Money (The Keatyn Chronicles Book 10) (5 page)

“
Yeah, about that. Look, I
’
m sorry for my behavior earlier. Believe it or not, I
’
ve had a few girls tell me they are pregnant in an effort to
—
whatever. Anyway, I just want you to know that I
’
m going to find you a new place to live. Somewhere close to me, so I can take care of you while you
’
re pregnant, and I can see the baby a lot once it
’
s born.
”

“
Aww, Riley,
”
she cries.
“
That makes me so happy. I don
’
t want my baby to grow up without a daddy.
”

“
I don
’
t want that either.
”

“
It would be a lot easier if I just moved in with you,
”
she suggests.

“
No offense, but I really don
’
t know much about you. I can
’
t commit to something like that yet.
”

“
You know everything you need to know, Riley. You know how to make me moan. That
’
s all I need. I know you
’
re loaded, and I
’
m sure you have to worry, but I
’
m not like that. I grew up with nothing, and it
’
s what I
’
m used to. I don
’
t need a big fancy place to live. But I do want our baby somewhere safe.
”

“
I do too.
”

“
You swear you won
’
t abandon me?
”

“
I swear, Shelby.
”

“
I was so worried. I
’
m not sure how I
’
m going to make this month
’
s rent. I missed a bunch of shifts when I traveled with you, and I
’
ve been sick and throwing up all week.
”
 

“
I
’
ll take care of your rent. Don
’
t worry about anything. Your job is to keep our baby healthy. We can do the paternity test in a month, once you are eight weeks pregnant. If it
’
s mine, you won
’
t have to worry about money ever again.
”

“
Thank you,
”
she sobs.

When I sit back down at the table, Aiden says,
“
We started without you. You know how Marvel is about eating when the food is at its perfect temperature.
”

I place a napkin across my lap and dig in, letting the shrimp melt in my mouth.
 

“
I didn
’
t mean to eavesdrop, Riley,
”
Keatyn says,
“
but I couldn
’
t help but overhear. I
’
m really proud of how you handled that.
”

“
And I
’
m wary, but I agree with her. You
’
re a good man. Speaking of that,
”
Aiden says with a grin.
“
Would you stand up for me at the wedding? Be my best man?
”

I laugh even though I
’
m touched.
“
Does that mean I get to throw you an epic Vegas bachelor party?
”

Keatyn tilts her head and glares at me.
 

I hold up my hands.
“
Just kidding. How about a round of golf with the guys this week instead?
”

“
That sounds great. Speaking of great,
”
he says after taking a sip of his drink,
“
before you got here, Keatyn was telling me about the offer to sell Captive.
”

“
The more I think about it, the more I like the idea. Hell, maybe I
’
ll buy a place in the country.
”

“
Really?
”
Keatyn asks.
 

“
Yeah, really. Dallas and RiAnne have their horse farm in Kentucky, and you and Aiden have this house, the vineyard, plus homes in Paris and New York.
”

“
And London,
”
Aiden coughs.

“
London?
”
Keatyn and I both say at the same time.
 

He nods and says to Keatyn,
“
You
’
ll be filming there. I don
’
t want you in a hotel.
”

“
We
’
re also filming in Prague and Dubai. Did you buy places there, too?
”

“
No, I looked at your schedule. You
’
ll only be in those two cities for a week apiece. Most of the time will be spent in Paris, New York, and London. Although, I don
’
t know how much rest you
’
ll get. Knox seems to think he
’
s staying with you. And Marvel, of course, is going. Not to mention your security.
”

 
She leans over and gives him a kiss.
“
You
’
re the sweetest boy ever,
”
she says, making me want to call Ariela. How am I going to tell her about Shelby?

“
Where do you want another house, Riley?
”
she asks.

“
Well, if you and Knox are going to build a studio in the sticks, I would think I
’
d want to be close.
”

“
Maggie offered Ariela a job at the vineyard,
”
Aiden says.

