I had told myself that he was just being friendly. Making the best of a bad situation. He wanted to get along with me for our child’s sake. He did not want me.

  Sure, he thought I was attractive. We had dated. But he didn’t feel anything more for me. Declan, however, had some kind of hold on him. His mom liked her. He let her come in his house and demand he talk to her. She thought they were dating. She had called me poor and made me sound like a charity case.

  Had he said those things to her? Was that why he’d bought the phones?

  I placed my hand over my heart. Oh God, this hurt so bad. Was this a heart breaking? I’d thought it already had when I had to push him away, but this was worse. It was physically hurting me.

  Two hands grabbed my waist from behind and began pushing me forward. I gasped and looked back to see Saxon behind me. His face hard. His jaw clenched. He pushed me, forcing me to walk to a door that he opened. He shoved me into the room before slamming the door and locking it behind him. I spun around and stared at him.

  He stalked over to me. “Don’t fucking leave me again.” His hand reached out as he grabbed my chin and looked down at me. “She’s a bitch. A jealous, lying bitch. I was going to handle her. You don’t walk away. She thinks she wins if you do. She hasn’t won shit.”

  I pulled my face out of his hold and crossed my hands over my stomach. “She called me poor. Am I a charity case to you, Saxon? Is that what this is? Are you being nice to me because you got some poor loser?”

  His hand shot out, and he grabbed my neck. “Don’t you ever call yourself a loser. Or a fucking charity case. That’s not what you are, and you damn well know it.”

  I glared up at him. “Then, what am I, Saxon? Are we friends now? Is that what we are doing? Because let me tell you that I am so confused by you right now.”

  He squeezed my neck and lowered his face to mine. “Is that what you want? Do you want to be friends? You want me to pretend like I don’t think about how fucking sweet you taste? That I don’t jerk off in the shower, remembering how you look when you orgasm?”

  I was breathing fast. “No.”

  “Then, tell me, Haisley what you want from me.”

  “I want you touch me,” I whispered.

  “I’m touching you right now. You’re gonna need to be more specific.”

  Licking my lips, I stared up at him. His eyes dropped to my mouth.

  “If I kiss you right now, we won’t leave this room, and my mom will find us. This will be the first place she looks.”

  The hunger in his gaze made me ache.

  “Maybe not.” My words sounded desperate.

  I inhaled deep and long, and his hand on my neck eased its grip. I wanted to grab it and hold it there. Beg him not to stop. To go with what he was feeling.

  “This is my room, Haisley. If she hasn’t realized we’re missing yet, she’ll notice soon and be at that door.”

  His hand dropped away, and I let out a shaky breath. My eyes took in the space we were in, and I realized it was a huge bedroom with trophies, footballs, jerseys, a massive flat screen, a sofa, and a king-size bed. This was what he’d grown up with as a bedroom. I wasn’t jealous or envious. I liked knowing he’d had this.

  He took my hand and threaded his fingers through mine. “Let’s go.” His voice was deep and clearly affected by this. By us.

  Would he still feel the same when we got back to the house tonight? God, I hoped so.

  We walked out of the room, but he took me in a different direction than I had come. Instead, we passed a couple of other doors, then came out the top of the entryway. The chandelier hung just ahead with red berries intertwined throughout it. I wondered who had gotten on a ladder that tall to decorate it. When we reached the stairs, Saxon continued to hold my hand as he led me down the wide, curvy staircase. People were no longer arriving, and the few who still stood around, talking with glasses of champagne, shifted their gazes up to us. It dawned on me that they would assume we had been together in his former bedroom.

  My cheeks warmed, and I dropped my gaze to watch my feet as we covered the last few steps. I was already pregnant. I didn’t want everyone here to think I was the girl from the wrong side of town who couldn’t keep her legs together. Who trapped rich guys. I had heard the gossip at school when people talked about my mom and all my siblings. I knew what they thought of me when they saw me.

  “Saxon,” a man greeted him as we walked onto the marble floor.

  “Tidewell,” Saxon replied. “It’s good to see you.”

  “I hear you’re stepping up too. It seems the ranks are all getting a new generation, starting with Blaise,” he said with a bright smile on his face, as if he wanted Saxon’s approval.

  Saxon nodded. “It was inevitable.” Then, he turned his attention to me. “Haisley, this is Bartmore Tidewell. He runs one of the casinos in Vegas for the family.” He shifted his gaze back to the man. “Tidewell, this is Haisley Slate.”

  The man glanced at our linked hands, and he chuckled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Haisley. Hang on to this one. They don’t get much finer than him. He’s a good guy.”

  I wanted to tell him I would hang on as tightly as I could, but I wasn’t sure my grip had much hold. Instead, I returned his smile and said, “I’ll do my best.”

  His laugh was full and belly deep. “I doubt it will be difficult. He seems rather taken with you.” His eyes shifted back to Saxon. “I look forward to working with all of you.”

  Saxon simply gave him a polite smile. “Yes. I’m sure I’ll see you soon enough. Enjoy the evening, and happy holidays.”

