Page 3 of Securing His Family

Lauren’s blood chilled at Patrick’s declaration.

Noo!

Her mind screamed, and she pressed her lips together to stop it from erupting out of her.

“Not happening today, buddy,” Reed’s voice rumbled against her side and, as much as she’d resented his presence earlier, right now, she was glad he’d stayed.

“You have no rights,” she managed to get out. “You gave them up, remember?”

Anger replaced the shock at seeing him. Anger that Patrick believed after all this time, he could demand to see the child he’d told her to get rid of. The child he hadn’t wanted to acknowledge. The child he’d only decided to show an interest in, in the last couple of months when his messages had started coming in out of the blue—again.

“Things change,” he said as if it was that simple.

Beside her she could feel Reed getting tenser and tenser. Being this close his scent teased her senses. Nautical was the only way she could describe it. It reminded her of the blue of the river so close by. A fresh, open, clean smell.

Oh my God, what am I doing, waxing lyrical about his cologne when my life could be imploding right this second?

Lauren pushed thoughts of Reed’s scent from her mind. “No things don’t justchangebecause you want them to. Now, as Reed said, leave Patrick and don’t bother coming back.”

“What he says means nothing to me,” Patrick scoffed.

“Oh yes it does,” Reed growled, his body so tight she was surprised he didn’t snap. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m Lauren’s fiancé and we’ve both asked you to leave nicely. Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”

What?!

Engaged!

Somehow she didn’t whip her head around to stare at Reed in shock after his declaration.

As if she and Reed were ever going to get married, but if it got rid of the asshole sperm donor in front of her, then she’d play along with it.

“That’s right,” she said, placing her hand on Reed’s stomach, the muscles beneath bunching, and if she pressed down hard enough, she was sure she could feel the ridges of a six pack. Not that she was going to do that, no matter how tempting it might be. “We’re engaged.”

Was that Reed’s lips brushing the top of her hair? She couldn’t be sure, but that’s exactly what it felt like.

And she liked it—a lot.

Probably more than she should, considering the circumstances and how his actions were all for show and meant absolutely nothing. Not to mention, this was the first time he’d touched her. The moment Patrick walked out, Reed would move away from her and leave.

“If you’re engaged, where’s your ring?” Patrick sneered as he pointed to her left hand where it was on display against Reed’s body.

“She doesn’t wear it to work,” Reed answered for her, and she was glad because her mind was as blank as a freshly baked cupcake and couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation as to why she didn’t have a ring on if her life depended on it.

“Convenient, but I don’t believe you,” Patrick announced smugly.

My God, he is infuriating!

His mistrust and arrogant belief that he knew everything was one of the reasons he annoyed her so much. Being with him had been a mistake her seventeen-year-old self had made, but she’d been moody, angry at the world and rebellious against her parents strictness. She’d wanted to defy them and didn’t care about the consequences of her defiant actions. Although, out of her mistakes came the best thing in her life, her daughter. She wouldn’t trade Charlee for anything in the world.

She wasn’t going to stand there and let Patrick think he could intimidate her. Think that his opinions were of importance to her. That they mattered at all.

“I don’t care if you do or don’t believe me. What I do with my life is none of your concern. Now get out of here before I call the police and tell them you’re being disruptive.” Lauren had no idea if they would even come, they probably wouldn’t, but it was all she could think of.

Patrick laughed. “Being disruptive. That’s hilarious. You always say stupid things.”

In a blur of movement Reed had Patrick flat on his back, pinned on the nearest table, Patrick’s laugh now a strangled sound as Reed’s arm rested against his throat. “You pushed it too far, asshole. No one speaks to my fiancée that way.”

Lauren stood, spellbound as Reed hauled Patrick off the table and frog marched him toward the exit at the same time as the door opened and Steve and Tabitha burst in. Tabitha rushed over to her while Steve kept the door open to allow Reed to shove Patrick out, the man falling to his knees on the pavement.

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