The Mistresses Collection. Оливия Гейтс

someone to rescue her. He’d rescued her once—was it only a week ago? He’d been edgy about that decision. If he’d known how events would play out, would he have left Trinity to sort things out while he’d followed his more basic, less flattering instinct and taken that cab home?

      “Zack? Are you all right? Did you hear what Maggie said?”

      He pushed back in his seat and the room began to tilt. “Of course I heard.” His voice sounded gruff to his own ears and when Maggie recoiled, he summoned up a shaky smile. “Maggie, you do know that Trinity and I…Well, we’re not married.”

      Maggie nodded. “Ms. Cassidy told me. But you’re obviously committed to each other.” Her hopeful smile shone out. “You’re both here, aren’t you?”

      But, God knows, he hadn’t come here for this.

      “Excuse me a minute.” Feeling crowded, Zack fell upon a weak excuse. “I left my cell in the car.”

      He got to his feet and made his way toward the exit, winding between tables, feeling as if he were moving across the deck of a lilting ship. At the main entry/exit, he put out his palm, crashed through the swinging glass door and out into blessed fresh air. But his stomach was still churning and his legs felt as if they might collapse beneath him. Setting his hands on his knees, he propped himself against the outside brick wall and bent slightly over as his head went into a spin.

      He couldn’t adopt a baby, not even Bonnie. He was a sworn-to-uphold-the-code bachelor. Cold, hard fact was he didn’t have time to worry about a child full time. And Maggie had said she wanted them both to adopt. She thought they were committed to each other. Did that mean he was supposed to marry a woman he barely knew? Didn’t matter that the woman was Trinity.

      He couldn’t do it. It might seem like an easy fix for young Maggie, but he was old enough to see on down the line. He wasn’t the marrying, settling-down-with-a-brood kind of guy. He’d never professed to be. He was a career man, pure and simple. No blurred lines or people got hurt. This request—the unique situation—changed nothing. And if that sounded harsh, then so be it.

      The door swung open. Sucking down another gulp full of fresh air, Zack straightened. Slipping her hands into her coat pockets, Trinity crossed over.

      “A bit of a shock, huh?”

      He cleared his throat. “Just a bit.”

      “I think Maggie’s really thought this through. She wants to get to know us better. Make a hundred percent sure it’s the right thing for the baby.”

      His head pulled back. “You sound as if you’re actually considering this. That it’s a done deal.”

      “If I can help them, I will.”

      His laugh was clipped. “Well, don’t count me in.”

      She blinked several times. Then a wry, sad grin hooked up one side of the mouth he’d kissed so thoroughly the night before.

      “I guess this news has knocked us both out of the ballpark, especially given what I said earlier.”

      “That we want different things,” he reminded her.

      She gave a contrite nod. “I’m not sure what it will take to make sure Bel gets everything she deserves. I only know I can’t walk away. I truly thought you’d be on board, too. Or would at least consider it.” Her beautiful eyes filled. “I honestly thought you loved that little girl.”

      His jaw clenched. “If I loved her, isn’t that all the more reason not to set her up like this? I’m not father material.”

      “You’re wrong. You’d make an excellent dad. You’re just too stubborn to give up even a smidgen of who you were.”

      His temper flashed. “Who I am.”

      She folded her arms. “Well, I’m going to help Maggie and Bel.”

      “With no job?”

      “I have savings.” Her brows knitted. “Besides, money isn’t everything.”

      “It goes a long way to helping. In fact…” The solution exploded in his head. If he hadn’t been so blindsided by Maggie’s surprise announcement, he would have thought of it sooner. He couldn’t adopt but he could certainly help financially.

      “I’ll transfer money into Maggie’s account. As much as she needs.”

      “So her mother or deadbeat ex can get to it?”

      He growled. At times Trinity was so damn difficult. “No. So she can get a place, go to college.”

      “Who’ll look after the baby?”

      “Sitters. Even my brothers have sitters.”

      “I think Maggie is looking at the baby having a stable upbringing, with people who will be there for the long haul rather than a string of girls after a few dollars an hour.” She gave him an evaluative, ultimately disapproving look that made him feel about five years old. “I’m going back inside to tell her I’ll be there for them both, and if Maggie wants me to take on that child on my own, if there’s a way, you can bet I’ll do it.”

      “Trinity, you don’t have any support.”

      That disappointed look turned to jaded pity.

      “With that attitude, I think you might be right.” She firmed her bottom lip. “That baby’s better off without you.”

       Fourteen

      “Mind if I come in?”

      With a small smile, Zack shoved his hands in his trouser pockets while Trinity debated with herself whether to slam her apartment’s front door in his face. Two weeks had passed since their rescue flight to Colorado, since he’d told her that she wouldn’t be able to help Maggie and that baby on her own. She’d brought Maggie and Bel back here to New York anyway and had devised a plan.

      It gave her immense pleasure now to say, “As a matter of fact, I do mind. I’m busy.”

      Looking delectable in black trousers and a white button-down shirt, the cuffs folded up to reveal strong, corded forearms, Zack peered around her. “Packing, I see. You’re leaving New York?”

      “Heading back to Colorado.”

      “With Maggie and Bel?”

      “She has friends in Denver. There are some great colleges out that way, too.”

      “Does she know what she wants to study?”

      “Domestic law.”

      “Bet she’ll do well.” He tipped closer and looked around. “Is she in? I imagine she’s been staying here with you.”

      “She took the baby for a walk.”

      He tugged an ear. “Do you mind if I come in?”

      “You already asked and I already said no.”

      “I can help you pack.”

      “I don’t need your help.”

      “Some of those boxes look heavy.”

      He gave her a hint of his sexy crooked smile but Trinity only glared. His sheepish act wouldn’t work. That morning outside of Denver he’d made clear he had his life and no one was going to meddle in it. Well, she had her life, too, and she didn’t appreciate it being interrupted now. Still, many times she’d imagined them meeting again, his trying to apologize and her dressing him down. It would be worth a few minutes of her time to make some of the imaginary payback real.

      So, with a detached air, she waved him in, shut the door.

      “How is Maggie?” he asked while she returned