Page 44 of Nothing to Beat

“This is my issue, and we shouldn’t do this.”When would she learn the flirting always led them down the same path?“You shouldn’t give up on everything—”

“You won’t change my mind.”

She sighed.“I know.”If anyone would be able to, it would be her.Even she knew better when his mind was made up.“You have your reasons for doing what you’re doing.Can’t you trust I have my reasons too?”

“I feel better knowing Tripp’s with you.You at Crimson?”

“I plead the fifth.”

“Because you don’t want me to come over there or because you’re not?”

Her lips curled before she laughed.“You missed your calling.Ever think about the law?”

“Can’t afford college.”

And he was doing it again.“I have a good job, I can support you through it.”

“Baby comes first.”

“You think law school will be easier with an infant to care for?”

“You asked first, it’s only fair.”

“Maybe you could stay home with him full-time.Momma brings the bacon and daddy keeps the home.”

“Coy, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

“That’s because you’d do anything for me.”

He’d been raised with more traditional gender roles, sure, but that wouldn’t stop him living the life that suited them.Given his reputation, many people would struggle to visualize him with a baby in his arms.She couldn’t think of anything sexier.Breck was the most caring, patient human being she’d ever known.

“Come home.”

And the one thing he was asking, she was refusing.Not permanently, just for now.

“Stop saying that.”Closing her eyes, she fought her natural instinct to give in to him.“You call it home and give me hope, it’s not fair.”

“There’s more than hope.I’m here, baby.I’ll fix this.Whatever it takes.”

“You know this was never what I wanted, right?That I never expected you to give up your birthright, your family, your purpose.”

“You are my family and my purpose, Coy.If I haven’t shown you that by now—”

“This is an us problem; it’s not on you to fix it.I might not agree with the way you’re pursuing the ends, but I’m trying to do the same.”

“Find a way for us to be together.”

“It shouldn’t be this difficult.Don’t you wonder if fate is trying to tell us something?”

“I don’t believe in that.We make our own fate, there’s no destiny desperate to pull us apart.Haven’t I taught you that a challenge is simply an opportunity to flex your muscles?The harder a victory’s won, the more it’s appreciated.Just ask my mom.”

Ah, the story of his parents’ beginning.“Yes, I’d have to ask your mom, because if I asked your dad, he’d say Alice created barriers that didn’t exist.”

“Huh, interesting way to put it.Maybe if she’d just trusted him…”

Her throat quivered because he was thinking the same thing about her.Except it wasn’t about erecting barriers, not between them, those barriers went around him.It was her duty to protect the man she loved.

Except that was just it, she loved him.They loved each other, and she wasn’t the only one who deserved a little hope.