"Sure," Harrison said. "Or you could make your place what she needs."
Cole pointed to him. "Now that's what I call a good idea."
"What do you mean?" Brooks asked.
"I mean," Harrison said, "you said your place isn't really set up for a baby. That doesn't mean that can't change. Go get what she needs. If your place won't work, get another place."
"Are you serious? It took years to get my place to the perfect pad of perfection that it is. Besides," Brooks said, shaking his head, "this is a temporary arrangement. I'm not going to change everything about my life to accommodate a woman who has no intention of staying in it. I like my apartment the way it is. It's one hundred percent suited to my needs and it's going to stay that way."
Harrison shook his head. "Well, not that my opinion counts, being the only single bloke in the bunch, but I think you're an idiot."
That made Brooks raise an eyebrow or two. "Well, damn, don't sugarcoat it for me or anything."
"Sorry," Harrison said. "But I find it idiotic that you've got it all and you are totally willing to throw it away."
The unfairness of that comment sparked an anger in Brooks that he tried to keep a handle on. He knew Harrison didn't mean anything by it and was probably even trying to help. But it pissed him off anyway.
"The only thing I've got is a full house," he said, throwing down his cards. "Pay up."
He grinned at the groans of his friends, though he knew the expression didn't reach his eyes. He'd never felt less like smiling in his life. He excused himself from the table for a minute and went into the restroom. If he was honest with himself-something he rarely did as it never ended well-he would admit that Harrison's comment stung so much because it was true. Only it wasn't because he was willing to throw everything away. He just had no choice about it.
They were getting along, great, yes, but she didn't want to stay with him. She'd never made any mention of anything of the kind. And no matter what he thought he wanted, he wouldn't be any good for her in the long run, either, let alone a baby. He'd never inflict himself on some poor defenseless child. Even if he wanted to, there was no way in hell any sort of relationship was going to work with Marcus in the picture. With him and Marcus playing Daddy One and Daddy Two? Marcus pulling his backstabbing snake routine every chance he got? Only with the baby in the middle? That kid would be in therapy before he hit kindergarten. And that was the best-case scenario. No way was that dynamic in any way, shape, or form healthy for the baby. Or anyone else.
So no, he wasn't throwing anything away, because he couldn't throw away what he'd never had. It didn't matter how much he wished the opposite was true.
He rejoined the boys and waited for his new hand to be dealt.
"So how are things going with Marcus?" Cole asked.
"Marcus?" Chris asked.
"Marcus Cassidy. The baby daddy."
"Wait, Marcus Cassidy as in the Marcus Cassidy? The guy who developed that designated driver taxi app and whose family runs half of the city?"
"No," Brooks said, tossing his chips into the pile with a great deal more force than necessary. "The guy who stole that designated driver taxi app after we developed it together and then used his family's money to lawyer up when I was too poor to do the same."
Harrison's eyes widened. "He's the baby daddy?"
Brooks stared at him and he whistled and threw his chips into the pot. "Damn. Brutal."
Brooks shrugged. "Doesn't make any difference to me."
"How can that possibly not make any difference?" Chris asked.
"Why should it? It's a fake marriage, remember? She's free to do what she likes." Though the thought of Leah doing anything, even speaking, with Marcus made Brooks's blood boil.
"Well, shouldn't you warn her that the guy is a snake?" Harrison said.
Brooks sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. "My issues with the guy shouldn't affect her. As long as he treats her decently, I'm going to stay out of it. She's got enough to deal with."
Cole's brows raised. "That's mature of you."
"Yeah, who knew I had it in me." He tossed down two pair. "Now, maybe you guys should pay more attention to the game before I walk out of here with even more of your money."
He grinned, grateful to the good hand for giving him a reason to change the subject. The truth was he didn't want Marcus within a hundred miles of Leah. But what choice did he have? The guy was the baby's father. He had more right to be in the picture than Brooks did, no matter how he felt about him.
He'd just have to learn to live with it.
Or move on.
Chapter Fifteen
Leah looked in the full-length mirror, turning from side to side with a grimace. Brooks had been doing an amazing job at keeping up his side of the bargain, more so than she'd thought he would, especially now that Marcus was back and making a concerted effort to insert himself into Leah's life. It was something she could tell Brooks loathed, though he never said a word against Marcus.
Instead, Brooks picked her up from work most days, making sure to wave to the nuns when he did so. He came to the school functions, helping her out with anything she needed, and even stopped by the school a few times to bring her lunch. As far as anyone at school could tell, he was a loving, devoted husband and excited father-to-be. The hope and longing that never seemed to disappear crept back into her heart but she squashed it viciously. There was no room for nonsense like that.
Even if he were to do a total one-eighty and turn from the world's biggest bachelor into a happy, devoted family man, it didn't change the fact that Leah had no right to be by his side. She had no place in his world. He may have started with the same humble background as her, but that was a very long time in the past. He was a freaking billionaire, co-founder of some company that did things she didn't even begin to understand. He wasn't just part of some other world-he was in a whole different galaxy. And the gala they were going to that night only proved her point.
She had to make a good impression for him. Cole was still on paternity leave with Kiersten and the baby, so it was the first event where Brooks would be representing their firm solo. He needed to prove he could be the responsible face of the company, and Leah needed to play her part by his side.
She'd gone shopping with Kiersten to get a dress for the night. She had wanted to go to someplace like Nordstrom. Well, Target had been the first thought in her mind, but she knew something that off-the-rack wouldn't cut it. But apparently even a store like Nordstrom, which she could never afford on her own, was still far beneath the realm of the people they'd be seeing that night.
Kiersten had taken her to a couture shop where a woman had taken a one-of-a-kind gown and fit it to Leah's body. Her bloated, pregnant, bulging body. Kiersten had assured her she looked beautiful in the midnight-blue floor-length gown but it was far too tight for Leah's comfort. Not that she could show up in the baggy sweats that were all she wanted to wear after a long day at work, of course. But the revealing gown was something Leah would have never chosen for herself.
The off-the-shoulder neckline showed way more cleavage than she had even known she'd possessed. Though, a few months ago she hadn't possessed it so that could be why. Then, instead of flaring like the shapeless tent she wished it was, the material hugged her body, accentuating her baby bump and flowing to the floor in a river of sapphire satin.
The heels that she had to wear with the dress were another problem. Leah loved a good pair of heels as much as the next girl and the shop assistants had kept them modest-sized just to be on the careful side. No one wanted her taking a tumble with the precious cargo she carried. But still, between her nerves and her changing center of gravity, Leah wasn't sure her heel-walking skills were up to par.
She stood staring at herself in the mirror, trying to think of an excuse that would get her out of going. But Brooks had done everything and more that he had promised. She had promised to help him at work, show that he could be a responsible, fully functioning adult that another responsible, fully functioning adult would choose to marry. She needed to suck it up and go.
The door opened behind her and Brooks walked in, stopping short when he saw her standing there. She watched his eyes rove from her feet to her head, his mouth slightly open, then met his gaze in the mirror.
"Is it all right?" she asked.
He gave her a faint smile. "Woman, you are so far from all right it's not even funny."
She frowned a little at that, trying to figure out what he meant.
He came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You are absolutely breathtaking."