  As we walked back into the living room, Saxon leaned down close to my ear. “There are more people I’d like you to meet, but first, I need to go handle the seating for dinner. You will be seated beside me. Not fucking Declan.”

  The way his hand tightened as he held mine before releasing it gave me hope.

  Twenty

  Saxon

  Dinner was a nightmare. Mom had moved Haisley beside me, like I had demanded, but she’d kept Declan on the other side of me. Trev did what he could to defuse the situation since he and Gypsi were across from us, but it didn’t change much. Not when Declan was fucking determined to stake a claim on me that she never had.

  The third time she slipped her hand over my fucking dick, I shoved her hard enough that the others around us noticed, and then I stood up. I had to get away from her and get my anger under control. Haisley tilted her head back to look up at me, and the swirl of emotions in her eyes told me she’d had enough. The shit Declan had subjected her to tonight was unfair.

  I held my hand out to her. “Let’s go,” I said quietly, hoping not to attract more attention than we already had. It was pointless. I could hear conversations going silent and knew they were watching me, us.

  Haisley slipped her hand into mine and stood. I held it firmly, pulling her to my side, then put on the best charming smile I could muster before lifting my gaze to the rest of the dining table we had been placed at.

  “If you all will excuse us, Haisley isn’t feeling well. First trimesters are tough.” I grinned as I said it. That got several laughs and sympathetic nods. “I’m going to get her home. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

  There were many comments about my being such a good man and how lucky she was, but I ignored it all, placing my hand on her back and leading her out of this fucking place. We were almost to the door when I heard heels clicking behind us. That was either my mom or Declan. Tensing, I kept walking toward the door, and my hand was on the brass knob when my mom’s voice made me pause.

  “Saxon.”

  With a sigh, I moved Haisley slightly behind me, as if she needed protection. It wasn’t like my mother was going to attack her, but the instinct came anyway.

  “Yes,” I replied.

  “You aren’t seriously just leaving. Dessert hasn’t even been served, and you’re just leaving Declan there alone.” The disapproval in her tone pissed me off.

  “I didn’t invite Declan. The only concern I have is Haisley. It’s been a draining night for her, thanks to Declan’s treatment of her. I’ve had enough. I’m taking her home.”

  Mom took several long strides closer to us and glared at Haisley, which made me step further in front of her to block her from my own fucking mother.

  “She trapped you, and you’re just letting her do it. I did my research. Do you know about her mother? She’s just like her. You can’t throw your life away on someone like her. Give her money to raise the baby, pay child support, whatever, but stop this … this thing you’re doing. She doesn’t need to live with you.”

  It was an odd moment when the mom who had raised you, loved you, was there for all your highs and lows turned into your enemy. My hands fisted at my sides as I stared at the woman I never imagined being furious with, but right now, I was shaking with it.

  “If you ever speak another negative, cruel word about Haisley or my baby, I will leave. You won’t see me again unless it’s something the family requires me at and you’re there too. I won’t acknowledge your existence. Now, you can either accept this and change the way you treat Haisley or I’ll exit your life.”

  I could see my mom’s eyes widen, and the hurt was clear, but she was not my priority. She had forced me to react this way. She wasn’t a mean person, and until I’d brought Haisley home, I had never seen her treat anyone the way she was treating Haisley.

  “Melanie.” My father’s deep voice carried through the entryway.

  I lifted my gaze to see him walking toward us.

  Mom blinked, as if she had been stunned, then turned to look at my father.

  “Leave them alone. Go back inside and entertain our guests.” His tone was one that left no room for argument. It was an order.

  Mom nodded and didn’t glance back at me as she left us there.

  Dad wasn’t angry as he stood there, looking at me. We hadn’t discussed Haisley. He never brought the pregnancy up, and I didn’t have a reason to talk to him about it. We worked together like we always had, as if nothing had changed.

  “Your mother will come around. She’s never had to face not feeling like she had control over your life. First, she had to relinquish you so you could take your place in the family, and now this.” He looked past me to Haisley standing behind me, where I’d all but barricaded her. As if my body could block out my mother’s harsh words.

  “We will move if she says anything else to or about Haisley,” I told him.

  He nodded. “I don’t doubt it. We’ve not talked about this, but I’m proud of you for how you’re handling it. You’re not a boy anymore. Every choice you’ve made has been that of a man. Just give your mom some time to catch up.” He glanced back at Haisley again. “I think it’s time you introduce me to the mother of my grandchild.”

  Moving over, I turned enough to slip my hand behind her and move her closer to me. “Dad, this is Haisley. Haisley, this is my dad, Kenneth.”

  My dad held out a hand to her, and I watched as she slipped her much smaller one into his.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Haisley. My son has excellent taste. It’s good to know my grandchild won’t be lacking in the looks department.” He grinned as he said it, making Haisley blush.

  A small laugh escaped her, and the way her eyes shone under the lights around us hit me in the chest, like always.

  “Thank you, Mr. Houston. It’s nice to meet you.”

  He let go of her hand. “It’s Kenneth. Please, no need for formalities.”

  She was glowing. My dad had accepted her, and it was clear she had needed it. Especially after the shit my mom pulled. I owed him big time.

