So she’d decided to be a mommy. She needed to tell Kade he was going to be a daddy. There was no rush, Brodie thought, as she picked up a piece of driftwood and tossed it toward a bubbling wave. She had eight or so months.
Or, hell, maybe not.
Brodie recognized his stride first, long and loose. His blond hair and most of his face was covered by a black cap. Simon, Kade’s huge, sloppy mutt, galloped between him and the waves, barking with joy. Then Simon recognized her and let out a yelp of elated welcome. Brodie was glad that he, at least, looked happy to see her.
Kade did not. He stopped in front of her, tipped back the rim of his cap and scowled. “Sixteen missed calls. Six messages, Stewart. Seriously?”
“I needed some time alone,” Brodie replied, rubbing Simon’s ears. She looked up into Kade’s frustrated eyes. “Why are you here?”
The wind blew Kade’s cotton shirt up and revealed the ridges of his stomach. Brodie had to stop herself from whimpering. “I’m here because you came to my loft, looking like hell on wheels, saying we needed to talk. I’ve spent the last two days looking for you.”
Brodie picked up a small stick and threw it for Simon, who ran straight past it into a wave. “I suppose Poppy told you where I was.”
“When I managed to find her,” Kade muttered.
Brodie frowned. “She’s not difficult to find. She lives below me.”
“Not for the last two nights. She finally came home, on a Harley, with a guy who was at least fifteen years younger than her.”
Brodie grinned. “Good for Poppy.” At least one of them was having fun.
Brodie felt her throat tighten. She had to tell him, now.
“Kade...” Brodie met his eyes, dug deep and found a little bit of courage. “The night we were together... Do you remember how we brushed off the issue of the split condom?”
Kade frowned and his face darkened. She didn’t need to say any more, she could see he’d immediately connected the dots. “You’re...?” He rubbed his hands over his face.
“Pregnant,” Brodie confirmed.
“But you said you were on the pill,” Kade stuttered and the color drained from his face.
“I was on the pill, but apparently it fails sometimes.”
Kade linked his hands behind his head. He looked shaken and, understandably, mad as hell. Brodie couldn’t blame him; she’d experienced those emotions herself.
“Might I remind you,” she added, “the condom you brought was faulty.”
“So you’re saying this is my fault?” Kade shouted, dropping his hands. Simon whined and Kade patted his head to reassure him everything was okay. Brodie wished he’d reassure her, too.
Brodie made an effort to hold on to her own slipping temper. “I’m not blaming you, I’m explaining what happened.”
Kade dropped a couple of F-bombs. “I’m not ready to be a father. I don’t want to be a father!”
“Being a mother wasn’t in my five-year plan, either, Webb.”
Kade folded his arms across his chest and glared at her. “You don’t seem particularly upset about this.”
Where was he the last couple of nights when she’d cried herself to sleep? The same nights she’d paced the floor? “I’m pregnant and it’s not something that’s going away. I have to deal with it. You, however, do not.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
Brodie tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and shrugged. “If you want I’ll sign a release absolving you of all responsibility for this child.”
Kade stared down at the sand and Brodie noticed his hands, in the pockets of his khakis shorts, were now fists. He was hanging on to his temper by a thread. “Is that my only option?”
“What else do you want? You just said you don’t want to be this baby’s father. Have you changed your mind? That would mean paying child support and sorting out custody arrangements. Is that what you want?”
“For crap’s sake, I don’t know! I’m still trying to deal with the idea you’re saying you’re pregnant!” Kade yelled.
“I’m saying I am pregnant?” Brodie frowned. Did he think she was making this up for kicks and giggles? “Do you doubt me?” she asked, her voice low and bitter.
“We slept together several weeks ago, how can you be sure?” Kade retorted. “Have you done a blood test? How can I be sure you’re not jerking my chain?”
Brodie’s mouth fell open. How could he, for one moment, think she would lie about this? Didn’t he know her at all? Actually, he didn’t, Brodie admitted. They’d shared their bodies but nothing of their thoughts or feelings. And now they were going to have a baby together... No, judging by his lack of enthusiasm, she was going to be walking this road solo.