Page 6 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Three

L andry

“What’s Corie doing tonight?” I ask Knox. We’re sitting around the dining room table in Baker’s high-rise condo in downtown Nashville for poker night.

“Rowan and Sloane are coming over for girls’ night.”

“We should have played at your house,” Reid says, wagging his eyebrows.

Knox glares at him, making us all laugh. “It’s good to get time apart,” he says.

“Right.” Baker chuckles. “That’s the wife talking.”

“We all know you’re counting down the hours to run home to your wife,” Foster adds.

Knox shrugs. “I’m not denying that. And I agree it’s important that we still do things without each other. That doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about her or counting down until I get to go home and lie in bed next to her, but I miss you assholes, so here I am.”

“We were just with you in the Bahamas last week,” I remind him.

Knox grins. “Trust me, I remember.”

“Stop.” Foster holds his hands up in the air. “If we get him started talking about Corie, this will turn into a love fest, and we’re manly men playing poker.” He puffs his chest out, and Baker tosses a pretzel at him.

“Are we playing poker or what?” Knox asks.

“Deal us in.” Reid raps his knuckles on the table. Foster deals out the cards just as there’s a knock at the door.

“I wonder who that could be?” Baker glances at his cards and shakes his head. “I fold.” Tossing the cards back on the table, he stands to answer the door.

The game continues without Baker. My hand is shit, but I try to bluff, and it ends up kicking me in the ass because Knox wins the pot. He’s raking in his winnings when Baker comes back into the room, which causes us all to turn and look.

He’s not the same man who walked away from the table. No. This version of Baker is white as a ghost, and his eyes have fear in them. Instantly, we’re all on alert.

“What is it?” I ask, standing. I’m ready to be there for one of my best friends.

Baker stands motionless. He doesn’t speak, and I’m pretty sure his eyes aren’t even focused as he stares at the wall.

“Baker?” Knox stands and moves toward him. Still, there’s no reaction.

The door down the hall opens and makes us all sit up straighter. Whoever was at the door is still here. By this point, we’re all on our feet and ready for… I don’t know what. Battle? To comfort our friend? We don’t know, but whatever this is, we’re here for him.

Knox, Reid, Foster, and I stand in a line, arms crossed over our chests, facing our friend. We’re waiting for the newcomer to present themselves, and it doesn’t take long. She comes around the corner, her blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, and I recognize her immediately.

Natasha Gillman.

My eyes rake over her, looking for why her presence would make Baker freeze up like he has, and that’s when I see it.

She’s pregnant.

My eyes widen, and my mouth falls open in shock. One of the guys coughs, but I can’t tell you which one because I can’t stop staring at her very pregnant belly.

“Hi,” Natasha says. She’s standing with her hand on her belly, her hair and makeup perfectly placed as if she’s ready to walk the runway. She’s not smiling, and the way she’s chewing on her bottom lip tells me she’s nervous, but trying not to show it.

I snap out of my trance and move my attention to her. She waves, but I don’t wave back. I’m trying to wrap my head around this, but the pieces of the puzzle and Baker's reaction tells me everything I need to know.

This is his baby.

I think back to our meeting with my sister; she needed someone to volunteer to go to some charity thing with Natasha, and Baker was quick to offer his services.

Not because she’s a beautiful supermodel, but because the alternative was the nursing home where little old Ms. Margaret likes to sink her talons into his ass.

He thought he was taking the lesser of two evils.

Apparently, that night went better than he let on.

“Baker,” Foster speaks up. “What’s going on?”

“I think you all should go so Baker and I can talk,” Natasha says as she rubs her belly.

“No,” Knox speaks up. “We’re not leaving him unless he tells us to go.”

“Sinclair, my man, you need to tell us what you need. What can we do?” I ask.

“Do you want us to go?” Reid asks.

We’re tossing out questions left and right, and he’s still just standing there with his pale complexion and lost eyes, not responding. It’s not until Natasha places her hand on his arm that he flinches away from her touch, and his eyes come back into focus.

“Don’t.” His voice is gritty, and you can’t hide the undertone of menace.

“We should talk,” she says, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

Baker seems to be pulling himself together as he crosses his arms over his chest. “Then talk.”

Natasha eyes the wall that we’ve created. “Alone.”

“These guys are my family. Anything we discuss, I’ll just tell them. Save me the time not to have to repeat myself.”

“Whatever.” She turns and heads, I’m guessing, toward the living room.

“What do you need?” Knox asks.

“Don’t leave.” This time, there’s a quiver in his tone. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.” He nods toward the living area and turns to walk away.

“I guess we’re following him,” Foster says. He leads us out of the dining room in a line of four men. Four brothers, not by blood, but by choice, heading to battle for one of our own.

We find Natasha sitting on the love seat. Baker sits in the center of the couch. Knox and I flank him on either side while Reid and Foster take the other chairs.

“You wanted to talk. Start talking.”

Natasha rolls her eyes. “We slept together that night.”

“I’m aware,” Baker tells her.

“We had too much to drink.”

“I’m also aware. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Ouch. I try not to wince, but damn, I’ve never heard Baker Sinclair be so harsh, especially not to a woman.

“I assume I don’t need to explain the birds and the bees to you?” Natasha says in a bitchy tone.

“How do I know that baby is mine?”

Again, she rolls her eyes. “Levi and I had been broken up for a month before that night. The timeline fits.”

“I want a paternity test. I know we slept together, but I need concrete evidence that it’s my baby you’re carrying. I always wear protection. Drunk or not.”

