“Wait a minute. You’ve got it all wr—”
“He said your wife was gorgeous, like a model. He told my friend he’d been surprised to see you flirting with…me.” The words had been a knife to her heart. Saying them brought the pain flooding back. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t America’s Next Top Model, but she’d been told many, many times that she was “cute” and had beautiful eyes.
“July. Listen to me.”
“All I’m asking is that you think of your wife’s feelings.” She maintained an even tone. Goodness knows, she’d had a lifetime of practice. “I want you to realize that if news of the DNA test gets out, she will be hurt by the scandal. And all for nothing because Adam is not your son.”
Some of the light in his eyes dimmed at her words. It was almost as if he wanted Adam to be his. Which was insane. What married man would welcome a baby from a one-night stand?#p#分页标题#e#
“We need to clear one thing up right now,” David said in a firm voice. “I. Am. Not. Married.”
When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up a hand.
“Please let me finish. I was married but my wife died the year before you and I met.” His gaze met hers. “I’d never have slept with you if I’d been married. For Celeste and me, those marriage vows were sacred.”
July’s head spun like an out-of-control Tilt-A-Whirl while her mind wrapped itself around the words. Everything from David’s posture to his facial expression to his intonation said he was telling the truth. But yet she had a reliable third party with no stakes in the matter who said differently. “Dr. Countryman knew you,” she finally managed to sputter. “How could he not have known your wife had died?”
“I knew Kevin back in residency.” David’s eyes never left hers. “It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken to him. Celeste must have been still alive the last time we talked.”
“I don’t know. That seems—”
“You still don’t believe me.” David rose and paced the room, frustration written all over his face. “Ask anyone. Ask Lexi or Dr. Fisher. They’ll confirm that what I’ve told you is true.”
A cold chill stole over July. Relief that she hadn’t slept with a married man was miniscule compared to the stark realization that the tables had turned. She was now the one who needed to apologize. She’d told David to his face that Adam wasn’t his son. Not just once. Many times.
Tell him you’re sorry. Tell him you made a mistake. He’ll understand. You thought he was married.
July opened her mouth but the words wouldn’t come. Her heart pounded hard and fast in her head, making it impossible for her to think, much less form a coherent sentence.
“July.” David’s voice, soft but insistent, broke through the maelstrom in her head. “Will you consent to the test?”
She tried to speak but settled for a jerky nod.
“The test is easy.” Though his tone was professional, she could hear the undercurrent of excitement and relief in his voice. “A simple buccal swab. One to Adam’s cheek, one to yours.”
“Mine?” Her voice broke on the word.
“It’s recommended,” he said quickly. “But if you don’t want—”
“No problem.” July took a glass of water from the tray table and chugged it past her dry throat. “Just give me a call when—”
“We can do it now.” He pulled two vials from his pocket along with an official-looking paper. “But first I need your signature.”
The room closed around her neck like a noose. She took the paper from his hand and sweat trickled down her back. “Once we do this, how long before you get the results?”
“Three to five days.”
The noose tightened.
July pretended to study the consent form but the words blurred. After a moment, she folded the paper in half and dropped it into her purse.
“What are you doing?” Confusion blanketed his face. “You said you’d do it.”
Though her heart now beat like a trapped butterfly in her chest, she somehow managed a nonchalant air. “I’m sure you understand wanting to read a legal document. I’ll be in Jackson Hole for at least another month. We’ll definitely do the test before I leave.”
“Why wait so long?” His brows pulled together. “It doesn’t take a month to read the authorization.”
“Because I know what the answer will be, and I’m in no hurry.” Because I need to tell you the truth before you get the results.#p#分页标题#e#