Calamity Rayne: Gets A Life

by Lydia Michaels

  The waiter seemed to have forgotten about us, so I flagged him over. “Can we have the check please?”

  He frowned. “It’s been taken care of, ma’am.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Mr. Davenport handled everything. Can I get you another margarita?”

  I stared blankly at him then muttered, “Sure.”

  When he left our table I turned back to Marta and Raoul, who also looked startled. “I swear to God I’m not sleeping with him,” I blurted.

  Marta muttered something in Spanish and Raoul laughed. “It’s okay, nena. You are good to Mr. Davenport. One does not look a gift horse in the mouth.”

  “But really, I’m not sleeping with him. It’s not like that.”

  Another round of drinks got delivered and then another, followed by a second glance at the menu when we decided dessert wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

  “Are you sure you’re all right to get home? Maybe Raoul should call and have a driver come get you,” Marta fussed.

  “No, I’m fine.” No one saw me stumble just then. “You two go back to your hotel and enjoy your night off.” I pulled out my phone. “I’m calling for a ride now.” It was a beautiful night and it wouldn’t hurt me to wait on a bench for a few minutes.

  “Okay then, nena. Be safe.”

  We parted on the sidewalk and I watched them walk off, hand in hand, and smiled. They were adorable, with their wrinkled smiles and pudgy butts. I wanted to be them when I grew up.

  The street outside of the restaurant was bustling with tourists. I searched for a bench—“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”

  A man to my right looked at me in question.

  “Sorry. I was talking to myself.”

  Tucking away my phone, I took in the impressive Bell Monte hotel across the street, recognizing the name from the phone conversation I’d overheard. Was Hale in there—with his mystery date? My feet were suddenly moving.

  Hardly paying attention to what I was doing, I found myself standing in the posh lobby of a hotel a few seconds later. Interesting. Where would one eat around here?

  Trotting over to the front desk, I leaned sloppily on the cool marble counter. “’Scuse me. Is there a restaurant here?”

  The man pointed over my shoulder and I gave him an exaggerated wink.

  “Thank you.”

  Time to check out the competition. Slinking around the large fern in the lobby, I scoped out the bar. No Hale. Taking a seat at one of the upholstered stools, I craned my neck toward the restaurant.

  “Can I get you something?”

  Turning to the bartender, I smiled, feeling quite the spy. “I’ll take a…” Keep it in the family. “What’s good that has tequila?”

  “I have something for you.”

  I nodded, trusting his expertise. A moment later a beautiful concoction sat in front of me on a palm leaf coaster. I tasted it and gave him a thumbs up. “Delicious. Thank you.”

  He grinned and folded his elbows on the bar. “You from out of town?”

  “Oregon.”

  He raised a brow. “I hear it’s beautiful there.”

  We got to talking and I forgot I was supposed to be spying on Hale. The bartender was really nice. He kept bringing me drinks and kept me company in between his other customers. I wished Elle were here because I would have totally fixed her up with him.

  “Are you single?” I asked, thinking Elle could at least check him out on Facebook.

  He smiled. “Yup.”

  I gave a thumbs up and slid a little off my stool. “Oops! I’m okay.”

  “My shift’s over in an hour.”

  “Oh, she lives far. We’ll never make it in time.”

  He frowned. “How about a soda?”

  “Sure.” Grinning, I scanned the bar, which was emptying, and my mouth suddenly went numb. “Shit.” I slouched low and cupped my face, like that would make me invisible.

  Hale was standing on the other side of the lobby speaking to some blonde. I couldn’t see much of her on account of the gigantic fern. Digging in my purse, I grabbed some cash and put it on the bar. “I have to go. Thanks.”

  “You’re leaving? Can I get your number?”

  As if in slow motion, Hale’s head lifted and our gazes met. His brow lowered then he was walking toward me. Crap. I couldn’t move.

  “Hey,” the bartender said, waiting for an answer, but Hale was now scowling and getting closer. “I didn’t get your name.”

  Hale didn’t stop until he was right in front of me. “What are you doing here?” he asked, not even pretending to be happy to see me.

  “Having a drink?” It came out like more of a question.

  He glared at my bartender friend. “How many? You’re wasted.”

  “Two-leven.” Yeah. That was a number. I shrugged. “I lost count at dinner with Marta and...” The blonde looked over and I started to sweat. “You’re busy. I’ll just go.”

  He caught my arm. “How are you getting home?”

  “Uber.”

  “I’ll have Eric come get you.”

  “No, I’m not getting in the car with that douchebag!” Okay, that came out a little harsher than intended. I pulled out my phone and tried to find the car service app. “See, I’m already calling for a ride. I’m fine.”

  He took the phone out of my hand. “I’m not letting you get in the car with a stranger in your condition. I’ll drive you.”

  The blonde was crossing the lobby. “You can’t. You have company.”

  Hale turned, cursed, and left me there.

  “Give me back my…” My words cut off as I fully saw the woman.

  There was no mistaking, by the look in her eyes, that she and Hale had been naked together. But that wasn’t what I was staring at. No. Her face was hard to notice because my attention was fused to her gigantic pregnant stomach.

