And it was his everywhere that had put her into this situation. She scowled. “What now, Kade?”
Kade turned and looked at her. “I don’t want to fight.”
“That’s fine.” Brodie dropped her legs and pointed to the stairs. “So just leave.”
“That’s not happening, either.” Kade calmly leaned back and put one ankle onto his opposite knee. He rolled his shoulders and looked around, taking in the wood, steel and glass cabin and the incredible view. “This place is amazing. Do you own it?”
She had some money but not enough to own a property like this. “Poppy’s.”
Why was he here? Why was he back? Was he going to take more shots at her? She didn’t think she could tolerate any more this morning. She felt nauseous and slightly dizzy and, dammit, she wanted to crawl into his arms and rest awhile.
Huh. So she hadn’t wanted just anyone to hold her, she’d wanted Kade’s arms around her. And she’d called him a moron? She took the prize.
“What do you want, Kade?” she asked, weary.
“Are you okay?” Kade waved in the direction of her stomach, his brown eyes dark with—dare she think it?—concern. “I mean, apart from the whole being-pregnant issue?”
“Why?”
“You just look, well, awful. You’re like a pale green color. You’ve lost weight and you look like you haven’t slept properly in a month.”
Nice to know she was looking like a wreck. Especially when the description came from a man who graced the front covers of sports magazines.
“Do you need to see a doctor? Maybe they could run some tests to check if there is something else wrong.”
“I’m fine, Webb. I’m pregnant. I puke, a lot. I don’t sleep much because I’ve been stressed out of my head!”
“Stressed about telling me?” Kade asked, linking his hands across his flat stomach.
Brodie stood up and went to the balustrade. “Partly. But that’s done so...feel free to leave.”
Kade didn’t look like he was going anywhere anytime soon. He just held her hot gaze. “I’m sorry I reacted badly.” His smile was self-deprecating and very attractive. “Not my best moment.”
“Yeah, accusing me of trying to trap you was a high point,” Brodie said, looking toward the beach. “Apology accepted. You can—”
“Go now? Why are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Because I have stuff to do! I need to call my lawyer, see a doctor, plan mine and the baby’s future!” Brodie cried.
Kade stood up, walked over to her and touched her cheek with his fingers. “It’s not going to be like that, Brodie.”
“Like what?” Brodie whispered.
“I know you think you are going to do this alone—because, hell, you like being self-reliant—but I’m in it for the long haul.”
“What?” Brodie demanded, thrown off-kilter. What was he talking about?
“I am going to be this baby’s father in every way that counts.”
Brodie looked at him, aghast. What was happening here? “Wha-at?”
“You’re going to have to learn to be part of a team, Brodie, because that’s what we are, from this point on.” Kade tapped her nose and stood back, his stance casual. But his eyes, dark and serious and oh, so determined, told another story.
“I don’t understand.”
“I am not going anywhere. We’re in this. Together.”
What? No! She didn’t play nicely with others. She had no idea how to work within a team. She was a lone wolf; she didn’t function within a pack. And really, what the hell did he think he was doing, acting all reasonable and concerned?
That wasn’t going to work for her. She made her own decisions and she didn’t like it that with Kade, she wasn’t in charge. He might sound laid-back but beneath his charm the man was driven and ambitious and bossy.
But even as she protested his change of heart, she had the warm fuzzies and felt a certain relief she wouldn’t be carrying this burden alone.
Even so, she shook her head. “There is no we. This baby is my problem, my responsibility.”
“This baby is our problem, our responsibility. Mine as much as yours,” Kade replied, not budging an inch. “Quit arguing, honey, because you’re not going to win.”
Behind her back Brodie gripped the balustrade with both hands. “What does that mean? Are you going to change diapers and do midnight feeds? Are you going to drive around the city trying to get the kid to sleep? Or are you just going to fling some money at me?”
Anger flickered in Kade’s eyes. “I’ll do whatever I need to do to make your life easier, to be a father. I will support you, and the baby, with money, but more importantly, with my time and my effort. I’m repeating this in an effort to get it to sink into that stubborn head of yours, you are not in this alone.”