Monroe, Marla - The Bikers and the Socialite [The Dirty Dozen 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (8 page)

“Parker? Are you listening to me?” Sarah Beth smiled knowingly.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just too preoccupied to be of much help to you with the wedding right now.”

“That’s okay, honey. You’ve got a lot to deal with over the next few weeks.”

They talked about the upcoming social activities that they both attended and ate their salads without returning to the subject of Parker’s pregnancy. An hour later, Sarah Beth dropped Parker back off at her condo making her promise that if she needed to talk some more she would call her.

Parker decided that a long, leisurely bath was called for. She grabbed a book and ran the tub full, using her bath salts liberally. Then she climbed in the tub and sank into the foaming water to relax and read. She would let her subconscious sort everything out and get back to her.

* * * *

Parker drove over to Shane and Allen’s home every day for next five days without catching them there. It finally occurred to her that they could be out of town working. That didn’t leave her with any way to get in touch with them short of hiring a private detective, and she hesitated at going that far. She decided to try the computer.

She spent two hours sifting through information without finding anything on them until she remembered that their gang was called The Dirty Dozen. She mapped out that with construction and finally found a contact number. When she called the number, however, the answering service informed her that they didn’t give out personal information. If she wanted to leave her name and number, it would be passed on. She hung up without leaving it. That was too impersonal. She decided to give it another week and then go by their house again. Surely they would be back soon.

The next morning, she woke up to someone pounding on her door. She ran a hand over her face and checked the time.
Eight o’clock in the freaking morning.
Who would be banging on her door at that hour?

Parker climbed out of the bed and pulled on a robe over her short nightgown. She checked the peephole and groaned. It was Michael. She opened the door and frowned at him.

“What in the hell do you want, Michael? I’ve already told you the answer is no. I’m not going to
try
again.”

“Who is he?” Michael stormed past her into the entrance hall and slapped a rolled-up newspaper into her hands.

“Who is who? What are you talking about? You can’t just barge in anytime you want to.” She trailed after him intent on finding out what he was talking about.

“Who is the fucking father of your baby?”

Parker’s mouth flew open. How had he found out? No one knew but Sarah Beth, and she couldn’t believe she’d been so wrong about her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“It’s there in the paper that you’re pregnant. Are you denying it?” he demanded.

Michael’s face was livid with anger. She had never seen him so enraged before.

Parker opened the paper where it was folded back to the society page and a picture of her and Sarah Beth sitting at a table with their heads close together. The caption said.
Heiress Parker Montgomery rumored to be pregnant with love child.

She let the paper fall to the floor and all but collapsed on a chair. Someone had overheard them. What was she going to do now? She hadn’t even contacted Allen or Shane. What if they saw it? She sobered. What were the chances that they read the society pages anyway? Surely not.

“Are you listening to me? Is it true or not?”

“It’s none of your business, Michael.”

“Like hell it’s not! We’re supposed to get married and start our own family. We discussed it on several occasions.”

“No, Michael, we’re not getting married, and you were the one discussing a family. I told you I wasn’t interested in children right away.”

He reached down and grabbed her arms with his hands, dragging her to her feet.

“You’re going to marry me, Parker. That child can be mine. We’ll just tell everyone that we made up, and now we’re getting married.” He shook her. “Do you understand?”

“Michael, you’re hurting me. Let me go.”

“Not until you agree to marry me. We still have plenty of time to plan out a decent wedding before that deadline.”

“That’s what this is all about. You don’t care a thing about me. You just want to get your hands on that money. Well, fuck you, Michael. I’m not marrying you for hell or high water. Let go of me and get out of my home!” Parker tried to jerk her arms away from him.

“Who is he? Damn it, Parker. I have a right to know who he is!”

“What is wrong with you? You don’t have any rights where I’m concerned. You lost those when you fucked my best friend in my bed.”

“That was a mistake. She came on to me, and I was weak. You hadn’t wanted to get married right away. It never should have happened.”

“It didn’t stop you from continuing to fuck her for the next six weeks! Get out, Michael. Get out now.” She managed to jerk her arms loose from his hands and back away from him.

“You’re going to regret this, Parker. I’ll smear your name all through the mud if you don’t agree to marry me.”

“You can’t do a damn thing to me, Michael. Everyone out there already knows what a slut I am. Nothing you can say or do will make it any worse.”

“What about the baby’s father? What happens when he finds out just how many men you’ve been with? I can pull men from everywhere who will swear they are the father of your baby. Do you think he’ll believe it’s his when you’ve got five other men claiming paternity?”

“A blood test will prove who the baby’s father is,” she finally whispered.

