Page 85 of Nothing to Beat

“Ricardo Whey will make sure of that.This is his cause too now the truth is emerging.If your father doesn’t go down, Whey will, and he won’t let that happen.”And she’d get there.When the situation sank in.“You should talk to Tripp.”

“He’ll know plenty we don’t,” she muttered.

“He will, not that we should expect him to break any confidences.”

That went without saying; they didn’t call Tripp “Priest” for nothing.

“Do we have…?”

“What?”

“Is there any reason Whey would want to hurt us?”

“Personally?Not that I’m aware of.Mom knows more about the family.”Yeah, because she was from the same streets.Though that made her sound ghetto, which couldn’t be further from the truth.“Hey…” His curled fingers elevated her chin.“We’ve done nothing wrong.”

Yet she couldn’t shake the bad vibe.“I should be grateful; Whey’s helping get us where we want to be.”

“Talk to Tripp.If there’s something we should know, he’ll find a way to tell us.”One way or another, he’d agree or disagree with her uncertainty.“Where would you like to eat tonight?In the suite or out somewhere?”

“Are you asking me out?”

“It’s Valentine’s Day.”

That may be.Her mind had been elsewhere.“I thought you were poor.”

“So I’ll get you a slice of pizza.”

Her cheeks plumped.“Everyone’s sick of me and pizza.”

Bowing, he touched his lips to hers.“Not me.”

“I’ll date you tonight because it’s Valentine’s Day, but tomorrow we’re going back to New York.”

“I thought we were staying until after the wedding.”

She shook her head.“I can’t be in LA that long.”

“I have fifteen brothers.One of them will pick up the slack at the office.”

“Some of them are still in school and one of them is here.”Playing, she narrowed her eyes.“Are you telling me I’m replaceable?”

“No.”

“That your brothers, that males, are better than females?”

“Definitely didn’t say that.If you want to go back to New York, we’ll leave right now.Why wait?”

And she may jump at that suggestion, except… “Roxie knows a fertility doctor here.One she trusts.”

“A fertility doctor?Are we there yet?”

“Are we going to be parents tomorrow?No.And I am not conceding that our future is guaranteed, but we’re here anyway, and Roxie’s word is good.Why not?”

“Whatever you want, baby.Do we need an appointment?”

“Roxie said she’d call.”

“If you knew about this, why didn’t you tell me to come to LA?”