d a breakdown.

But if there was a time, this was it.

The idea of this guy being in her life. Taking my place. No. Fuck no.

I was the father. This was my kid. Maybe. I hoped. Probably.

“Aria,” I gritted out. Did she not see me coming out of my skin here?

Another glare for me. Another pained smile for Andy. “Have a merry Christmas.”