“I need a test.”
To make sure he was the father. As infuriating as it was to be doubted, she’d actually anticipated this. At her first doctor’s appointment, she’d asked questions about prenatal testing.
“Before the baby’s born it would require an amniocentesis to determine paternity. It’s an invasive procedure that requires insertion of a needle to take amniotic fluid. This test poses the risk of miscarriage.”
“Okay.” His frown deepened. “So we have to wait.”
“No. There’s a blood test that can determine a very high probability that you’re the father. Even though I’m telling you that.”
“Like I said. I need a test. Let’s do that.”
“Okay.” She folded her arms over her chest and met his gaze. “I’ll set it up. We can have results in one to two days.”
“Either you’re a very good bluffer or—”
“I’m telling the truth,” she finished for him. “Look, Leo, I didn’t plan this.”
“Okay.”
“I can tell that’s what you’re thinking. I guess if I was in your shoes, the thought would cross my mind.”
“Very understanding of you.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’ve never been in a situation like this,” she defended herself. “It’s not like I did it on purpose.”
She glanced past him to the booth where it had happened. Heat slid into her cheeks as memories rolled through her mind. Those passionate moments in his arms were all that stood between her and the overwhelming grief of losing her grandfather. She’d never felt so out of control but she couldn’t speak for Leo.
“You’ve had a lot more experience at that sort of thing than me. Since the responsibility should be shared equally, I won’t ask why you never brought up the subject of protection.”
He shifted his feet, the only sign that her comment struck a nerve. “That’s fair. If—”
“I’m telling the truth,” she finished. “I never planned to get pregnant. I was upset. I just buried my grandfather and that was a long, horrible day. I’m sorry I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. For the record I didn’t ask you to comfort me. In fact I thought I was alone.”
A hint of sympathy softened his gaze for a moment. “You weren’t. And I assumed you were on birth control.”
“I wasn’t. And you know what they say about people who assume. Makes an ass out of you and me.”
That was an understatement. He and his consolation had taken up every square inch of her attention. And now she was paying a really high price for it.
“I had a lot on my mind that day.” She looked around the room. There were pictures on the walls of The Pub while it was being built. Opening day. The surrounding area before homes and businesses popped up. Her glance settled on the wood floor, the scarred bar between them, every mark with a story that was part of the history. “I grew up here with my grandfather. I live in the apartment upstairs. This is my home, as well as my livelihood. My business. My career. It’s everything. You’ve got no skin in the game. Not really. To you it’s just an investment.”
“Which you’re against.”
“But Granddad trusted you. And I think you would understand why I feel that way if you were in my situation. For a few weeks after losing Granddad, my bottom line improved.” Although that probably had more to do with cutbacks than actual customer expansion. “I thought I could make it. Cost reductions saved money but required me to work more hours.”
“Then you found out you were pregnant.”
She nodded. “I can’t put in the time necessary to keep the business afloat. I have to take care of the baby. And I don’t want my grandfather’s legacy to disappear, but—”
“So it’s the pregnancy that changed your mind about contacting me.”
She’d vehemently told him she wasn’t a liar. There was no point in starting now. “Yes.”
“Because it’s the only way to save The Pub.”
“Maybe there’s another investor I could interest. But Granddad liked you.” She would give anything to know why. If only she shared the opinion. She didn’t have a problem with him professionally. It was the personal that she was afraid of. Look what happened that night. But there was so much more at stake here. And she didn’t have a lot of choices. The only thing she trusted unconditionally was her grandfather’s judgment. Other than warm memories and this business, there was nothing left of him. And the thought of it ceasing to exist broke her heart. “Are you still going to invest in the bar?”
“You’re having the baby.”
“How many times do I have to repeat it? The child I’m carrying is the only reason I need your help. If I wasn’t pregnant I’d muddle through without you. Yes, I’m having the baby.”
“Then I’m definitely going through with our deal. I’ll contact my lawyer to draw up papers.”
“I’ll make an appointment for blood tests at a private lab.”
“Fair enough.”
“Okay, then.”
She said that with way more enthusiasm than she felt. He obviously didn’t believe her about the baby, and the juxtaposition of his agreement implied that if he had no connection to the child, she and her business could dry up and blow away. He was sticking around just to keep her honest.
She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he had to admit he was wrong about her.
* * *
Leo offered to pick Tess up for the meeting at his attorney’s office to sign the partnership agreement but she politely declined. In a very cool and distant tone, she’d said it would be best to meet there. Fine with him. He hadn’t seen her for a couple of weeks and that was for the best. A cooling-off period gave him time to brace himself to deal with her as they saved her bar. But out of sight didn’t mean she was out of his mind. Her and the baby. Damn.
He rode the eight-story building’s elevator to the top floor, where Annabel Sanders had her office. The doors opened into the reception area with a view of the whole valley. Huntington Hills in Southern California had a population right around two hundred thousand and was beautiful in the spring. Trees and flowers were blooming, and the vibrant colors of purple, pink and yellow stretched all the way to the mountains.
He walked over to the receptionist. “Hi, Geraldine.”
“Mr. Wallace.” The attractive woman was in her fifties and had stylishly cut short blond hair. Her blue eyes twinkled with humor. “And you know perfectly well the name is Geri.”
“Right. I keep forgetting.”
“It’s a common problem with our former-hockey-player clients. Too many shots to the head.”
“How many hockey-playing clients does Annabel have?”
“Only you. Thank goodness.”
“Ah. Maybe I can shake the bushes, contact some of my teammates. Send some business your way.”
“Please don’t. You keep us busy enough. What with all the investment opportunities you’re researching.”
He had to make up for lost time. His career ended abruptly, and not long after his marriage ended, too. It was a dark period, most of which he’d spent in Pat Morrow’s penalty box. He owed that man a lot for pulling his head out of his ass.
“You know you love me,” he said. “If you weren’t already happily married...”