“You should’ve thought about that when you and Tiff had unprotected sex.”
“You know how it is, man. There comes a point when you’re too far gone to keep your head on straight. Besides, she said it was her safe time.”
“I hear that,” Sly said. “No matter what a woman tells you, always use protection. I do.” Except for the one night with Lana. “Look, this is a busy season at the ranch,” he went on. “I need your help. Why don’t you stick around for another week and think it over?”
“But I ain’t ready to be a daddy.”
“You’re going to be one anyway.” He let that hang in the air a few moments. “At least talk to Tiff. You owe her that much. Maybe you two can work something out.”
“I guess I could do that,” Ollie said with a grudging shrug. “But I’m only sticking around for another week.” He left the barn.
Sly stayed. Too restless to sit, he paced around without really seeing the horse stalls or bales of hay stacked against the wall. It’d been almost a week since Lana had told him she was pregnant. Instead of thinking about her and the baby, he’d spent those days focused on himself and how he’d screwed up with Seth.
For years he’d assured himself he’d never saddle a kid with his poor example of a father. But life had turned on him, and Lana was pregnant with his baby, and she was determined to raise it. Which made Sly no different from Ollie. Like his young ranch hand, he needed to man up and face his responsibilities.
When viewing the situation that way, he realized what he had to do. Right there in the barn, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called Lana.
The phone rang four times, then went to voice mail. He left a message. “The Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. If you’re free a week from Saturday, I’d like to take you to dinner.” Knowing what she’d say to that, he added, “This won’t be a date. We have to talk about our situation, and we both need to eat. Why not over dinner? Call me back.”
He disconnected. Feeling lighter than he had in days, he whistled as he exited the barn.
Chapter
Nineteen
After a quick dinnerthe Friday of the Memorial Day weekend holiday, Lana and Kate headed to the mall to meet Dani, who wanted new shoes. Thanks to the mall-wide sale, the parking lot was full.
“Don’t mention the pregnancy,” Lana warned Kate as she searched for a place to park.
Her friend gave her a puzzled look. “You’re keeping it a secret from Sly’s sister?”
“He wants to tell her himself, but he isn’t ready yet. I’m of the same mind with my family, so we agreed to wait a while. Oh, and don’t mention the dinner tomorrow night.”
Kate made a face. “You’re not leaving much to talk about.”
“Sure I am. Guys you’re dating, guys she’s dating, shopping, food. What else is there?” Lana teased.
“That’ll work. What do you think Sly will say when you go out tomorrow night?”
“I have no idea, and it isn’t a date,” Lana reminded her. For now, it was enough that he wanted to get together and talk. At last, she spied a parking slot. “We’re meeting Dani at Altman’s,” she said, as she maneuvered the car into the space.
Kate rubbed her hands together in anticipation. “I love that department store, and they have great shoes.”
Ten minutes later, the three of them entered the women’s shoe section. Dani went straight for the sandals. “What do you think of these?” she asked, showing Lana and Kate a strappy yellow sandal with three-inch heels. “I have the cutest sundress to wear them with.”
Lana loved them. “They’re really sexy, but too high for me. If I tried to walk in those, I’d probably fall flat on my behind.”
“I doubt that,” Kate said. “I want a pair too, in red. So, Dani, is there a special guy you want to wear them for?”
Sly’s sister sighed. “I just went through a breakup.”
Lana felt for her but was confused. “When we met for coffee, you weren’t seriously involved with anyone.”
“As with most of my relationships, it didn’t last long. But hey, if I wear these, some cute guy is bound to ask me out. Why don’t we each try on a different color?”
“I’m in,” Kate said. This way, Lana, you can test them out and see if you can walk in them.”
A few minutes later, Lana admired herself in the mirror. “Yay, me,” she said, very pleased with herself and the silver sandals. “I’ve walked to the wall and back and haven’t stumbled or fallen over. And wow, look at my legs.”
