Surprise Delivery(81)

“Oh,” he says. “For the moment?”

Alexis purses her lips. “It’s a long, ugly story,” she tells him. “But once I get back from maternity leave –”

“Oh, you have a baby?” Henry interrupts, genuinely sounding as if he’s interested, when I know he’s not.

Alexis nods, the first genuine smile appearing on her face since Henry arrived. “Yes, her name is Aurora,” she says.

“Wow, that has to be tough,” Henry says. “A new baby and almost out of a job? Well, good thing you met somebody like Duncan, huh? That kind of timing just doesn’t come around every day.”

Alexis’ face falls and she looks away. I can see the color in her cheeks rising and a look of absolute shame crossing her features. Having had enough of his bullshit, I stand up and turn to him, standing practically nose to nose. The anger is burning bright within me and I give him a baleful look.

“You’re done here, asshole,” I snap. “You walk away right now, or I swear to God, I will knock you the fuck out in front of all these people.”

Henry laughs. “My baby brother, defender of the unwashed masses, always thinks resorting to threats of violence will solve all of his problems,” he mocks. “Maybe you wouldn’t have so many problems if you didn’t latch on to as many strays as you do.”

I reach for Henry, but he dances back out of my grasp, a wide smile on his face. Though I’m tempted to jump the fence and beat him down in the street, I resist the urge. Right now, I need to focus on Alexis. I can’t even imagine what must be going through her head.

“Oh, Duncan, I meant to tell you that I talked to Vanessa,” he calls. “She said she had a wonderful time with you and can’t wait to do it again. I’m no mind reader, but I don’t think she meant dinner when she talked about doing it, either.”

“Henry, I’m going to –”

“Nice to meet you, Alexis,” Henry calls as he starts to walk away. “Enjoy your ride on the Clyburne gravy train.”

“Shut your fucking mouth, Henry,” I growl.

This is a new low for Henry – which is really saying something. I stand there, gripping the fence so tight, I’m half-afraid I’m going to pull it out of the concrete, the rage flowing through me. I’m aware of the people all around us watching, their eyes glued to the little melodrama playing out before them. Nothing like late lunch theater, huh?

Too bad they’re not going to get to see the encore – me kicking my brother’s ass.

I manage to get my emotions back under control and my wits about me again. I turn around to face Alexis, an apology already prepared. But it dies on my lips when I see that she’s gone. I look around frantically and catch sight of her moving through the cafe, heading for the front door. I can’t see her face but judging by the way she keeps wiping at her eyes with her hands, I’m pretty sure she’s crying. Not that I can blame her after what just happened.

I grab some cash from my wallet and throw it down on the table. Hopefully, it’s enough to cover the bill, since I’m not really paying attention, as focused on catching up to Alexis as I am. Looking around, I jump the fence, earning frowns and whispers of disapproval from the audience. Fuck them, though. I don’t really care what any of them think.

I jet to the front door and catch Alexis just as she’s stepping out. Her eyes are red and puffy, her cheeks blotchy, and there is a look of rage burning upon her face. I reach out to take her hand, but she recoils like I just scalded her.

“Don’t,” she says. “Get out of my way.”

“Alexis, wait. Let me explain,” I plead.

Her expression goes from one of rage to one of hurt and betrayal in the blink of an eye, and it kills me to see. She obviously thinks that somewhere deep down, I judge her like my brother does. That I think she’s using me for my money. Nothing can be further from the truth, but I just need her to stop and listen to me.

Instead, she pushes her way past me and starts off down the sidewalk, hurrying along at a rapid clip. It only takes me a moment to catch up with her and when I do, rather than grab her arm from behind, I move around and stop in front of her, not letting her pass.

“Get the fuck out of my way, Duncan.”

“Not until you hear me out.”

“What do you have to say that your brother didn’t already?” she exclaims. “Obviously, I’m just some poor, dumb, money-grubbing whore looking to hitch my wagon to you so that you’ll feed me and my baby. That much was perfectly clear.”

“Yeah, but that’s not me,” I say. “Henry is an asshole. He always has been and always will be. He’s an elitist prick. He thinks because he has money, he’s in a position to judge everybody else in this world.”

“And you can honestly tell me that you don’t think that way?”

I feel the embers of my own anger stirring. The fact that my brother is an arrogant asshole is one thing. That he can somehow manipulate Alexis against me is not just hurtful but enraging.

“Have I ever given you a reason to believe I think that way, Alexis?” I ask, my voice pained. “Ever? Have I ever said something that ignorant and judgmental?”

“Just because you haven’t said it doesn’t mean you don’t think it,” she spits back.