“Damage will be done by then. Who wants a slut? They might want custody of their child, but the mother? I don’t think so.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“I need that money, Parker. I have several business deals that are contingent on my getting access to it.”

“Even if I marry you, I’ll never give you control of Montgomery Oil.”

“All I need is the illusion that I can get to the money if I need it. In fact, if you want out after a year, we can come to a settlement agreement for a divorce.”

“Get out, Michael.” She walked unsteadily to the door and opened it. “Get out.”

“Think about it, Parker. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to decide.”

Chapter Seven

Parker swallowed around the lump in her throat and prayed her breakfast would stay down. She rode by their house again still unable to turn in the drive. Nerves had butterflies winging their way around her stomach, making it difficult for her to concentrate on what she needed to do.

Finally, on the third pass, she stopped and pulled in to the drive. She had no idea if they were home, but she would go by there every day until she caught them. She climbed out of her Escalade and walked up to the front door to ring the doorbell. It was barely nine in the morning. She hoped they were up already. She had just decided they weren’t home and turned away when the door opened.

“Parker? Is that you?” Shane stepped outside wearing just a pair of jeans and nothing else. His sleep-tousled hair hung in his eyes. He absently batted it out of the way.

“Hey, Shane. Um, can I come in?”

“Sure, sure.” He lifted his arm indicating she should go first.

When he closed the door behind them, she jumped.

“What’s wrong, Parker? You’re nervous. We’ve never hurt you.”

“No. I know. I’m not nervous of you or Allen. Um, where is he?” She stood in the middle of their entrance hall afraid to go any further.

“Come on in and have a seat. I’ll go get him. He’s probably still asleep. We just got in from a job last night.”

“I’m sorry. I should come back later.” She started to turn and leave, but Shane stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“Don’t go, Parker.” He led her to the living room and seated her on the couch. “I’ll be right back.”

He hurried to the stairs, taking them two at a time until he was out of sight. Parker resisted the urge to rub her tummy. She had gotten in the habit over the last few days of doing that. God, what was she going to say to them? Everything she had practiced at home sounded dumb now.

She was about to change their lives if the baby meant anything to them. They weren’t planning for a baby, and now there was one. You can’t just dump that on a man and expect him to take it in stride. She could only pray that they didn’t get violent. She really had no idea how they would act.

Bull, you know in your heart they wouldn’t hurt you. You wouldn’t have fallen in love with someone that was violent. What about Michael? You’re not in love with him.

She couldn’t keep going around in circles like this. It was driving her crazy.

“Parker!” Allen came bounding down the stairs into the living room.

“Hey, Allen.” She started to get up.

“Don’t get up.” He walked over and sat down next to her, taking one of her hands in his.

Shane stood in front of her but then crouched down to look into her eyes.

“What’s going on, Parker? You’re upset.”

“I, um, have something to tell you, and I’m afraid you’re going to be upset.”

“What is it, Parker?” Shane took her other hand.

“I’m pregnant.”

Neither man moved for several seconds. The silence was so absolute that Parker could have sworn she could hear her heartbeat.

“Um, okay. I told you.” She stood up to leave, but Allen stood with her and pulled her into his arms.

“That’s all that has you so upset? It’s okay, baby. We’re not upset. Are we, Shane?”

“No. How long have you known?” Shane asked, slowly standing up.

“For a little over a week. I’ve been trying to get in touch with you, but you weren’t home, and I didn’t have your phone numbers.”

“You’re what? Seven weeks then?” Shane asked.

“Eight weeks on Sunday, I suppose.” She looked from one to the other of them. “Aren’t you angry? You’re not even going to question that it’s yours?”

“We trust you, Parker. If you came to us, then you believe the baby is ours.” Allen squeezed her hand.”

“It is yours. I haven’t been with anyone since that day.” Tears began to fall now. It was too easy.

“Why are you crying, baby?” Allen pulled her back into his arms and urged her to sit again.

Shane sat down on the other side of her but didn’t reach for her. Parker could tell he was waiting for the rest of the story.

“A reporter found out and posted that I was pregnant with my love child in the society paper yesterday. Everyone knows I’m pregnant now. I could deny it, but in a few months, it’s going to be pretty obvious.”

“Honey, does it matter what anyone else thinks?”

“No. At least it didn’t use to. I played it up for the papers to get back at my stepmother so everyone expects something like this from me.”

“What else has you so upset, Parker?” Shane turned her chin to face him.

“Michael is threatening to have men come out and claim paternity unless I marry him.”

“Absolutely not! You’re not marrying that cocksucker!” Allen jumped up and paced a few feet away He ran a hand over his short, spiked hair.