He took her hands, irritation fading to concern in his dark eyes. “I think you’re scared of what we feel.”
“I know that I’m feeling smothered and overwhelmed.”
“You’re pregnant with twins.” His voice cracked with pain.
Twins, the babies. Children he wanted. But not the right reason for them to build a future together, especially when he and she already had such differing lifestyles. She feared she was being selfish by hanging on to him when she knew how restless and unhappy he was in her chaotic world.
“And I’m grateful that you care. That’s sweet and I know I should count myself lucky, but I’m more concerned about our very different natures. You’re a lone wolf and I’m a social butterfly.”
“A steely butterfly.”
Right now, she felt anything but steely. That would have to come later. After she’d gotten through the deepest hurt she’d ever felt. And considering all she’d already lost, that was saying a lot. She drew a ragged breath.
“Okay, but you have to see our lifestyles don’t blend. Even trying to split our time between living your way and mine is already wearing thin. Ultimately, we’ll each just end up miserable half of the year.”
“I can see you’re worried. Get some rest, and we can talk about this lat—”
“All I’ve done is sleep. You’re not hearing me, Royce.” Her throat clogged on tears for a moment, but because of how deeply she cared for him, how deeply she cared for her unborn children, she had to let him go. “Royce, I’m breaking things off.”
She tugged free her engagement ring, a ring that had made her heart sing just not so long ago. But even as she accused him of being a hermit, she’d been hiding from the truth.
She placed the ring into his hand and closed his fingers. “Please, let me go.”
When she pushed the car door open, Naomi caught sight of Trystan and Isabeau taking a walk on the Steele grounds—why weren’t they at the Mikkelson place? A question that she shoved aside because right now all that mattered was support she so desperately needed. Locking eyes with her new friend, she registered the distress and unease swimming in Isabeau’s eyes. A distress and unsettled feeling that reverberated in Naomi’s own chest.
Collecting herself, Naomi bolted from the car, moving swift and sure before Royce could intervene.
Eleven
Gray clouds speckled the night sky as Trystan reached for Isabeau’s hand. They’d come to the Steele compound to pick up Paige, then he’d impulsively asked Isabeau to walk first along the shoreline She took his hand gingerly, though her slender face stayed fixed on the rocky shoreline in front of them, Paige off-leash enjoying free time to play.
They began to meander on the shoreline, maneuvering away from the house. He hoped to use this time to persuade Isabeau to see a doctor, to end this limbo state so they could move their relationship forward with direction—either way, baby on the way, or no baby.
Dropping his hand, she stopped walking. In the distance, he could make out the form of the seaplane.
Trystan shot her a sidelong glance, watching the moonlight find purchase in the lines of worry set in her cheeks and brow. “You said you wanted to talk. Is everything alright?”
She drew in a deep breath, stopped, turning to face him. “There’s no simple way to lead into this. I saw the doctor, and she confirmed that I’m pregnant.”
Her words hit him right in the gut. He’d been expecting it, thought he’d prepared himself. But possibly pregnant was nowhere near close to really pregnant.
Thoughts tumbled over one another in fast succession. Where would they live? How could he make her happy? When was the baby due?
She was carrying his baby.
His. Baby.
Isabeau held up her hands and turned away, walking again. “Never mind. No need to say anything. We can talk later once the news has sunk in.”
She hitched her formal gown up past her elbows and started trekking back toward the house. Damn it. That wasn’t how this conversation was supposed to happen. He was supposed to have some suave words to win her over.
“No, wait,” he called out, grasping her arm. His bare feet desperate for traction on the muddy shore. “We should talk now. Keep in mind, I’m not good with words—as you know—and I want to make sure I get things right.”
She glanced back over her shoulder, chewing her bottom lip, but staying silent. The moonlight brought out the gold in her red hair—and illuminated the fear in her eyes. “I’ll be fine. The baby and I will be fine. I just wanted you to know, and now that you do, I’m going.”
Crickets hummed, adding another layer to the sound of the rhythmic waves. Paige darted by them, splashing. A momentary distraction.
He needed the right words. “Isabeau, I should have my thoughts together on what to say. I’ve certainly thought about this possibility often enough over the past four weeks. One thing is clear though, I’m here for you and the baby.” He pushed forward with what he knew was the right thing to do. “We’ll get married. I’ll take care of you, there’s no need to be anxious. And my child will never have to feel abandoned or unloved.”
No child would go through what he had when his parents dumped him, leaving him confused as hell trying to make sense of how a parent could just opt out.
She exhaled, her forehead furrowing. “I hear that you’re trying to do the honorable thing, and that’s...admirable. But I’m having trouble wrapping my head around how you said, ‘No need for me to feel anxious?’ You want to marry me so I won’t have a panic attack?”
“That’s not exactly what I meant.” But he could see he’d offended her. He was making things worse the more he spoke.
She moved over a large rock formation, swaying slightly beneath the slippery surface. Instinctively, Trystan’s hand shot out to steady her. Anger colored her
