His Tattooed Virgin(Divine Creek Ranch 12)(69)

“What happened with your plan to make millions? Henri didn’t pan out like you thought he would?”

“At first yes, but then my parents somehow got wind. Daddy hired some private investigator and found out about Henri’s more…inventive moneymaking plans. They cut me off.”

“What about your trust fund?”

“Gone.” She said the word as though there was sour, bitter fruit in her mouth. He remembered being entranced by that mouth, aroused by those hands, and enthralled by those arms, branded in ink to mirror his own. Nothing about her attracted him now.

“So why are you here, Tamar? Were you hoping I’d take you back?”

Memories intruded, of the nonchalance with which she’d turned her back on him when the security guard had stopped him from interrupting the taping of the gang bang video. He also recalled the shock on Jayne’s face when he’d found them facing each other on the doorstep. He’d understood why she’d taken off, but he needed her right now. Needed her quiet strength.

A rather prissy frown bent Tamar’s lips. “I don’t have any illusions about that, Seth. I know we’re finished. I’m really in a hurry.”

“I thought you were on birth control pills.”

Tamar shrugged and pursed her lips. “I guess they didn’t work.” It was more likely she hadn’t taken them regularly. “Look, I’ve decided to get back to what I wanted to do in the first place, so I’m off to Japan, to pick up where I left off with tattoo art. You know I’ve always been interested in perfecting my style.”

Her words didn’t jive with her actions in Europe, and he peered closely at her. There was an edge of uncertainty that he’d almost missed.

“What are you not telling me, Tamar?” He’d spent enough time with her to know when she was holding something back. The child hadn’t settled into her arms or tried to get down, to explore, the way any other child that age would do.

She looked him in the eyes. “Do you want him? Obviously, he’s yours.” She said it dismissively, as though it didn’t matter at all. “I can’t deal with him anymore.”

Seth bit his tongue, wishing that she wouldn’t talk about the baby as though he wasn’t right there. He could tell the boy was smart, as he watched their faces. “What do you mean, do I want him?”

“Fine,” she said, as she rose to her feet. “I was just checking. I probably shouldn’t have brought him with me. I’ll just…”

He held out a hand to stop her retreat because he knew she’d misunderstood him. There was no way she was leaving with his son. He’d received the hint in her tone loud and clear. She’d find someone else to take him or simply abandon him.

“What about your parents?”

Her expression grew rigid and in a prickly voice she said, “Didn’t you hear me? They cut me off. I have to make my own way from this point. They’ve washed their hands of me, their spoiled-rotten, tattooed daughter. I can’t handle him anymore, Seth. I can’t afford to take him with me to Japan.” The child regarded him, utter innocence in his piercing blue eyes. “I can hardly even look at him, if you want to know the truth. He reminds me too much of you.”

That stung.

Seth held out his hands. “Give him to me. Of course I want him.”

Tamar handed the solid baby boy over without hesitation, and Seth took the weighty diaper bag from her.

She rubbed her arm as she groaned. “Thank you. He weighed a ton. I’ll be sore for days.” Because she wasn’t used to holding him and taking care of him. Seth wondered who had been caring for this little boy. “His birth certificate and other records are in the diaper bag. You’re listed as his father. Crap,” she ground out, brushing at the fashionable collar of her top. “He spit up on me.”

He opened the front door. “Thanks. Your cab is waiting.”

Seth stood in the open doorway staring into his son’s eyes as the red taillights of the cab disappeared down the street. He hadn’t taken his eyes off of Seth as Tamar had walked out of the house and down the sidewalk.

A number of emotions formed a tornado in his chest as he gazed deep into eyes that were exactly like the ones he saw in the mirror each morning. Anger that she’d kept his son a secret from him. Fear that he’d just taken on a job he’d had absolutely no time to prepare for and wasn’t sure he could handle. Wonder at holding this incredibly beautiful child he’d helped make. Compassion, as the little boy’s eyebrows drew together as though realizing he’d just been abandoned. Seth’s heart broke for him and tears burned his eyes as he wondered at how best to comfort—