  “Oh, fuck.”

  And didn’t that just make my life perfect. The woman touched his arm affectionately, and Hale made the slightest hand movement, apparently oblivious to the woman’s baby belly. He was talking, but I didn’t have a clue what he was saying, and then the pregnant woman brushed a kiss on his cheek and walked away.

  When she disappeared into the elevators, I looked down, my heart heavy with the weight of too much reality.

  He returned to my side and my face slowly lifted. I couldn’t hide my shock.

  Blinking at him, I whispered, “You’re having a baby.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Too Much Information

  Hale’s jaw twitched as I waited for him to deny the accusation. He didn’t.

  “Oh my God,” I muttered, suddenly feeling sick.

  “Come with me,” he said, taking my hand and towing me through the lobby and out of the hotel. I was in no state to make decisions so I let him pull me until I was tired of being pulled.

  Once on the sidewalk, I yanked my hand out of his grip. “Wait a minute.” I rubbed my temples. Everything was happening too fast and why had I had so much tequila? “That woman was pregnant.”

  His lips flattened, but finally he said, “Yes.”

  “You…you were with her. That’s your ex.”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you know she was pregnant when you and I…?”

  “Yes.”

  There was no hiding how wounded that made me feel. “Why didn’t you say something? Hale, that’s your child.”

  “It’s not that simple, Rayne.”

  “Because she cheated on you?”

  “Because it’s not that simple. Let me take you home and we’ll talk about this later.”

  Knowing him, later might never come. I felt disgusting and evil. He was having a baby with another woman and I implanted myself in their drama.

  “You should stay here with her.”

  “It’s not like that.”

  I looked at him, confused and trying to reconcile the man in front of me with the dignified person I assumed he was. “But…how can y
ou just walk away?”

  My father had walked away, and the true impact of his abandonment didn’t hit until I was a teenager, but when it did, it knocked me to my knees. There were so many moments I’d wished he’d been present. I didn’t care if he was rich or poor or if he liked the same sort of things as me or not. He was my father and the only person who could ever claim that title. But he’d made it clear, after all of my unanswered letters and failed attempts to connect with him, that he didn’t want me. Even now, that sort of rejection damaged me.

  I hated that Hale might be doing that to someone else. “Give me my phone.”

  “I’ll drive you home.”

  “No. Go back to your…family or whatever. I can’t be involved in this.”

  “I wasn’t staying here anyway, Rayne. For God’s sake, let me take you home.”

  He’d never snapped at me before. I was drunk and confused and in no state to argue. If he truly wasn’t staying at the hotel, it might be safer letting him give me a ride.

  “Fine.”

  The drive was quick because I passed out. When Hale opened my door, I was disoriented and—

  “This isn’t home.”

  “This is my house.”

  I drew back as he held out a hand. “I’m not going in there.”

  “We need to talk, Rayne.”

  Did we? What was there left to say? He was having a baby with that woman and I’d slept with him. We already established that was a mistake, so this was really none of my business.

  “Please take me home, Hale.”

  “I promise I’ll take you home as soon as you hear me out.”

  Reluctantly, I got out of the car, but I didn’t take his hand each time he offered it. The house was unfamiliar and strange, so I never quite found a comfortable place to rest once inside.

  Sitting on the edge of a sofa, I stared at the coffee table. Hale handed me a bottle of water, which I gratefully accepted.

  “Where were you tonight?” He sat on the chair adjacent to the sofa.

  “I went to dinner with Marta and Raoul.”

  “At the Bell Monte?”

  “No. Across the street.”

  “What were you doing at the hotel?”

  “I thought we were talking about you,” I deflected.

  He let the inquisition drop. “The baby’s not mine, Rayne.”

  My gaze lifted to his. “How do you know?”

  “Because I know.”

  If this woman cheated on him, it made sense that the paternity was up for debate. I didn’t know enough about parenthood or science to know if there was a way to determine the identity of the father during pregnancy.

  “So why were you meeting with her?”

  “She’s telling people I’m the father.”

  I scoffed on his behalf. “Well, tell her to stop.”

  “I can’t. I’m going to adopt the baby and she’s going to sign over custody.”

  My head cocked as my breath held. I must have heard that wrong. “What?”

  “It’s a complicated situation, but this is the best solution.”

  “How is this the best solution, Hale? Where’s the real dad?”

  “He doesn’t want it.”

  So let her take responsibility. “I’m sure there are plenty of people out there willing to adopt—”

  “The paperwork’s already drawn up. She’s due at the end of the month and the baby will be mine.”

  I laughed, because once again, this clearly didn’t concern me. “Do you know what you’re having?” It was the stupidest thing I could ask, but what the hell else was I going to say? None of this made any sense.

  “It’s a girl.”

  “So you’re going to be a father in less than twenty days?”

  “Yes.”

  I glanced around his house, taking it in for the first time. Sharp marble corners and glass tabletops. “Are you ready to raise a child?”

  “I’ll figure it out.”

  He seemed so detached from the entire situation, so blasé, as if he were picking out floor tile. “Hale, a baby is a big responsibility. You’re talking about an eighteen-year commitment. Minimum.”

