Wanted by Her Lost Love (Pregnancy & Passion #2)(13)

Now Ryan had brought Kelly back and they’d all be forced to face the inevitable confrontation. A part of him dreaded it, but the other part of him knew he’d never be able to move forward unless this was fully resolved. But it would be done when he decided and not before. He and Kelly had too much to work out between them before they tackled the issue of Jarrod and her infidelity.

“This isn’t a good time, man,” he said in a low voice when he reached his brother.

Unease flickered across Jarrod’s face, and he glanced nervously over Ryan’s shoulder toward Kelly. “I can see that. I’ll come back another time.”

Ryan turned and saw Kelly tremble and then her fingers flexed and curled into fists. She was as pale as death, her eyes large and haunted. “What did you want?” he prompted when Jarrod made no move to leave.

“Nothing important. Just came over to say hi and to tell you Mom wanted us over for dinner Saturday night. I hadn’t seen you in a while. I know you’ve been busy with your resort deal. I’d hoped we could get together like old times.”

Ryan sighed. He and Jarrod had always been close. Until Kelly. He hated this. Hated it all. Hated that a woman had come between him and the brother he’d all but raised after their father died.

“I’ll call Mom later, okay? And we’ll get together. Just not right now.”

“Yeah, I understand. I’ll see you later.” He backed toward the door, and Ryan followed. As Ryan gripped the doorknob to close it after Jarrod, his brother whispered, “Are you taking her back after what happened?”

Ryan drew his brows together. “Aren’t you concerned that she could be carrying your child?”

Jarrod flinched and his cheeks lost color. “Is that what she told you?”

Ryan studied him for a moment, his brows drawing together as he observed Jarrod’s reaction to the suggestion. “No, she didn’t tell me that, but surely you know it’s possible.”

“Uh-uh, can’t be mine,” Jarrod said, shaking his head emphatically.

“So you say.”

Jarrod stepped into the hall and then shoved his hands into his pockets as he stared back at Ryan. But he didn’t quite meet Ryan’s gaze. “I wore protection. Look, I’m sorry. I know this is a bad situation. But the baby can’t be mine.”

Ryan watched him walk toward the elevator, the same frustrated helplessness clutching his throat. He stepped back and shut the door, angry. Angry at Kelly, angry at Jarrod and angry with himself all over again. So the baby was his unless…surely she hadn’t had other partners besides him and Jarrod. He wouldn’t even give that consideration.

When he returned to the couch he wasn’t prepared for the absolute hatred and revulsion in Kelly’s expression. Before he could say anything she fixed him with a look that froze him to the bone.

“If he ever comes over here again, I’m out of here. I won’t be in the same room with him.”

Ryan was taken aback. “You know he’s here all the time.”

Her teeth were clenched and her knuckles white. “I won’t stay here.”

Why the hell was she so angry with Jarrod? If anyone deserved to be angry it was Jarrod, after Kelly had accused him of trying to rape her. Nothing about this entire situation made sense. And he was tired of trying to figure it out.

“Jarrod said he wore protection,” he said, gauging her reaction.

Pain rippled across her face. Not the reaction he’d imagined. “And of course you believed him,” she said in a voice that sounded like she was dangerously close to tears.

“Are you saying he didn’t? Are you maintaining the baby is mine?” He’d had no idea how badly he wanted the baby to be his until now. His eyes pleaded with her to confirm it. To say that he was the father.

The indecipherable mask was back on her face again. “I don’t maintain anything,” she said, frost dripping from her voice.

Frustration hit him like a ton of bricks. She had shut herself off again and nothing was going to open her to him. He wanted to put his fist through the wall.

“I’m going out for a while,” he finally ground out. “I’ll bring back lunch.”

He turned and stalked out before he said things he’d only regret.

As he made his way to the underground garage where his BMW was parked, his cell phone rang, rudely intruding on his thoughts. “What?” he barked into the receiver.

“Ryan?” His mom’s voice bled through his dour mood.

“Sorry, Mom, didn’t mean to snap.” He opened the door and slid into the seat, settling back, not bothering to start the engine yet.

“Ryan, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, Mom, just a busy day. What’s up?”

“I was hoping you and Jarrod would have dinner with me tomorrow night.”

Ryan closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose between two fingers. There was no easy way to say this and his mom would know soon enough now that Jarrod had been over. Best she know now so she could get used to it. “Mom, you should know…Kelly is with me…and she’s pregnant.”

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end followed by thick silence. “I see,” she finally said. “I guess inviting Roberta is out of the question.”

Ryan blew out his breath at his mother’s snippy tone. Roberta Maxwell was a woman his mom had been shoving at him ever since Kelly had disappeared.