Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
And considering the negative gut reaction she’d had at the time, why was she so disappointed now?
* * *
The next morning, Knox walked into the stadium and immediately went into action, attending consecutive meetings he’d rescheduled during his time away. By the time he returned to his office, it was long after lunchtime and his stomach was growling.
He picked up his cell to order in, but a knock stopped him. “Come in.”
“Hi!” Holly opened the door, then walked over and gave him a hug. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
She shoved his shoulder with her hand. “Next time you disappear, I expect more than ‘Don’t worry, took a quick trip, I’ll be back. Hold down the fort.’” She quoted his text message to her.
“I’m sorry. But you did a great job.” He strode past her and shut the door so they had privacy. “I have news and you might want to sit down to hear it.”
She swept her hand over the back of her skirt and lowered herself into a chair, crossing her legs in front of her.
“Ready?” He drew a deep breath. “Jade is pregnant and I’m the father.”
“Aaah!” She let out a scream and jumped to her feet. “You aren’t joking, are you?”
He shook his head. “I’m going to be a father.”
Holly’s eyes grew wide. “Are you… happy about it?”
He’d spent so much time worrying about Jade and her reactions, he’d pushed his feelings into the background. He met his sister’s gaze. “I wasn’t expecting the news, but once I wrapped my head around it, yeah, I’m happy. And nervous.”
Holly smiled. “You are going to be a great dad. You’re already an amazing brother.” She hugged him tight. “How is Jade?”
How was Jade? “Shaken up but adjusting.”
Holly nodded. “Any plans?” She wriggled her eyebrows and nudged him with her shoulder. “Like moving in together or getting married?”
“Okay, little troublemaker. Promise me you’re going to stay out of it. Let Jade and me figure out what we want, in our own way, and in our own time.”
Holly nodded and raised a hand. “I swear. I’m just so excited! I’m going to be an aunt!”
He laughed. “You are. And you’ll be a good one.”
“Can I tell Miles?” she asked.
He nodded. “Of course.” He wouldn’t expect her to keep secrets from her fiancé.
“Thank you.”
He strode over to his desk and began looking through the notes of phone calls he’d received, noticing Holly had left messages with his secretary. Often. “You wanted to talk to me about something?”
She shook her head and laughed. “You weren’t returning my calls. Yes, I wanted to talk, but it’s not about business.”
He had a hunch it wasn’t wedding-related and raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on?”
“Theo wants to have lunch. He said he knows he’s been a jerk, and he wants to make it up to me. And with the wedding in less than six months, I just want peace. So don’t be angry at me if I go. Okay?” Holly’s cheeks flushed and she couldn’t meet his gaze.
Knox shook his head and groaned. “All I can do is tell you what I think. I won’t be mad at you, no matter what you decide.” With Holly’s mother long gone and her father deceased, his sister was desperate for family, and fucking Theo was playing on that weakness—again.
She twisted her hands in front of her, her nerves showing. “You don’t think I should see him.”
He blew out a long breath. “I think Theo always has a reason for what he does, and it usually benefits him. But you have to do what you need to do.”
She nodded. “Thanks.”
That probably meant she would meet up with her brother, despite Knox’s warning. “Just be careful, okay?”
“I will.”
After she’d walked out, he felt bad, knowing Holly would be upset that Knox didn’t approve of her having anything to do with Theo. Knox didn’t want to control her, but he just needed her to be aware that Theo always had an agenda. And he wouldn’t hesitate to use Holly if it furthered his plans.
But Knox had warned her. That was all he could do.
He settled in behind his desk, ordered in lunch, and confirmed times for meetings that had been moved because of his unexpected trip. Tonight, he had dinner plans with his general manager, Steve Powell, to discuss his frustrations with the power dynamic within the front office.
When his cell rang, interrupting his thoughts, he was surprised to see Jade’s name on the screen. He’d been planning to call her once he’d caught up on work, before he went out for the evening.
He tapped the phone and answered. “Jade, hi. How are you feeling?”
“Okay. I only got sick once today so far, but I’m always queasy.”
He winced. “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can bring you?”
“No, thanks. So… the reason I’m calling is, I asked Aurora about her ob-gyn. They were booked solid, but she pulled strings and got me in at the end of this week.”