Her soft-spoken words tore through his chest with the force of an ice pick. “Princess, this is important to me, but I said at the outset I wouldn’t be perfect. It’s going to take us more than a few weeks or months to come to know and understand each other. But let me tell you, if you think being in a relationship means I’ve got to always back down when you want your way, well, no man will ever live up to that expectation. You’ve got to trust me when I say I’m invested in our future, and I promise I’m going to help raise this child, which includes paying for everything.”
Kelsey fiddled with her fork, glancing up at him from beneath her lashes. “I admire you and Grey making a go of your business, so no offense intended here, but Backtrax isn’t raking in the cash. Babies are expensive. School, clothes, lessons, college . . .”
“Trust me, Kelsey, our baby won’t have any money worries.” Trip shifted in his seat, as uncomfortable as ever when thinking about his giant trust fund.
“Good intentions won’t bring in the serious money I could clear on Wade’s latest proposal.” She sipped her lemon water, her emotions fading as she swung into business mode.
“I have money.” He crossed his arms and stretched out his legs. “Serious money.”
Kelsey narrowed her eyes. “From what? Gigolo services on the side?”
His body heat jumped ten degrees thanks to her sarcasm. “I didn’t say billions, princess.” He immediately regretted his snide remark. “It doesn’t matter why I have it, I just do.”
She sat back, her lips twitching.
“So you won’t tell me more? Don’t you trust me?” Now she had the audacity to look hurt, like she hadn’t just insulted him six ways to Sunday. He couldn’t help but laugh at the whole situation: him trying and failing to understand this frustrating, sexy woman.
“You’re a handful in more ways than one, you know that?” When she cocked a brow, he leaned forward and took hold of her hand. His muscles relaxed, his pulse slowed.
She shrugged and sat back in her seat, pulling away from him. “Guess we’ve both got to take the good with the bad. Is that a problem?”
“Not for me.” He polished off his beer and nodded at the waitress to bring another.
The weight of Kelsey’s scrutiny hung on his shoulders. She pressed her lips together while she creased her napkin like a fan. “Trip, tell me about where you got this money.” She playfully smirked. “Otherwise I’m going to worry about having to bring our baby to visit you in jail.”
He sighed, knowing he’d have to tell the truth sooner or later. “My dad set up a substantial trust fund when he adopted me.” He shifted in his seat again, glancing around the restaurant looking for the waitress who should be bringing him his much-needed next drink.
“So you’ve had money for most of your life?” Kelsey’s forehead wrinkled in confusion. “Then why do you drive that beater van and share that dingy little apartment with Grey?”
“I don’t touch the money.” Wincing, he sighed. “At least I never did until recently, when I needed a little to buy into Backtrax.”
“Why not?” Her bewilderment softened the probing question, but it still pricked at the base of his skull.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Because I always thought of it as bribe money. Like my dad thought he could buy his way out of his mistakes, or buy my love or something. I don’t know exactly. I only knew I couldn’t be a hypocrite and take the money while keeping my distance.”
Kelsey drummed her fingers against the table, apparently deep in thought. Her compassionate eyes studied him as she reached across the table to touch his hand. “I’m sorry you’ve had such a hard time with your family. Makes me realize how much I take my own situation for granted. But do you really think he’s trying to buy your love? Maybe he just wanted to give you a sense of security.”
“Or save on taxes,” Trip scoffed. It occurred to him Kelsey had better understand he had no interest in living the high life. “Listen, I’ve never been, and will never be, interested in being part of that moneyed world. My life was happier poor than it ever was with my rich family. And from what I observed among my parents’ friends, wealth can be a booby trap of stress, competition, and paranoia.”
“I wouldn’t know.” She grinned and sipped her water.
“In all seriousness, I’m happy with simple things. And I don’t want my kids to define themselves by any kind of price tag.” He stared at her, making sure she understood the importance of that value.