“It’s an entire human that can’t fend for itself. And the crib is on order,” she said before he could ask. “I’ll baby-proof the entire place next weekend.”
“I’m not here to judge you.” He grabbed a chair from the dining table and sat down. The man could sprawl magnificently. “You… you can’t ask Hailey? I mean, she’s Reed’s sister. Or ask Reed’s mom?”
The ever-present guilt in her stomach bit at her, even though Cordy knew it wasn’t her fault. “They’re, uh… they’re not talking to me.” She shrugged. “The Saxons miss Reed. They’re grieving.”
“That’s a piss-poor excuse,” Chance snapped, sitting upright. “They ought to be doing everything they can for you. Especially since you’re on your own.”
Cordy’s eyes and nose started to sting. She put her hand on Iggy’s head, trying to get a hold of her emotions. But it was so hard because this was the first time in this whole mess it felt like someone was onherside. She had to keep the peace with the Saxons because they were the grandparents of her baby, and everyone in town felt sympathy for them because they’d lost their only son, and she was a newcomer, a stranger, and it was difficult.Sodifficult.
Hearing Chance’s words made her realize how badly she needed someone to tell her she deserved better. That the Saxons shouldn’t be doing this to her.
That she shouldn’t be doing all this alone.
Chance grabbed a tissue from the box on the coffee table and handed it to her. She took it with a murmured thanks.
He let her dab her eyes and take some deep breaths. Then he said, “If people knew what Reed’s parents were doing?—”
“Please don’t tell anyone.” The words spilled out faster than her tears. “I don’t… I don’t need that kind of drama.”
“You need my help.”
Again, her knees went weak. Thank goodness she was already sitting down. “I appreciate the offer,” she said, “I honestly do, but…”
“But what?”
Now was not the time to explain her tomcat theory to him. Part of Cordy wanted to say yes. To let him help because she craved it so badly. But that would be a bad idea. Chance wasn’t the kind of guy she could rely on. Which brought up her original question.
“Why are you even offering?” she asked. “You are the last person I expected to answer that ad.”
If he had some notion of getting into her bed, she was going to shoot that right down.
His mouth flattened. Chance looked as close to pissed as she’d ever seen. “Because I wouldn’t help someone in need?”
That made her back stiffen. He made her sound pitiful. Like she was an abandoned animal by the side of the road. Okay, she felt wretched, but notthatwretched.
“Because you don’t have any kids. You aren’t married. You don’t have a girlfriend. You have no interest in getting one. You’re…” She gestured wildly because he had to know what he was like. He was the one going home with a new woman each night. “You’re the opposite of what I want.”
Chance hadn’t moved at all, but Cordy sensed the tension in him. It snapped off him like power lines humming. She wasn’t afraid, but it was making her tingle. Chance was always so easygoing; she must have hit a sore spot.
“What you want is Reed?” Chance asked in a quiet, steady voice. “That’s who you wanted to settle down with? That’s the kind of man you thought would be in it for the long haul?”
Cordy wrapped her hands around her belly, needing to put something between Chance and the baby. He made Reed sound like… well, like the kind of man Chance was. It wasn’t fair—neither she nor Reed had been looking for commitment, but their relationship hadn’t been casual.
“You have no right to judge him. Or me. We at least spent more than one night together.”
Chance’s mouth tightened. Somehow, that made his lips even more attractive. “Now, who’s judging?” he drawled in a nasty tone.
“You came to me,” she said. “And I’m turning you down. That must be a novel experience for you. I’ll give you a moment to process it before I ask you to leave.”
To her surprise, that got him smiling. “All right. I hear you.”
Argh, his smile was not supposed to make her pulse flutter like that! She’d seen it a million times and knew he used it to get into a woman’s bed.
She had to get him out of there before she did something stupid thanks to that smile. She stood up and nodded toward the door. “I appreciate the offer,” she said stiffly, “but I’ll figure something out. I always do.”
Chance got to his feet, his expression grim. “Will you? Because putting up an ad in the Donut Palace isn’tfiguring it out.”
Cordy crossed her arms. Well, that was rude. She was already sorry she’d told him anything.
