Bucking the Rules(59)

“You have a kid.”

It was a question, though she’d stated it as fact. He nodded. Seth grabbed his hand and squeezed, working his fingers around and playing.

“You’ve, uh, always had a kid?”

“Long as he’s been alive.”

She stared at Seth, like he might be a cross between a rabid dog and a charging bull. “And he lives with you.”

Another question in a statement. “Yeah. He stays out at the ranch.”

“Oh, my God.” She breathed it, and he almost didn’t catch the words. “How stupid am I?”

“You’re not stupid. Jo, I—”

“No. No, it’s okay.” She held up a hand to halt his progress. “It’s totally okay. It’s just a reminder, that’s all.”

A reminder of what? By the way she took another step back, he was pretty sure her “okay” wasn’t code for “I love babies and this is the best surprise ever!” Damn it, he was going to lose her. “Jo, we need to talk about this.”

“Yes.” Her eyes went a little glassy and she nodded. “Yes, we do.” But she said nothing else, just watched as Seth tugged on the rolled-up sleeve of Trace’s shirt, silently begging for attention.

Someone rolled by them, slowing down enough to grab a frozen pizza from the freezer across from them. The older woman shot them both a confused, slightly annoyed look that said stop loitering, hooligans and went on. But it was enough to break whatever trance Jo had slipped into. She turned around and started back down the way she’d come, squeaky cart bumping over cracked tile like she was running from the devil.

That wasn’t talking. That was the opposite of talking. But he couldn’t very well give chase with Seth in the cart.

She couldn’t hide from him. He knew where she lived and worked. They’d talk. And though he’d meant to get to this a little sooner, he’d say everything he needed to. It’d be fine. There was no way he was letting this ruin what they’d started.

Bea skidded around the corner in her heels, looking frazzled and a little lost. “Where’s Jo? Did you see her? Did she see you?” Her eyes went round. “Did she see Seth?”

“Yes, times three. And I don’t know where she is. Checking out, I assume.” Or fleeing the country. “Where’d you go?”

She held a hand to her chest and bent over like she’d run a marathon. “Trying to find her before she caught sight of you two. I was distracting her in the produce section and then I got a call from my agent and … it doesn’t matter. I was trying to be helpful.”

“Why would you distract her?”

“Because she doesn’t know about Seth. Right?” She winced. “Or at least, she didn’t. I was hoping to prod you enough to get you to tell her soon, before she found out some other way.”

“Too late for that,” he murmured, reaching in the diaper bag and finding a toy to distract Seth from gnawing on his own fingers. He located Sophie the giraffe and handed the toy over. “Here, buddy. Try this on for size.” With Seth content, he focused back on his sister. “And why would you think it mattered if Jo knew? We weren’t exactly public with our … thing.”

“Your sister isn’t public.” She smiled smugly. “I have my ways. But that’s not the point. The point is, you need to go after her and explain.”

“No, I need to finish shopping and take the groceries, and you two, home. Then I can give her time to cool off and get over the shock, and try to explain.”

Bea rolled her eyes. “Sure, if you want to be logical about it. I swear, sometimes you’re too much like Peyton for your own good.”

He bent and kissed her forehead. “I’ll take that as a compliment. But thanks, for trying to help.” In her own messed up sort of way. It was a good thing, Bea trying to be helpful. It meant she was investing in the family again.

They eased the cart around and headed for the checkout. “I thought you were getting something for your dog.”

“Casualty of the moment. It was in Jo’s cart. She probably put it back.” Bea shrugged. “Another time.” As they stood in line, Bea perused a magazine with the latest American Idol winner on the front cover, then added another magazine with what appeared to be TV soap stars.

“That’s not food.”

“It’s food for my soul. Calm down.” She flipped through a few more pages, then without looking, asked, “Are you going to fix things with her?”

“If it kills me,” he answered immediately. When he wanted something, he got it. Period. He wanted Seth, he got Seth. He wanted to make things work at home, they were working. And now, he wanted Jo. The trouble was making her want him—all of him, now, which included his son—back. The whole “ease her in” thing was not going to happen. So back to square one.