Chapter 94
“The baby.”
“He didn’t cheat on you with me, if that’s what you’re thinking. We, uh, did it before you and Zane were an item, Zane told me that.”
“I know, but…” Why couldn’t she understand?
“I’m not going to marry him or anything. I wouldn’t, even if he asked, and he won’t.”
Rory rubbed his head. Was he getting a headache?
“You love him, he loves you. Nothing’s changed, except you both now know how the other feels.”
“He doesn’t know how I feel.”
“Men!” she said yet again, sounding more exasperated. “He does, because I told him. It’s so darn obvious, but then he’s a man so of course he didn’t see it, or wouldn’t see it or…” She huffed in frustration.
The two fell silent for a while before Rory asked, “You said you workedat the bar. You don’t anymore?”
“Not good for the bar’s image to have a pregnant woman serving drinks. Plus my feet swell if I stand for too long. And bar staff are constantly on their feet. Why’d you ask?”
“What do you do for money? Sorry, that’s none of my business.” But oddly, Rory thought it was. Despite everything, he liked Tonya.
“You’re a sweet man. I can see what Zane sees in you.”
Rory blushed.
“Well, that actually brings up another reason why I wanted to talk with you. I still live at home with my dad. Mom walked out on the old bastard years ago. But, uh, let’s just say he isn’t happy about me being pregnant and not married. No,” she held up a hand, “I’m not going to marry Zane, we’ve been through that already, remember?”
Rory smiled. He was really getting to like this woman. She understood him, and he thought he was starting to understand her.
“After the angry words and even angrier fists had stopped flying, Barry offered me a job cleaning and doing a bit of cooking in the ranch house. He’s gotten really tied up with his video games.” She shook her head. “Anyway, he offered me a job and somewhere to stay.” She squeezed his hand again. “The foreman’s house. I know you and Zane were going to move in there.”
Rory sighed. “Yeah.”
“I said I would need to talk to you first before I agreed because it affects you.”
Rory’s mind was trying to remember something Tonya had said earlier. “You said there was fighting?”
It was Tonya’s turn to sigh. “Zane’s sporting a black eye, a broken nose, and a busted lip.”
“What? Why? Who?” Rory tried to get out of bed, he needed to get to Zane.
“Whoa there, cowboy.” Tonya stood and pressed him back to the bed. “Broken leg, remember?”
“Zane, is he all right?”
“See, you still love him.” Tonya retook her seat. “He’ll mend. That’s what they’re doing downstairs in the ER right now. Stupid man said he was okay but he wasn’t breathing right through his nose so I dragged his stubborn ass here to the hospital then came looking for you.”
“Oh.” Yes, he was definitely getting a headache.
“And to answer the ‘who’ part of your questions, truth is, I’m not sure. Jimmy, Jake, and Wayne had a go at him, but it was probably Liam who threw the lucky punch that broke Zane’s nose.”
Rory winced. He knew the other guys were protective of him, but to do violence against Zane? He didn’t like that.
Tonya smiled ruefully. “Probably knocked some sense into his thick skull.”
Rory didn’t agree. He deplored violence, had seen way too much of it growing up.
“But, like I said, I needed to ask if you were okay with me coming to live on the ranch. You don’t need to decide now. God knows a shit load of, uh, shit has happened today. But remember, if I do come live and work on the ranch, Zane and me won’t be together. He isn’t even my type.” She smirked. “I prefer smaller, cuter, and brainier.”
“You’re barking up the wrong tree with me, lady.”
She laughed, and so did Rory.
The roller coaster of emotions was sending Rory dizzy. However, he was clear on one point. “You’re right, a lot has happened today, but I don’t need to think about it. If everyone else is happy, then I don’t mind you moving into the foreman’s house.”
She stood again and kissed his cheek. “You’re a good man, Rory Brown. Zane’s a lucky guy to have you.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
“Let’s just say, you deserve each other.” She punched his arm lightly. “Because you’re both useless about saying how you feel.”
Rory couldn’t disagree.