“Kiro can’t make me do anything. This is my baby. Not his. And this baby’s life is more important to me than my own,” I told her.

She studied me for a moment, as if trying to decide what I meant by that. “You really mean that, don’t you?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yes, I do.”

For a brief moment, I thought maybe, just maybe, we were having a breakthrough. Maybe we could bond, or at least call a truce. It was too much to hope that we could actually be family. But then she shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Whatever. It’s your life,” she said, then sauntered away in her heels. I was almost positive she was wearing a Valentino dress. The perfect ice queen.

When I turned back around, Della, Bethy, and Jimmy were gone. I spun around, looking through the crowd for a familiar face, but I didn’t see anyone. Fresh air sounded good, so I decided I would step outside and take a breather while Grant searched for Dean.

The cool night air touched my face, and I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment. So many eyes following my every move had become overwhelming. I wanted to be at home. My favorite thing to do was plant flowers in my backyard with no company except Grant. I really was a recluse.

“Guess the gossip mags were right. She’s knocked up. She looks like she’s about to pop.” A female voice drifted through the darkness. I stepped back into the shadow of the oak tree I was standing beside. I didn’t want whoever was talking about me to see me.

“Very pregnant. And it’s Grant’s. He’s stayed by her side all night. Bailey threw herself at him earlier after following him out of the room, and he pushed her away.”

The other girl made an annoyed sound. “Whatever. This is just a case of baby mama guilt. It ain’t like he’s planning on forever with her. Did you see a ring on her finger? No, you didn’t.”

My stomach tightened up, and I backed farther into the darkness. I wanted to walk away from their cruel words, because they didn’t know anything. They didn’t know about my heart. They didn’t know Grant was protecting himself.

“He sure was ready to propose to Nan last year. She said he had the ring and everything. It’s why she cheated on him. She wasn’t ready for commitment. I think she regrets that now, but maybe it’s not too late. He got that Manning girl pregnant, but that’s all he did.”

He was going to propose to Nan? He never told me that. He acted as if his time with her hadn’t meant anything. That he had been helping her. Had she really broken his heart? Was that why he had never mentioned marriage? I thought it was because of my heart. I just figured we would talk about it after I survived through the pregnancy.

“I saw Nan and him talking earlier. They were awfully close. Besides, doesn’t the Manning girl have, like, a heart problem? Can you have kids with a heart problem?”

I had heard enough. I wanted to go home now. Going back into a room full of people, knowing they were thinking similar things, was too much. I just wanted to hide away in our house. Or was it his house? I hadn’t bought it. He had. Was I just there until this thing we had was over?

Oh, God. I felt sick to my stomach. I needed to leave. Walking the long way around so the girls who had been talking about me couldn’t see me, I made my way over to the valet. I couldn’t take Grant’s truck. Even though it was a short two-mile ride to the house, I wasn’t comfortable with driving right now.

“Hello, Miss Manning, do you need a car brought around?” Henry asked. He was one of the regular valets.

I would not cry in front of poor Henry. “Could you bring a driver around? I need one of the club limos to take me home.”

He nodded and motioned with his hand to someone else. I had left my wrap at the coat check, but I had my clutch under my arm, so at least I had a key to the house. Facing Grant right now was not a good idea. But then he would worry about me. I pulled out my phone and sent him a quick text.

Not feeling well. I think I’m done for the evening. Stay and enjoy yourself. Having a club driver take me home.

Just as I hit Send, a black Mercedes sedan pulled up, and Henry opened the door for me. “Have a good evening, Miss Manning,” he said.

“Thank you,” I replied, and sank down onto the leather seat.

“I was told you wanted to go home, Miss Manning. Is that correct?” the driver asked.

I nodded. “Yes, please,” I managed to say, then stared quietly out the window as the car drove me home.

Grant

Not feeling well. I think I’m done for the evening. Stay and enjoy yourself. Having a club driver take me home.

What the f**k?

I turned and walked back out of the ballroom, ignoring whoever was calling my name behind me, and started walking to the exit. I dialed Harlow’s number. It rang three times, then went to voice mail. I cringed. I hated voice mail. I hated getting her voice-mail message. It made me remember a time I didn’t want to remember.

“Would you like your truck, Mr. Carter?” the valet asked as I dialed her number again.

“When did Har—Miss Manning leave?” I asked him. “And get my truck. Fast.”

“Yes, sir, and Miss Manning just left five minutes ago. Vern Bower drove her home in one of the club cars, sir.”

“Is Vern back yet?” I asked when I got Harlow’s voice mail again.

“Not yet, sir, but he just left—”

“Five minutes ago, yeah, I heard you,” I snapped. I wasn’t normally rude to the staff, but I was worried. She wouldn’t have just left unless she was upset. Something happened. I had left her in that crowd, and someone had said something to upset her.