Cord angled away from her and turned his attention on Robyn. “Zafina’s pregnant,” he said, his voice low.
Robyn started laughing. “Oh my God! Seriously? That’s awkward.”
“You don’t sound especially sympathetic.”
“I’m not. For years I begged you to get a vasectomy but you refused. Honestly, I’m surprised she’s the first one of your women to turn up pregnant. The odds have finally caught up with you.”
“Tell me what to do.”
“No. This isn’t my problem. It will never be my problem, and that makes me happy.”
He glared at her. “But you always help. I depend on you.”
“That’s unfortunate for you.” She knew she should be upset, at least for Harlow’s sake, but right this second, she was finding herself in awe of the irony of the moment. “You could have fixed this with one little snip, but you were too concerned about your manhood.” She grinned. “You’ll be sixty-four when this one graduates from high school. I hope no one mistakes you for the grandfather.”
“Good one, Mom,” Austin said.
Before Cord could react, Harlow walked out onto the balcony, her phone in her hand, her eyes wide.
“Mom? I just heard from Zafina and—” She came to a stop. “Dad? You’re here?”
“Just got in. How are you? I’ve missed you.”
He started toward her, but she stepped back.
“Is Zafina pregnant?” she said.
He grimaced. “She says she is, but I’m not sure. Or that it’s mine. She’s supposed to be on the pill, and—”
“Stop!” Harlow shook her phone at him. “Just stop it. Don’t you dare say it’s not yours. How could you not take responsibility? You’re the one sleeping with my fiancé’s sister, which is gross enough, but you’re not weaseling out of this. If she’s pregnant, you’re the father, and you know it. Grow up, Dad. Just grow up.”
Everyone stared at Cord, who seemed to shrink under his daughter’s attack.
“It’s just—” he began.
Harlow shoved her phone in her pocket. “You disgust me.”
With that, she walked out. Austin followed.
Lillian looked at Robyn, her mouth curving into a smile. “Such drama. Do you think it’s too early for cocktails?”
* * *
Mason sat on the balcony he shared with Robyn, Charles II on his lap. He supposed he should be trying to write, but that wasn’t happening. Instead he was going to lounge in the sun and do absolutely nothing for the rest of the afternoon.
Robyn had worn him out, he thought with a grin. She was incredible—even more intriguing, sexy and fun than he’d imagined. He couldn’t get enough of her, nor did he want to. If it were up to him, they’d be making love well into their nineties when they would have to be a bit more careful or risk breaking a hip.
He scratched the chin of the dozing cat, earning him a purr in return. “We both have a great life,” he said. Charles stretched and purred in agreement.
He heard a bedroom door open. Anticipation brightened his already good day as Robyn walked through her room and out onto the balcony.
Damn, she looked good. Her long blond hair moved in the light breeze. Her jeans hugged her hips, and her T-shirt hinted at curves. One of these days he was going to convince her to go braless. Although probably not when the house was full of—
His fantasy faded as he caught sight of her worried expression.
“What?” he asked, carefully moving Charles to the chair next to his and coming to his feet. “Something happened. Is it one of the kids?”
She shook her head. “I’m just going to say it. I want to start by telling you I didn’t know, and I have nothing to do with it. In fact, the only one who seems happy is Lillian, but I think that’s more about enjoying the emotional show than—”
“Robyn,” he said quietly.
She pressed her lips together. “Cord’s here.”
It took him a second to remember who that was. “Your ex?”
“Uh-huh. He just flew in, with no warning.” She drew in a breath. “I had nothing to do with him showing up.”
“You said that already.”
“I don’t want you to think that I invited him or that I want him here.”
She was worried about him?
Deep inside he felt a rush of emotion he didn’t dare identify. Rather than deal with it, he crossed to her, cupped her face and kissed her.
“I believe you,” he said, staring into her beautiful eyes. “You don’t want Cord here, and you don’t want anything to do with him. He’s in your past, and that’s how you want things to stay.”
Relief eased the tension in her shoulders. “Thank you for saying that. I wasn’t sure what you’d think. Or if you’d be… I don’t know. Intimidated, maybe.”
“I’m not intimidated by your ex.”
She laughed. “I’m glad.”
“So let’s go meet him.”
She stiffened. “Do we have to?”
“We should get it over with.”
She nodded and stepped back, then bit her lower lip. “Don’t judge me, okay? I was really young when we got married.”
“I’ll never judge you. About anything.”
Her gaze locked with his. “That’s about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“It’s true.”
“I know that, Mason. You’re the most honest man I know.”
twenty-seven
“IS ANYONE LEFT in Florida?” Harlow asked, studying the contents of the refrigerator.
Robyn, exhausted, apprehensive and yet oddly relaxed, shook her head. “You mean of the people we know? Only a few.”
“Enid and Kip and that’s kind of it.” Her daughter smiled. “You’re a magnet, Mom.”
“Apparently. Now tell me I’m right. There’s nothing for dinner.”
“Nada.” Harlow closed the refrigerator door. “So it’s you, me, Mason, Lillian, Austin, Dad, Mindy and Payne. We should get takeout from that Italian place. Lasagna and salad. It’s easy, and everyone will like it.”
“We’re also going to need wine,” Robyn murmured. “Lots and lots of wine.” She sat down at the kitchen table, then patted the chair next to hers. “Come sit with me. How are you doing?”
Harlow settled next to her. “There’s a lot going on, Mom. I can’t believe Dad’s here.”
“I know. What was he thinking?”
Didn’t the man have friends he could talk to? Why on earth would he simply show up in Santa Barbara? He’d met Lillian over the years, but they were hardly close. Imagine just waltzing into her house, expecting to stay. Of course, Mindy and Payne had done the same. Odd. Very, very odd.
Harlow rested her arms on the table. “Zafina’s really pregnant. She texted me the, quote, ‘good news,’ right when Dad got here. She’s Kip’s age. Shouldn’t she have been more careful? Dad’s not exactly the most responsible guy on the planet.” Her nose wrinkled. “And while I don’t want to have this conversation, shouldn’t he have gotten a vasectomy like years ago?”