Page 114 of Riches and Romance

“Fine. We can talk in the morning. But that doesn’t mean I’m not getting on the first flight out of here once yourpinche pequeñoairport opens back up.”

“Fair enough, darlin’.”

A smile erupted on my face, but Valentina only half-smiled back. She had every right to be cautious, and I totally understood why she felt that way. But as for me? I had a little bit of hope. Hope that she might stick around, that we might get a chance to let this crazy, awesome, infuriating-as-hell thing between us grow.

And in that moment, that hope was all I needed.

That night,I walked into the Drunk Skunk to find Amber waiting for me at a high-top table by the windows. Originally, she wanted to meet for dinner, but drinks made it a little more casual. Plus, I had no idea what kind of news I was about to receive, and it was probably best to have a whole lot of whiskey nearby.

Every eye in the room was on me as I walked over to her, and I smiled when she looked up and noticed me. She smiled back, and the warmth in her pale blue eyes took me right back to all those years ago when this place used to be our spot. We’d plant ourselves in the middle of the bar and get rip-roaring drunk, ending the night by hopping in the bed of my rusty old pickup and knocking boots ’til the cops came to kick us out.

It’s safe to say that I’ve matured since then. Or I’ve just learned how not to get caught having public sex. Take your pick. Good thing the local sheriff is a buddy of mine from high school.

“Hey there, Duke. I ordered us a couple glasses of your whiskey. I hope that’s okay.” Amber pulled me in for a hug, her perfume more floral than it was when I knew her.

“If I wouldn’t drink it, I wouldn’t sell it.”

I sat down across from her, taking a good look at her face for the first time since she surprised me last night. She had a faint shadow under her eyes and a small, shallow line between her brows that deepened when she smiled. When she tucked her hair behind her ear, I noticed a few gray hairs coming in around her temples. She didn’t look bad—she was still as good-looking as ever—but it was clear those last ten years had done a number on her.

Makes sense if she’s been raising a child all on her own.

We clinked glasses and took a sip, an impressed smile forming on Amber’s face as the whiskey hit her tongue.

“I’ve got to be honest, I was expecting this to taste like shit.”

We laughed and some of the awkward tension between us lessened. I leaned my elbows on the table, shrugging and rubbing my neck.

“It hasn’t been easy. But me and Luke worked our asses off to turn that distillery into something we could be proud of.”

“Well, it paid off. I knew you had it in you. It was always just a matter of everything else lining up right.”

“That means a lot coming from you. I appreciate it.”

She nodded, and when we smiled at each other, for a moment, it felt like everything was normal. Like we were just a couple of old friends catching up. Like she didn’t have a son who might or might not be biologically mine. I decided to proceed with caution.

“Where’s Payton hanging out tonight?”

“With Opal. I think they’re having a movie marathon or something like that. She’s really taken to him.”

“Yep, that sounds like Opal. She was always doing nice things for my brother and me when we were kids.”

“Yeah, she mentioned that. She also told me about all the rumors spreading around since Payton and I saw you last night. About you being his father.”

A pit formed in my stomach, and I folded my hands on the table in front of me. I guess we were doing this now.

“I’ve been wondering about that too. The math adds up. I just can’t believe you didn’t tell me.”

Amber paused, her lip curling at the edge. “You’re joking, right?”

I froze and slowly shook my head.

She laughed—harder and louder than seemed appropriate for the situation, causing the whole room to turn and look at us. I forced a nervous, weak smile, nodding at the people closest to us like everything was normal. Meanwhile, Amber continued laughing, fits of giggles rolling through her as she placed a hand on her chest and dabbed tears out of the corners of her eyes.

What the hell is going on?

When she saw the look on my face, she clapped a hand over her mouth, her brows knit together in apology.

“I’m so sorry, I’m not trying to make fun of you. It’s just, you were themostcareful guy when we were together. Always made sure I took my birth control. Always used a rubber, no matter how plastered we were in your truck. You didn’t want anything getting in the way of you turning your dad’s piss-tillery around, especially not a baby and a shotgun wedding. Do you really not remember any of that?”

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