Page 79 of Seducing Bran
Cali took a sip. “That’s better. Your brother’s right, you know. You seem off today.”
“Bran and I broke up.”
Cali sat forward, nearly spilling her wine. “What?When?”
Ireland sat next to her and leaned back against the couch. She stared at the ceiling. “I suppose it officially happened yesterday, but things went south the day before.”
“What happened?”
“It’s a long story. Let’s just say it’s more of the same with me and men.”
Cali blinked. “But Bran was different. He seemed so great for you.”
Ireland rubbed the rim of her wineglass. “He’s a good guy. He just has a lot of stress in his life.”
Cali frowned. “So does everyone. But you were there for him when he needed your help at Club Tahoe. And you’re amazing in every other way, so I don’t get it.”
Ireland pulled a face. “The club doesn’t count. He paid me to be there for him.” She stared at her wineglass. “In his defense, we had a bit of a scare. Bran might think I’m pregnant.”
“What in the what?Are you?”
“I’m irregular, so I went to the doctor this morning. We counted back to my last period, and I also took a pregnancy test. The doctor doesn’t believe there’s any chance I could be pregnant.”
Cali’s shoulders slumped, and then her eyes narrowed. “You don’t look relieved.”
“It’s more that I’m upset. We had an argument about the potential pregnancy, and it’s why we broke up. I’m not even sure why things came down to us not seeing each other anymore, except that Bran said he needed to focus on his brothers and the club.” She pressed her fingers to her eyes.
“Oh, Ireland.” Cali rubbed her shoulder and scooted closer. “Have you told him you’re not pregnant?”
Ireland shook her head.
“He needs to know,” Cali said.
Ireland let out a shaky breath. “You’re right.”
“No time like the present. Where’s your phone?”
Ireland stood and walked to the island. She grabbed her phone and returned to the couch, typing out a message before she chickened out.
Cali leaned over Ireland’s shoulder. “‘Looks like James set up the extra orders the other day.’ What orders?” Cali asked.
“The original programmer for the new restaurant software at Club Tahoe was a sociopath. He was trying to ruin Bran. The police are involved now, and between my pressing charges against him for assaulting me in the parking lot and the money he was skimming off the top at Club Tahoe, they have quite the case against him. They’ve hired an outside expert to look at code James has written for Tech Banquet over the last several years. Apparently, the guy keyed in instructions to extort a hell of lot of money from multiple companies. Club Tahoe was just the first to catch him in the act.”
“Thanks to you,” Cali said.
Ireland shrugged. “James wasn’t a very good programmer. He would have gotten caught eventually.”
“Okay, so Bran does have shit going on. Those Cade brothers have their hands full with that resort, but that doesn’t excuse Bran from not appreciating you.”
Cali leaned over and read Ireland’s next message as she typed. “‘Doctor says I’m not pregnant.’” Cali shook her head. “You don’t think it would be better to tell him over the phone?”
Ireland sank her head back against the couch cushion. “We broke up. All he needs to know is that he isn’t going to be a father.” Ireland’s voice broke on the last word, and a stream of tears ran down her face.
Cali pulled her into a tight hug, their wineglasses clinking together. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.”
“Did you want to have a baby?”
