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Cassie’s smile faded as Ian remained silent. Her protective hands held Emily close to her chest.
“Why don’t you have some breakfast?” Linda asked, breaking the silence.
His eyes darted to her, then back to Cassie, who still watched him with a questioning look. Tessa and Grant had yet to move as they also took in the unfolding scene.
“I have things to do,” he said as he walked by Cassie, ignoring the hurt in her eyes, and out the back door.
He couldn’t stay in there another second. Rage filled him at the idea that Cassie had kept such a vital part of her life a secret. Was she the mother who pawned her kid off on other people so she could go have a good time? She’d been so confident, so eager to please him last night. Perhaps he was just the latest in a long line of men she threaded into her web.
No, he hadn’t wanted anything beyond sex. And he sure as hell didn’t want to discover that the woman he’d spent the night with was manipulative and selfish, looking for attention...just like his mother.
* * *
Humiliation flooded her.
The look of utter shock layered with anger had consumed Ian when she’d announced Emily was her daughter.
“Cass?”
Swallowing the hurt, Cassie turned to see her sister watching her. Because this awkward moment didn’t need any more fuel added to the fire, Cassie smiled.
“Thanks for watching her last night,” Cassie said as she held Emily with one arm and grabbed the overnight bag off the counter. “I need to go change and then I’ll meet you at the stables.”
“Cassie.” Tessa slid from the stool and crossed to her. “Don’t do this.”
“Do what?”
Blue eyes stared back at her and Cassie wanted nothing more than to sit and cry, but feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t accomplish anything. She’d tried that when Derek had left her.
“I just want to go feed Emily and change.” Cassie blinked back the burn of tears. “I’ll meet you in an hour.”
“Leave Emily here,” Linda said. “I’m keeping her today anyway. Do what you need to do. I’ll make sure she’s fed.”
As much as Cassie wanted to keep Emily with her, she knew it was silly. She’d just have to put her in her crib with toys while she grabbed a shower.
“All right,” she conceded, dropping the bag back onto the counter and easing Emily into the wooden high chair next to the wide granite island. “Thanks, guys.”
Barely keeping it together, she started for the door. When Tessa called her name again, Cassie raised a hand and waved her off. She just wanted to be alone for a minute, to compose herself.
How could she be so naive? Of course some big-city bachelor would be turned off by kids, but to act so repulsed by the fact made her flat-out angry.
She’d sworn when Derek had left she wouldn’t allow herself to get hurt again. So, what did she do? Sleep with the first man who showed her any kind of affection.
Seriously, she thought she had more self-respect than that.
More angry at herself now, Cassie marched across the Barrington estate to her cottage next to the stables. Swatting at her damp cheeks, she squinted against the bright early-morning sun.
And because of the light in her eyes she didn’t see Ian until she was in the shadow of her house. There he stood, resting against one of the porch posts as if he belonged there.
“Don’t you have a client who needs your attention?” she asked, not stopping as she brushed past him and slid her key from her pocket to let herself in.
When she tried to close the door behind her, Ian’s muscular arm shot out and his hand gripped the edge.
Those dark eyes leveled hers as she reined in her tears. No way would she let him see just how upset she truly was.
Tension crackled between them as Ian stood on the threshold, making no move to come in or leave.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“I want to know why you didn’t tell me you had a daughter.”
“Do you have kids?” she retorted.
He blinked. “No.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t?”
“It never came up.”
She threw her arms out. “Exactly. We didn’t discuss too much personal stuff before...”
Shaking her head, Cassie looked up to the ceiling and sighed. “Just go. I made a mistake—it’s over.”
When her front door slammed, she jumped.
“I don’t like being played.” Ian fisted his hands on his narrow hips.
“This is my life, Ian.” She gestured toward the Pack ’n Play in the corner and the toys in a basket next to the sofa. “I’m a mom. I’m not apologizing for it, and you won’t make me feel bad.”