“
Doing what?
”

“
Originally, she offered her the role of fundraising coordinator to handle all our events around the world. But Logan and Grandpa think we should expand our event venue with some larger spaces, maybe a barn like ours and a small onsite hotel to house guests. We thought she could oversee that. Create the perfect venue.
”

“
Sounds expensive,
”
I say.

Aiden points at Keatyn.
“
Not any more expensive than her building Captive North.
”

I chuckle.
“
I suppose you
’
re right.
”

Keatyn looks at her phone and frowns.
“
Um, I just got a text from Maggie.
”

“
What about?
”

“
She asked if I
’
ve talked to you tonight and, um
—”

“
What else?
”

“
She wants to know if you got a girl pregnant.
”

“
Oh, shit,
”
I say.
“
That means Ariela heard what Shelby said. And I haven
’
t called her back. I texted her and said I had business. We
’
re just getting started again. What am I supposed to say?
”

“
Tell her the truth, Riley,
”
Keatyn says.
 

Dawson
’
s beach house - Malibu

DAWSON

“
Adopt a pony, huh?
”
I tease Vanessa.
“
You must really want me to stay.
”

“
Stop with the cocky grin.
”

“
You like me.
”

She laughs and then sits on my lap.
“
I do like you.
”

“
Sweetening the deal with a pony was brilliant. But what I want to know is what
I
get if I move here permanently?
”

She lowers her head and places her delicious lips on mine.
“
Me.
”

I’m ready to throw her on the couch and show her what else she
’
ll get when a little voice says,
“
Daddy?
”

Vanessa quickly moves off my lap.

“
What do you need, Harlow?
”
I ask, getting up and scooping her into my arms.
 

“
A hug,
”
she says.
“
I can
’
t sleep. What if the kids at school don
’
t like me?
”
 

“
They will love you. How could they not? You are smart and funny.
”

“
Carder told me he thinks I
’
m pretty. Do you think I
’
m pretty?
”

“
I think you are beautiful, both inside and out.
”

“
You can
’
t see inside me, silly Daddy.
”

“
That means inside, you have a good heart. A kind soul.
”

“
Like, I
’
m nice?
”

“
Yes. Have you ever met someone who is pretty on the outside, but who isn
’
t very nice to people?
”

“
Like the evil stepmother in the princess movie?
”

“
Exactly like that.
”

“
Carder said he would be my friend. That he would sit by me if the teacher would let him.
”

“
See, so you will already have a friend if you like the school.
”

“
Ava asked Grandma what happens if we hate it. And she isn
’
t sure about leaving her best friend.
”

“
If you hate it when we visit, you have to tell me. There are other schools we can look at.
”

“
I miss you, Daddy,
”
she says with a yawn, and puts her head on my shoulder.
 

I gently sway with her for a few minutes and say a prayer that tomorrow will go well. I need my girls with me.
 

I glance over at Vanessa, who is watching me intently. I nod my head in the direction of the girls
’
bedroom and carry Harlow back to bed, tucking her in and kissing her forehead.
 

I sit back down next to Vanessa.
 

“
You
’
re such a good dad,
”
she says, her eyes glistening. I wish I could take away her pain.

“
I hope this is the right thing for them.
”

“
Being with you is the right thing,
”
she says, pulling me into my bedroom and locking the door behind us.
 

She pushes me onto the bed, causing me to land with a thud on my back. I lean up to grab her, but she puts a high heel square on my chest, holding me in place.
 

I glide my hand up her leg.
“
That
’
s a little dangerous. You might stab me.
”

She presses just a teeny bit harder, her heel digging in a little, but she doesn
’
t say a word.
 

She doesn
’
t really need to, since she
’
s unbuttoning her blouse.
 

“
I
’
d like to lean up and kiss that sexy shoulder, but I
’
m afraid you might injure me.
”
I caress her foot as she sheds her blouse.
“
These might be the hottest shoes I
’
ve ever seen.
”