"She didn't tell me that."
"Connie's such a fucking cunt," he spews with hatred.
"I don't know her, but I'd have to agree. Certainly one of the cruelest tricks I've seen."
He drops his chin to his chest, which is heaving with deep breaths. "God, every time I learn something like this, it reminds me I'm a bastard."
"Why are you a bastard?"
"I hated Darby for a long time for what I thought she'd selfishly done to my brother. When the truth came out a year ago, it was my words that caused the damage in the first place. Stories like the one you shared make their nightmare all too real."
I reach over and put my hand on his knee, squeezing lightly. "I may not know all the gritty details, but you didn't drive her away. She was depressed and needed help. What happened with Pierce isn't your responsibility."
"I should have seen things clearer, been more aware of what was happening."
"What could you do?"
"Who knows, but I wouldn't have sat around and let him fuck up his life like he did."
"You think he considers Maya and Cole a fuck-up?"
"You know what I mean."
"I know, but I also know he has Darby now, and they found a way to work through their past and let it go. You have to do the same."
He takes my hand and threads our fingers together. His attention stays on our joined hands, and when he raises his attention to me, a tingle races up my spine. "I think you can help me with that."
"Me?"
"Yeah, help me figure out what is going on with Darby, so I can help my brother fix it."
"I’m not sure it's my place to get into her business."
"Being her friend is not getting into her business."
"We're not that close, Miller. It would be awkward."
"You two have history. Maybe she'll open up to you."
"I'll check on her tomorrow. But I'm sure whatever is on her mind, Pierce will have handled—"
My statement dies when his face goes hard, his jaw sets, and his eyes darken. "Son of a fucking bitch!" he hisses. "The name."
"What? What name?"
"Pierce told Darby he was ready to pick a name for the baby. She's been holding off. It didn't seem like a big deal to me until hearing your story. I'd bet my ass that's what's wrong."
My heart hurts at his realization, and I suck in a breath, tears springing to my eyes. "Poor Darby. I can't imagine what she's feeling right now if those emotions resurfaced."
"Fuck me, fuck me, fuck me." He releases my hand to scrub his through his hair. "This is bad, and I can't do a goddamned thing about it."
"I shouldn't have told you. Somehow it feels like betrayal."
"It's not betrayal, and she won't know you told me. That's why this is bad. Pierce lives with the shame every day. If he knew any of this, he'd go fucking ballistic. Outside of the existence of Maya and Cole, he'd do anything to erase those years."
"Maybe you can gently explain that the pressure to pick a name may cause her sadness."
His gaze flies to me. "When it comes to Darby, Pierce will move fucking mountains to keep stress out of her life."
"That's sweet but impossible. There are some things out of his control."
Miller's eyes scrunch together, and his mouth presses in a taut line. He stares as if I've told him something outrageous. "You've met my brother, right?"
"You know I have," I snap, feeling offended with the way he's looking at me.
He picks up on my gripe, and his face relaxes, his lips twitching slightly. "You'll learn soon enough."
"What does that mean?"
"I told you before, we don't fuck around."
There's no way to miss the intent behind his statement and the way it's directed at me. "Why do I feel like this conversation just took a turn?" I mumble under my breath, fighting the urge to squirm in my seat.
"What's that?" His grin turns wicked, knowing he heard what I said, and he sits back in his chair, the intensity gone.
"I thought you were distraught over Darby. Let's not lose focus."
"I'm focused."
"A few seconds ago, you were ripping your hair out. Let's go back to that."
"I have a plan."
"You have a plan? You came up with a plan in zero point two seconds?"
"Yep."
"Want to share it?"
"Nothing I can do to change what happened, but it'll work itself out."
"That's it? What does that exactly mean?"
"I'm seeing now how things find a way of working out."
He reaches to the bottle of wine chilling in the middle of the table and tops off my glass. "Time to change the subject."
"I'm not sure my brain can switch gears this quick."
"I'm thinking switching gears is your specialty. At the risk of making you defensive, and not wanting to argue, why don't we talk about the house?"
I huff out but agree. It's been a good night and I don't want to argue. The house is a safe subject, so I take a sip and dive in.
Chapter 5
Miller
"Stay with me, Lily." I kissed along the column of her throat, feeling her pulse quicken against my lips. She stiffened in my arms, then squirmed to get free. I loosened my hold enough for her to roll onto her back and face me.
"That's not a good idea."
"I don't leave until Monday. I'd like to spend more time with you."
"Isn't that against the rules?"
"What rules?"
"The rules of a one-night stand."
My heart rate spiked, hearing the label she'd put on our night together. "There are rules?" I asked low, trying to cover my irritation.
She searched my face, her eyes filling with doubt. "I don't know. I've never done this before," she admitted on a whisper.
The knot in my stomach unraveled, and a scorching sensation seared through my veins. Memories of the night before rolled through my head. No hesitation, no wavering—she gave herself willingly. If it wasn't for the pure honesty shining on her face, I'd have called bullshit. But that morning, the
