The Summer Getaway: A Novel(95)
Her legs, already weakened by the whole orgasm thing, started to give out. She sank into a chair.
“You wanted to talk to me?” Better to ignore the rest of what he’d said.
“There’s some stuff.” He looked around. “Can we go somewhere private and have a conversation?”
“No,” Robyn and Lillian said together.
Lillian smiled. “My house, my rules. Stay here and tell all of us, Cord. We’re going to find out anyway.”
Austin immediately took a seat. “Come on, Dad. She’s right. Everybody knows everything.”
There was low-grade anger in her son’s voice, Robyn thought. But before she could figure out what to do about that, Cord sighed heavily.
“This isn’t fair.” He glared at his son. “You quit.”
“Yup, I did, and I’m not coming back.”
“You don’t have to sound so cheerful.”
Austin shrugged.
“What’s going on?” Robyn asked. The sooner her ex told her, the sooner he would leave. At least that was her fantasy, she thought, glancing toward the door and wondering if Mason was going to show up. How was she supposed to explain the sudden presence of her ex-husband?
“Yes, Cord,” Lillian said, sounding a little gleeful. “What is it now?”
Cord angled away from her and turned his attention on Robyn. “Zafina’s pregnant,” he said, his voice low.
Robyn started laughing. “Oh my God! Seriously? That’s awkward.”
“You don’t sound especially sympathetic.”
“I’m not. For years I begged you to get a vasectomy but you refused. Honestly, I’m surprised she’s the first one of your women to turn up pregnant. The odds have finally caught up with you.”
“Tell me what to do.”
“No. This isn’t my problem. It will never be my problem, and that makes me happy.”
He glared at her. “But you always help. I depend on you.”
“That’s unfortunate for you.” She knew she should be upset, at least for Harlow’s sake, but right this second, she was finding herself in awe of the irony of the moment. “You could have fixed this with one little snip, but you were too concerned about your manhood.” She grinned. “You’ll be sixty-four when this one graduates from high school. I hope no one mistakes you for the grandfather.”
“Good one, Mom,” Austin said.
Before Cord could react, Harlow walked out onto the balcony, her phone in her hand, her eyes wide.
“Mom? I just heard from Zafina and—” She came to a stop. “Dad? You’re here?”
“Just got in. How are you? I’ve missed you.”
He started toward her, but she stepped back.
“Is Zafina pregnant?” she said.
He grimaced. “She says she is, but I’m not sure. Or that it’s mine. She’s supposed to be on the pill, and—”
“Stop!” Harlow shook her phone at him. “Just stop it. Don’t you dare say it’s not yours. How could you not take responsibility? You’re the one sleeping with my fiancé’s sister, which is gross enough, but you’re not weaseling out of this. If she’s pregnant, you’re the father, and you know it. Grow up, Dad. Just grow up.”
Everyone stared at Cord, who seemed to shrink under his daughter’s attack.
“It’s just—” he began.
Harlow shoved her phone in her pocket. “You disgust me.”
With that, she walked out. Austin followed.
Lillian looked at Robyn, her mouth curving into a smile. “Such drama. Do you think it’s too early for cocktails?”
* * *
Mason sat on the balcony he shared with Robyn, Charles II on his lap. He supposed he should be trying to write, but that wasn’t happening. Instead he was going to lounge in the sun and do absolutely nothing for the rest of the afternoon.
Robyn had worn him out, he thought with a grin. She was incredible—even more intriguing, sexy and fun than he’d imagined. He couldn’t get enough of her, nor did he want to. If it were up to him, they’d be making love well into their nineties when they would have to be a bit more careful or risk breaking a hip.
He scratched the chin of the dozing cat, earning him a purr in return. “We both have a great life,” he said. Charles stretched and purred in agreement.
He heard a bedroom door open. Anticipation brightened his already good day as Robyn walked through her room and out onto the balcony.
Damn, she looked good. Her long blond hair moved in the light breeze. Her jeans hugged her hips, and her T-shirt hinted at curves. One of these days he was going to convince her to go braless. Although probably not when the house was full of—
His fantasy faded as he caught sight of her worried expression.
“What?” he asked, carefully moving Charles to the chair next to his and coming to his feet. “Something happened. Is it one of the kids?”
She shook her head. “I’m just going to say it. I want to start by telling you I didn’t know, and I have nothing to do with it. In fact, the only one who seems happy is Lillian, but I think that’s more about enjoying the emotional show than—”
“Robyn,” he said quietly.