He talked more about how he’d gotten to know Tara while undercover at a winery in Tuscany. “Things were so good between us, and then I fucked it all up by accusing her of being a criminal.”
I wanted to ask Knox how he could believe he loved her and yet get it that wrong, but I knew he was struggling with that question all on his own.
I also wanted to ask him a number of questions about when Tackle arrived in Italy, why he went, and what he was doing now that he was back. Instead, I rolled to my side and cried myself to sleep.
After spending over a week looking for a place for my brother and me to live, I sat Knox down and told him I didn’t think it would work. He looked relieved.
“I have another idea, though.”
I raised a brow, skeptical at his tone of voice.
“You know Tackle’s dad owns a lot of investment property—”
“No!” I said before I could stop the word from flying out of my mouth.
Knox raised a brow like I had.
“They’ll tell Mom and Dad.”
“Hear me out.”
I folded my arms, and Knox laughed. “You’re so damn stubborn, peanut.”
“Like you aren’t,” I mumbled.
“He’s got a place halfway between home and your office. Literally less than eight miles from here.”
“Where would you live?”
“A few blocks away, in one of their other rentals. It’s a duplex, which would’ve been ideal, but the other side isn’t inhabitable yet.”
“I don’t know…”
“You won’t have to see his parents, or him, for that matter.”
Tackle hadn’t shown up unannounced since the day I ran out of the restaurant on him, so I doubted he would do that there.
“I don’t want anyone to know I’m pregnant.”
“There is no reason they’d have to. You’re twenty-six years old, Sloane. It won’t come as a surprise to anyone that you’ve decided to move out of our parents’ house. I think it would raise more questions if you and I shared a place.” He nudged me and laughed.
“I guess, but wouldn’t it be just as easy for me to find a place that their family doesn’t own?”
Knox shook his head. “It’s a nice place in a safe part of town at a price that’s unheard of. It will be impossible for you to find something similar.”
“I don’t want them to do me any favors.”
Knox got up from the sofa and stalked over to the window. “Here are your choices. You live there, with the parents, or with me. Which one is it going to be?”
“Okay.” After everything my brother had done for me, I couldn’t argue with him.
Knox smiled. “Which one, peanut?”
“I’ll live in Tackle’s dad’s place.”
“I think it’s the best option, or I wouldn’t have suggested it.”
“It’s nice, right?” Knox said two hours later when he took me to see the rental.
Nice didn’t begin to describe it. Even though it was a duplex, it felt more like a house. It had a front and back yard, and since the two units were separated by garages, it didn’t feel any different than living in my parents’ house had.
There were three bedrooms, including a master that was larger than any I’d ever seen. The kitchen was bright and sunny with a window that looked out at a tree with a swing hanging from one of its branches.
When Knox stood beside me and said, “Wouldn’t be a bad place to raise a kid,” I burst into tears.
He took a step back. “What just happened?”
I shrugged and grabbed a paper towel to blow my nose. “It’s been happening with greater frequency.”
Knox leaned against the kitchen counter. “Sloane, I know you don’t want to talk about the baby’s father, but I have to ask—”
“Don’t.”
“But—”
“I mean it, Knox. Don’t go there.”
“Will you let me speak if I promise not to ask a question?”
I folded my arms and glared at him. “I don’t think it’s possible.”
He smiled. “If he knows and is leaving you on your own with this, he better hope I never know his identity. If he doesn’t know, then I have to say, Sloane, you need to tell him.”
I went out the back door, walked over to the swing, and after pulling on the ropes to make sure it was secure, sat on it. My brother followed.
“What if I told you I was inseminated?”
“I wouldn’t believe you.” He rubbed his arms. “Aren’t you cold?”
I ignored his question about the temperature. “Why wouldn’t you believe me?”
“You wouldn’t have called me in Italy to ask me to come home.”
I sighed. “You’re right.”
“Where are you guys?” I heard Tackle say from inside the house.
“What the fuck, Knox?”
He held up both hands. “I didn’t even know he was back in town.”
“Get rid of him.”
“You don’t have the words tattooed on your forehead. He isn’t going to know you’re—”
“Shut up,” I spat.
Knox walked in the direction of the house when Tackle came out the door. As I watched them embrace and pat each other’s backs, I wondered if I was making the right decision about the baby. I’d have it; there was no doubt in my mind about that. It was my decision to keep him or her that I now questioned. Would their friendship be destroyed once the truth came out, as it inevitably would? I mean, Tackle could do the math.
Alternatively, with my brother’s help, I could go away for a few months, give birth, find a family wanting to adopt, then come back and resume my life.
When my eyes met Tackle’s, I knew I’d never be able to go through with that plan.
“Hey, peanut,” he said, walking over to the swing. “Lift your feet and I’ll push you.”
“That isn’t a good—”
“We aren’t sure it’s secure,” I said, shooting daggers at my brother.
“I hear you’re renting the place,” Tackle said, following Knox and me back inside.
“I’m thinking about it.”
He turned to Knox. “And you’re renting half the duplex on Stanley?”
“That’s right.”
“I hope my dad gave you the family discount.”
Knox did a funny thing with his head, and