  “I’m aware that there will be some sacrifices in my future, but I’ve made up my mind. Trust me that all the emotions have run their course and the decision was made months ago. I’m not rushing into this.”

  I scoffed. “Do you have a nursery set up? Have you decided where you’ll live?”

  “Those details are small.”

  “Were you planning to tell me?”

  I mean, really. What if we continued sleeping together? Would we be fooling around to the sound of baby squalls and I’d mysteriously find rattles kicking about his place and milk stains on the pillows?

  “This was the important conversation I was hoping to have, but first I had to meet with her one last time to finalize the last of the agreement. There have been some amendments.”

  This was so bizarre it was no wonder he’d been putting it off.

  Holy crap. “Does Remington know?”

  “He knows.”

  “Damn, you people sure keep your secrets.” He never even hinted at the idea of becoming a grandfather.

  “I don’t want this to change anything between us, Rayne.”

  I frowned, had he missed the last few days? “There is no us, Hale.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That’s up for debate.”

  “Hale, you are having a baby. I think your plate’s full.”

  “Do you not like children? You were going to be a teacher.”

  If this was some sort of scheme to find the next Davenport au pair, they hired the wrong girl. I didn’t work with children because other people’s kids made me nervous. I blew out a long breath. Not the point!

  “My feelings on kids are irrelevant.”

  “It’s very relevant to me.”

  Man, this must be what men felt like when they claimed women came with baggage. I couldn’t even keep track of my own luggage. Maybe I was a man trapped in a woman’s body because I wasn’t experiencing any of the expected excitement girls likely felt when babies were mentioned. This just struck me as big, heavy baggage.

  A baby majorly changed things. Hale already intimidated me, but now he scared the hell out of me. Babies were serious shit. Serious, crying, hungry, shitting shit. I was not ready for this.

  “Okay. You’ve had, like, what, eight months to adjust to this? I’m drunk and not processing this real well. So how about you take me home and I’ll see you around—tomorrow.” Damn it. That was supposed to sound more casual.

  “I understand the timing isn’t ideal.”

  He was freakishly calm, which made me seem all the more spastic. I waved a hand. “Hey, as long as you’re ready.”

  If there was a secret passage way out of here I’d be using it. Where was a warp zone when you needed one?

  “You don’t want children,” he said, his expression remorseful.

  “Hale,” I shook my head because this was just crazy. “I have nothing to do with your situation. Maybe one day I’ll have children. I don’t know. I’d have to find a husband first, and that’s like number seven on my to-do list. This is your life. So long as you want children, my thoughts on the issue shouldn’t matter.”

  He sat back, a look of intense consideration on his face as he rubbed his jaw. “Why did you say that about Eric?”

  My brain shifted gears and—due to too much alcohol consumption—sort of fell off the track. “What?”

  “When I suggested having him pick you up tonight.”

  Oh. That. I couldn’t recall my exact words, but I knew they weren’t flattering. “We share a mutual dislike for each other, but it’s fine.”

  He studied me for a moment, and I sensed him letting go of the Eric conversation, but my intuition had never been that great. “Did he upset you the other night? Is that why you wouldn’t talk to me?”

  “It doesn’t matter now—”

  “What did he say
to you?”

  “Nothing. Jeez.”

  “Remember when we talked about lying. I can tell when you’re hiding something, Rayne. Tell me what he said to you.”

  Nothing in his tone made me think he was bluffing. In a small voice, I said, “It doesn’t matter. I handled it.”

  His shoulders slowly rose. “Did he come onto you?”

  “God, no!”

  “Then what?”

  Shutting my eyes, I tried to figure out why I was even protecting that little shit. Perhaps sober I’d regret giving up my secret, but I was tired, Hale was having another man’s baby, and none of this mattered anymore.

  “He said your dad hired me to sleep with you.”

  Hale remained utterly still. “I’ll take you home now.”

  Taken aback that he didn’t deny the accusation, I gathered my purse and stood. The ride back to Remington’s was made in silence. Hale didn’t open my door when we reached the house, and as I unlocked the front door, he stared through me, hands tight on the wheel. Gone were the days of him watching me go.

  Well, that nipped that in the bud…

  Getting into bed was eventful. After stubbing my toe and eating the last of my cookies, I passed out upside down on the bed. I awoke in much the same position, but I think someone rammed a hatchet between my eyes. That was the only explanation for the excruciating pain in my head.

  Stumbling into the bathroom, I showered and took twice as long to dress as I usually did. When I found my phone, I balked. It was eleven o’clock. But I had no texts from Remington. “Shit.”

  Feeling like I had taken advantage of his generosity, I went to find him. He was sitting on the patio by the pool speaking with Hale. Great. That guy again. Even sober, my brain couldn’t fathom everything he’d confessed the night before.

  He was adopting another man’s baby from his ex. Yup. That was the gist. Still not computing.

  Sliding the glass door open, I winced as the sun pierced the back of my skull. “Good…afternoon.”

  “I was about to send Marta in with a mirror to check if you were still breathing,” Remington greeted.

  Hale stood without saying a word and disappeared inside.

  “You had an eventful night,” Remington observed as I massaged my temples.