  “I need to get back in there and make sure your mother is behaving.” He winked. “You two go home and enjoy your evening.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  He nodded and stepped back before turning to walk back into the dining room.

  I reached for the door again and opened it. “Let’s go,” I told her.

  She stepped outside, then wrapped her arms around her and shivered. The temperature had dropped, and it was a good ten degrees cooler than it had been when we arrived.

  I slipped my tuxedo jacket off and put it over her shoulders.

  “Thank you,” she replied, pulling it around her and snuggling into it.

  I realized I was fucking jealous of my own jacket.

  We walked in silence until we were past the parked cars and the lights of my parents’ Christmas decorations.

  “That was an interesting party,” she said, glancing up at me.

  I smirked. “It was a fucking nightmare.”

  Her laugh made me smile. “Yeah, it kinda was.”

  I looked down at her. “I’m sorry.”

  She frowned. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

  We walked up the steps to the house, and I stopped before opening the door.

  “Yeah, I do. I took you there, and you were attacked. It’s my job to protect you.”

  She took a step closer to me and laid a hand on my chest. “You stood up to your mother and threatened to never speak to her again. I would say you went above any protection I ever expected from you.”

  I looked at her hand on me, then back at her eyes. When we walked in this door, I was going to cross a line. One I had drawn to protect myself. But after tonight, I was done protecting myself. I had two lives that needed my protection. Haisley and our baby were my only concerns from here on out. Fuck my heart and my feelings. My dad had called me a man tonight, but I’d been acting like a damn boy.

  The day might never come that Haisley wanted me or chose me for me alone and not because she was carrying my child. But I wasn’t holding back my feelings and need for her because of it. She was here with me. Our baby was growing inside her. And more than I wanted my next breath, I wanted her naked in my bed. I wanted my sheets to smell like her. I wanted to be able to touch her and kiss her whenever I wanted. I just wanted her.

  II

  “Unconditional love is hard to compete with.”

  —Abbi Glines, Because of Low

  Twenty-One

  Haisley

  I stepped into the house, and the smell of the pine tree and cinnamon sticks that we had hung on the tree filled the air. The scent alone made all the other bad from tonight fade away. This reminded me of our tree, Saxon, and our night decorating it. I felt safe and wanted here. Yes, I missed my siblings, but here, I felt taken care of. I’d always been the caretaker, and I had never truly felt safe. Part of me felt guilty for having this when my siblings didn’t. But then would I want to be here if it wasn’t for Saxon? Would I want to leave my family and live somewhere nicer without them if I didn’t have these feelings for Saxon?

  No. I’d want to be with my family. Wherever they were.

  I was happy here because he was here.

  I slipped off his jacket and turned to hand it to him. The time in his bedroom tonight had been the best part about this evening. But after all that happened, I knew the guy he’d been in that moment probably wasn’t coming back. I wasn’t sure what I had to do to get that Saxon back. The one who bordered on dark and looked as if he wanted to strip me naked and take me against a wall.

  I bit my bottom lip to keep from groaning at the image I now had in my head. Saxon took his jacket from me. I let go of my lip and smiled at him.

  “Good night,” I said, needing to get in the bedroom before I threw myself at him.

  “You’re tired?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I lied.

  He nodded, and I turned to go to my room.

  Saxon’s hand wrapped around my arm, stopping me. “You’re not sleeping in there anymore.”

  I looked back at him, and there it was. The dark Saxon.

  “My bed from now on,” he said as he led me across the living room to the one room I hadn’t been inside of yet.

  When I cleaned, I didn’t go in his room. I wanted to respect his privacy.

  He opened his door and pulled me inside with him. I stood there, looking around at the room that was three sizes bigger than the one I had been sleeping in. The massive bed in the center had black sheets and a black down comforter with at least six pillows. The thought of sleeping there with him made my body hum with excitement. I bet it smelled like him.

  Saxon’s hands rested on my waist, and I shivered when his warm breath touched the curve between my neck and shoulder. His lips brushed my skin, and a small moan that I realized had come from me was the only sound in the room.

  “I’ve been thinking about taking this dress off you since you put it on in the dressing room today,” he told me as he trailed kisses along my shoulder. “I’ll let you sleep, but first, I just need to taste you.”

  His hands went to the ties at the back of the dress, and they were loosened with ease. When my dress started to slide down, he stopped it, holding it up with his hands over my breasts. I gasped from the touch. I felt like I was on sensory overload.

  “Turn around and look in the mirror,” he said, moving me so that the mirror over his dresser was in front of us.

  My chest was rising and falling so fast that there could be no doubt in his mind that I wanted this. I was struggling to control myself, and I wasn’t hiding it at all.

  His hands moved away, and the fabric slid down my body, baring my breasts, then slipping over my hips until I stood there in nothing but a white satin thong and the red heels Saxon had chosen for me.

  “Fuck,” he groaned as he looked at me.

  My eyes went up to his face, but his eyes were busy taking in my body. He moved a hand up to cup one of my breasts while the other covered my stomach before sliding down to the front of my panties.