Baker Sinclair is a good guy. We all soaked up the attention in college and our early years, but I can say with one-hundred-percent certainty that the five of us are selective as to who we stick our dicks into. I know that sounds dick-ish, but it’s the truth.

My high school coach and college coach, who Knox and I shared for two years, also preached it. Women see a meal ticket, be selective and make damn sure you wrap it before you tap it.

“I’m also on the pill, but nothing is one-hundred-percent effective.”

“That night,” Baker says, his voice raspy. “You kept ordering drinks, saying that we deserved a night to loosen up. Was this your plan all along? To get pregnant?”

“What?” Natasha gasps. “No. I wanted to let off some steam. Levi and I were broken up.”

“Wait.” Reid holds up his hand. “Didn’t I just see an article that the two of you are back together?”

Natasha sits up straighter. “We are.” She nods.

“I don’t need or want your money, Baker Sinclair.

But, like it or not, this is your baby. Levi offered to raise this baby as his own, but I knew I had to do the right thing.

I had to tell you that you’re going to be a father and let you make the choice on your own. ”

The room is eerily silent. I can’t tell you how much time passes, but eventually, Baker finds his voice. “If that baby is mine, I’ll be raising him.”

“This is your baby, Baker Sinclair.”

“You’ll be hearing from my attorney for a paternity test. Once we have the results, we’ll go from there.”

“I’m not leaving Levi. We’re in love. We’re going to stick this time.” She crosses her arms over her chest. It’s defensive, but it’s not needed. Baker would never hurt her, and I’m pretty damn sure he’s not interested in more with her.

“I don’t want you,” Baker says, his voice cold. “But if that’s my baby, we’ll figure it out.”

Natasha stands. “Fine. You’ve got my number.” She turns and walks right out the door.

Baker takes his baseball cap off his head and tosses it across the room. “ Fuck! ” he roars. His elbows land on his knees, and he buries his face in his hands.

This is heavy shit, but kids are a blessing. Sure, it might not be how he imagined it, but if I’ve learned anything, it is that no matter what life throws at you, it always has a way of working out.

We remain quiet, allowing Baker to work through his thoughts. Time passes, and no one moves. Finally, Baker lifts his head, and there are tears in his eyes.

“What if this baby is mine?” he asks.

Knox places his hand on Baker’s shoulder. “Then you’re going to be a dad. A kickass one at that. That means we’re going to be uncles,” he says. “Corie will be thrilled because who knows when this guy will make her an aunt,” he jokes.

I start to reply, but Baker chuckles, and I leave it alone.

Knox is right. It’s not like I have a woman in my life.

Then again, neither does Baker, and look at where he is.

It’s been months since I’ve enjoyed the intimate company of a woman, but if I’m being honest, what just happened to Baker could happen to any of us.

I think back to the last time, and I can’t remember.

The only woman who comes to mind is Rowan.

I’ve been spending a lot of time with her lately, or she’s been spending a lot of time with us. Either way, she’s where my mind goes.

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” Baker whispers.

“We don’t know for sure if the baby is yours,” Foster reminds him.

“The timeline is there,” Baker counters.

“Call your attorney. Get the test scheduled, and then we’ll figure it out.”

“I’m a professional athlete who’s on the road half the year. How am I going to raise a baby?”

“Help,” Knox tells him.

“You can do this, man,” Reid tells him.

“If that’s your kid, you can do this,” Foster agrees.

“Daddy Sinclair,” I tease, and he turns to look at me. I’m not sure what I expected, but it’s not his lip twitching.

“Chicks dig a single dad.”

“Fuck off,” Baker grumbles.

“No, it’s true,” Reid chimes in.

“If the baby is mine, I’m not going to have time for a woman in my life. I’m going to be learning how to care for a baby on my own.”

“Natasha will be there.”

“We’re not together, and we never will be. But I will be in my child’s life. That means when I have the baby, I’m going to be on my own.”

“You hire a nanny and learn as you go,” Foster tells him.

“You’ve got us,” Knox adds. “My wife, Sloane, even Rowan. We’re all here for you, man. If this is your kid, we’ll figure it out.” He gets a look on his face. “I think you should call my dad.”

“What?” Baker furrows his brow.

“My dad was in a similar situation with me.” Knox goes on to tell us the story, and by the end, we’re all gaping. “So, yeah, I think you should call him. He knows just as well as anyone what it’s like to be tossed into fatherhood without an idea of how to take care of a baby.”

I already knew the story, and the guys knew bits and pieces, but hearing it again, it’s hard not to be in awe of how it all turned out for Ridge and Kendall.

“Thanks, man,” Baker tells Knox.

“It’s unexpected and life-changing, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. Hell, maybe I should go home and get Corie knocked up so we can raise our kids together.”

“That’s my sister!” I shout, covering my ears. I’m doing it to be a nuisance and lighten the moment.

“My wife,” Knox counters. “You don’t want to be an uncle?”

I pretend to think about it. “Two is better than one. They can help keep each other entertained. You might be on to something, Beckett. Baby Sinclair needs a friend.” And yeah, I want to be an uncle. I’ll be the cool uncle, spoiling the kid rotten. I can’t wait.

It’s been just Corie and me after losing our parents.

The idea of adding to our small family makes me want to meet the love of my life and join in on the fun.

Family is what you make it. These four men in this room with me are my family—through thick and thin—and that’s precisely how I know that no matter what those test results say, Baker is going to be just fine. We’ll make sure of it.