Twenty

Saxon

Dinner was a nightmare. Mom had moved Haisley beside me, like I had demanded, but she’d kept Declan on the other side of me. Trev did what he could to defuse the situation since he and Gypsi were across from us, but it didn’t change much. Not when Declan was fucking determined to stake a claim on me that she never had.

The third time she slipped her hand over my fucking dick, I shoved her hard enough that the others around us noticed, and then I stood up. I had to get away from her and get my anger under control. Haisley tilted her head back to look up at me, and the swirl of emotions in her eyes told me she’d had enough. The shit Declan had subjected her to tonight was unfair.

I held my hand out to her. “Let’s go,” I said quietly, hoping not to attract more attention than we already had. It was pointless. I could hear conversations going silent and knew they were watching me, us.

Haisley slipped her hand into mine and stood. I held it firmly, pulling her to my side, then put on the best charming smile I could muster before lifting my gaze to the rest of the dining table we had been placed at.

“If you all will excuse us, Haisley isn’t feeling well. First trimesters are tough.” I grinned as I said it. That got several laughs and sympathetic nods. “I’m going to get her home. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

There were many comments about my being such a good man and how lucky she was, but I ignored it all, placing my hand on her back and leading her out of this fucking place. We were almost to the door when I heard heels clicking behind us. That was either my mom or Declan. Tensing, I kept walking toward the door, and my hand was on the brass knob when my mom’s voice made me pause.

“Saxon.”

With a sigh, I moved Haisley slightly behind me, as if she needed protection. It wasn’t like my mother was going to attack her, but the instinct came anyway.

“Yes,” I replied.

“You aren’t seriously just leaving. Dessert hasn’t even been served, and you’re just leaving Declan there alone.” The disapproval in her tone pissed me off.

“I didn’t invite Declan. The only concern I have is Haisley. It’s been a draining night for her, thanks to Declan’s treatment of her. I’ve had enough. I’m taking her home.”

Mom took several long strides closer to us and glared at Haisley, which made me step further in front of her to block her from my own fucking mother.

“She trapped you, and you’re just letting her do it. I did my research. Do you know about her mother? She’s just like her. You can’t throw your life away on someone like her. Give her money to raise the baby, pay child support, whatever, but stop this … this thing you’re doing. She doesn’t need to live with you.”

It was an odd moment when the mom who had raised you, loved you, was there for all your highs and lows turned into your enemy. My hands fisted at my sides as I stared at the woman I never imagined being furious with, but right now, I was shaking with it.

“If you ever speak another negative, cruel word about Haisley or my baby, I will leave. You won’t see me again unless it’s something the family requires me at and you’re there too. I won’t acknowledge your existence. Now, you can either accept this and change the way you treat Haisley or I’ll exit your life.”

I could see my mom’s eyes widen, and the hurt was clear, but she was not my priority. She had forced me to react this way. She wasn’t a mean person, and until I’d brought Haisley home, I had never seen her treat anyone the way she was treating Haisley.

“Melanie.” My father’s deep voice carried through the entryway.

I lifted my gaze to see him walking toward us.

Mom blinked, as if she had been stunned, then turned to look at my father.

“Leave them alone. Go back inside and entertain our guests.” His tone was one that left no room for argument. It was an order.

Mom nodded and didn’t glance back at me as she left us there.

Dad wasn’t angry as he stood there, looking at me. We hadn’t discussed Haisley. He never brought the pregnancy up, and I didn’t have a reason to talk to him about it. We worked together like we always had, as if nothing had changed.

“Your mother will come around. She’s never had to face not feeling like she had control over your life. First, she had to relinquish you so you could take your place in the family, and now this.” He looked past me to Haisley standing behind me, where I’d all but barricaded her. As if my body could block out my mother’s harsh words.

“We will move if she says anything else to or about Haisley,” I told him.

He nodded. “I don’t doubt it. We’ve not talked about this, but I’m proud of you for how you’re handling it. You’re not a boy anymore. Every choice you’ve made has been that of a man. Just give your mom some time to catch up.” He glanced back at Haisley again. “I think it’s time you introduce me to the mother of my grandchild.”

Moving over, I turned enough to slip my hand behind her and move her closer to me. “Dad, this is Haisley. Haisley, this is my dad, Kenneth.”

My dad held out a hand to her, and I watched as she slipped her much smaller one into his.

“It’s nice to meet you, Haisley. My son has excellent taste. It’s good to know my grandchild won’t be lacking in the looks department.” He grinned as he said it, making Haisley blush.

A small laugh escaped her, and the way her eyes shone under the lights around us hit me in the chest, like always.

“Thank you, Mr. Houston. It’s nice to meet you.”

He let go of her hand. “It’s Kenneth. Please, no need for formalities.”

She was glowing. My dad had accepted her, and it was clear she had needed it. Especially after the shit my mom pulled. I owed him big time.

“I need to get back in there and make sure your mother is behaving.” He winked. “You two go home and enjoy your evening.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

He nodded and stepped back before turning to walk back into the dining room.

I reached for the door again and opened it. “Let’s go,” I told her.

She stepped outside, then wrapped her arms around her and shivered. The temperature had dropped, and it was a good ten degrees cooler than it had been when we arrived.

I slipped my tuxedo jacket off and put it over her shoulders.

“Thank you,” she replied, pulling it around her and snuggling into it.

I realized I was fucking jealous of my own jacket.

We walked in silence until we were past the parked cars and the lights of my parents’ Christmas decorations.

“That was an interesting party,” she said, glancing up at me.

I smirked. “It was a fucking nightmare.”

Her laugh made me smile. “Yeah, it kinda was.”

I looked down at her. “I’m sorry.”

She frowned. “You have nothing to apologize for.”

We walked up the steps to the house, and I stopped before opening the door.

“Yeah, I do. I took you there, and you were attacked. It’s my job to protect you.”

She took a step closer to me and laid a hand on my chest. “You stood up to your mother and threatened to never speak to her again. I would say you went above any protection I ever expected from you.”

I looked at her hand on me, then back at her eyes. When we walked in this door, I was going to cross a line. One I had drawn to protect myself. But after tonight, I was done protecting myself. I had two lives that needed my protection. Haisley and our baby were my only concerns from here on out. Fuck my heart and my feelings. My dad had called me a man tonight, but I’d been acting like a damn boy.

The day might never come that Haisley wanted me or chose me for me alone and not because she was carrying my child. But I wasn’t holding back my feelings and need for her because of it. She was here with me. Our baby was growing inside her. And more than I wanted my next breath, I wanted her naked in my bed. I wanted my sheets to smell like her. I wanted to be able to touch her and kiss her whenever I wanted. I just wanted her.