Love in the Vineyard (Tavonesi #7)(65)

Courts. He’d said courts. In the face of his indirect threat, she swallowed her fear, tried to control her anger. And she didn’t give a lick about destiny. In fact, she was beginning to hate the word itself.

“I can give you both a very good life down in the South Bay,” Eddie went on. “I inherited my parents’ estate. I’ll give Tyler the life he deserves. You too.”

He said it in the same tone that Adrian had used when he told her about making her the head of the native garden business. The same assuming, matter-of-fact tone that screamed fait accompli. But Adrian had only the best of intentions—that she was convinced of. From Eddie’s tone she knew there was more to his interest in Tyler—and in her—than good intentions.

“I’m giving him the life he deserves,” she bit out, unable to control her anger any longer.

Eddie smiled. “You’re still the girl I fell for,” he said. “All spunk and beauty.” He didn’t reach for her, but he might as well have thrown a net around her.

“I’m not,” she said, scrambling. “Not in any way.”

“People don’t change that much.”

“You just told me you have,” she countered, her wariness growing with every word he uttered.

“Only the negative parts change. The good stays the same, maybe gets better.” He lifted his hand. She flinched. But he only lifted it to scrape it across his face and push back a lock of golden-blond hair that had fallen onto his forehead. “Give me a chance, Natasha.”





Chapter Nineteen



RUN. FLEE. HIDE.

Natasha hadn’t been prepared for Eddie to be apologetic. Even though she’d feared the day he might discover he had a son, she hadn’t been prepared for Eddie at all.

She’d bought some time. Told him she needed to think. He’d pressed her hard but when she’d asked him to leave, he’d gone without an argument.

His offer was genuine, she felt the truth of it. She believed that he could provide a home, be a father for their son. Their son. Just thinking the words speared fear into her heart.

But that night, after a nearly impossible day at work, she tossed restlessly, once again unable to sleep. Something about Eddie’s demeanor scratched at her brain, something about the urgency he’d pressed on her. She knew the energy of deception, of skirting the truth. Knew it too well. There was something he wasn’t telling her.

And that was what had her nervous.

The next morning she drove Tyler to school and made sure to see him safely inside his school building. She scanned the parking lot and the grounds and breathed easier. No sign of Eddie.

But as she drove toward work, her hands shook on the steering wheel. She pulled off the road before turning in to the drive that led to Casa del Sole and called Mary.

“Natasha. What a nice surprise. How is your new place suiting you?”

“It’s wonderful. Tyler has already made friends,” she said, failing to brighten the flatness of her tone.

“What’s wrong?”

Evidently Mary heard her apprehension.

She told Mary about Eddie. About how he’d just laid out his offer—marriage and a good home for Tyler. About how he’d practically begged.

“At least he agreed not to contact Tyler. And he agreed not to come back to our home until I call him. Oh, Mary, this is my worst nightmare. What if he—”

“He’s not a stupid man. He knows better than to frighten you or do anything that could be used against him if he does take you to court.”

Natasha swallowed and then asked Mary the question whose answer she dreaded most of all.

“Can he claim Tyler? Can he take him from me? I haven’t been a stellar mother.”

“You’re a perfect mother,” Mary said immediately. “You love Tyler, that’s what counts. Though this man could get a court order, require a DNA test, he can’t just take Tyler away from you. You get yourself over here this evening; we’ll sort this out.”

“I haven’t been perfect, Mary. The courts will see that I was on welfare, that I was at Inspire. Maybe even find out about my stupid, stupid gamble.”

“I doubt that. Where are you?”

“On my way to work.” She drummed her fingers against the steering wheel. Might as well cut to the chase. “Mary, there’s more bad news. Adrian promoted me. He didn’t ask, he just did it. I’m to manage the new native plant nursery.”

“That’s great news!”

“It’s terrible news. He thinks with just a tweak here and a move there, the world will be a perfect place. He moves people around like they were pieces on a game board. I’ll have to make orders, use the computer, keep accounts—do marketing. I’ll get fired when they find out I can’t do it. And if I get fired, then Eddie can use that against me.” She couldn’t hold back her sobs. “I dreaded this day.”

“You just do the best you can today and then get your butt over here tonight. It’s pizza night. Tyler can do his homework while we sort this out.”

Maybe they could sort it out. But as Natasha parked in her spot near the back garden, the fear she’d fought back for so long had her throat closing up and tears streaming down her face. She couldn’t lose Tyler. She had to make the job work. She had to find a way.