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I didn’t worry about it. She was still settling into her roll, and with the problems from the first night, little as they were, it would be normal for her to react strongly to compensate.
But John was as close as I got knowing what was up with her. Was she with him, and felt bad for screwing me? She’d told me it wasn’t like that between them, but maybe that was a lie. He certainly seemed to think there was something.
The closest thing I could come up with for her abrupt leaving was she saw the text from Jolie. But I couldn’t be sure that came in before or after she left. Either way, all she had to do was ask me about it.
When I saw the text, I was so pissed at her leaving, I’d considered telling Jolie to come over after I closed that night. There were only two problems with that. First, it was a douche thing to do. Second, I wouldn’t have been able to follow through. The only woman I wanted in my bed right now was Morgan. Until that desire stopped, I was fucked. Last night, I’d decided I wanted to see where this thing between us would go, which meant my desire for her could last a while. That’s what I’d wanted. Was there a way to stop wanting someone?
The alarm on my watch went off, signaling I needed to meet with Beth and Ash about the restaurant and small business project. I made my way down the hall to Ash’s office.
“Yes, honey, it’s okay. I can take care of the meeting,” Ash was saying. I waited outside so I wouldn’t interrupt his call with Beth.
“We need to tell him, Beth. Morgan being pregnant is going to impact the restaurant. She needs to make plans, and Kade is the best to help her.”
My head buzzed and my knees went weak. Morgan was pregnant? Was that why she left? No, I shook my head. She wouldn’t have known in one night. But was that why she said I didn’t need to use a condom? She knew she was pregnant? Why didn’t she tell me? Was I going to be a father?
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to make my racing thoughts slow down. No, I couldn’t be the father. She’d have told me. As crazy as her departure had been the other day, I couldn’t imagine she was the type of person to keep that information from the father of her child. Maybe John was the father, and she felt weird the next day being with me. Or hell, maybe she really did want to check on her mom. Or maybe it was a combination of it all.
“Kade?” Ash poked his head out the door. “You waiting for me?”
I swallowed. “Yeah. Ready?”
“Yep. Beth can’t make it, but I think we can handle this without her.”
I nodded, feeling like I was in a netherworld. Here, but not quite here.
“Are you okay?”
I gave myself a mental slap. “Yep. Sorry. Just a lot on the plate today.”
“I went over the reports you gave and what Mr. Parker sent in.”
I sneered when I heard John’s name. I wanted to fucking rip his throat out for taking my woman.
“Kade?”
“Yeah. It’s all looking good. It’s only a few days though. Once the newness wears off, that will be the test.”
Ash rested his forearms on the desk. “There’s something you need to know. It needs to stay between us.”
“Oh?”
He studied me like he wasn’t sure he could trust me. That irked me.
Feeling surly, I said, “Is this about Morgan’s baby?”
His head jerked in surprise. “You knew?” Then his eyes narrowed. “God you didn’t —”
“Why do you always think the worst of me? I didn’t knock a woman up. That’s you.” I stood as tension coursed like electricity through my veins.
Ash held his hands up. “Sorry. You’re right. The point is, it’s unclear if she’s going to get married or have help. We need to make adjustments for that.”
“Already on it,” I said, even though I had no clue what I was going to do. “We’ll get the profits up, invest in good workers and marketing. The place can run almost without her.”
“Nine months isn’t a lot of time.”
“If worst comes to worst, we take it over as a Raven Industries place.”
Ash frowned. “I’m not sure Morgan will want that, and I know Beth won’t want us taking it from her.”
I really needed a moment alone. “Let me work out some ideas. I’ll get back to you.”
“You’re the expert.”
On my way back to my office, I heard a commotion coming from Ben’s office. The door was open, so I peeked in.
“Stop pestering me,” Ben was shouting at Alex.
“Then stop wasting all of our time,” Alex snapped back. I considered leaving, but the two of them were standing like they were in a face off. Normally, I felt like Alex could hold her own, but I didn’t trust Ben to not do something crazy.
