Page 44 of Protective Phlox

“Yes, they are. But it’s always best to be safe, and they are the best.” Walking over to the chair, I sat down and crossed my ankles. Shawn sat down across from me on the small couch and rubbed his hands on his legs. He seemed nervous, and I didn’t like that. It meant that whatever he wanted to talk about would annoy me. This was taking far too long. “Didn’t you want to talk to me about something?”

“Yes, it’s just…you seem different,” he said, and I lifted a shoulder, not sure what he was referring to. “Maybe it was all the time you spent in Italy.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Just that Italy must have been good for you. You look amazing.” He looked away. “How did you get Valerie into a private hospital?”

“Perks of working with a powerful government organization,” I said. It had nothing to do with the FBI and everything to do with Nathan.

He cleared his throat and leaned forward on his knees. “I never got the chance to really apologize for what happened between us.”

“There’s no need to now. It was four years ago, and we’ve moved on with our lives. I’m sorry if I came off as rude yesterday when you called. I was just shocked that my mother had you as her emergency contact, but I do understand why.”

“Since you left for Italy, your mom and I have kept in touch. She was looking for someone to chat with, like when she’d call looking for you. I felt bad that she didn’t have anyone here to look out for her.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Are you saying that because I was in another country, I couldn’t take care of my mother? She does have free international calling. If she wanted to talk to me, she could call any time.”

“You know what I mean. She needed someone to take her shopping or to an appointment, and that obviously couldn’t be you.” He waved his hand in the air, his patented way of dismissing a conversation. “But what I really wanted to talk to you about was giving us a second chance.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Look, I’ve done a lot of soul-searching these past four years, and I realized that I just wasn’t ready for a serious relationship and took it out on you.” That might have been the most mature sentence Shawn had ever said to me. Four years too late, but good for him for finally growing up. “Not only that, but you must be tired of being a single mom.” Then he said shit like that and ruined all the progress. “I’ve decided that I’m ready.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Ready for what?”

“For us. For us to try again and for me to be involved in my son’s life.”

My mouth dropped just as the door opened, and Guy stepped in with two coffees. “Thank you,” I said, taking my offering. I burned my tongue but didn’t care as I swallowed a mouthful down and wished that it was something stronger.

“First, we are not getting back together.” Shawn’s eyes darkened, and his lips pressed into a firm line. “Second, he’s not your son. Third, let’s pretend he was your son. You let me live in another country with him and never contacted me until now when you’re ready. You must be joking.”

“He has to be mine. I was the only one you were with, and the timing matches up.”

I smiled, unable to believe what I was hearing, but it quickly dissolved into laughter. “Shawn, do you not remember the man on the phone that night you called?”

“Well yeah, but I assumed you just put someone up to that to piss me off.” I shook my head.

“Does that really seem like something I’d do?” He sat back on the couch and crossed his arms. “That doesn’t matter. What does matter is that I’m not getting back together with you, and you don’t have to worry about suddenly needing to step up as a father. My son is not yours. Not only that, but I’m living in California now and have no plans on moving back.”

Shawn shot up out of his chair. “So, you’re telling me that not only did you really fuck around with whoever that asshole was on the phone, but you’re not going to be here when your mother gets out of the hospital? What kind of daughter are you?”

The door opened, and Goran stepped inside the room. “Back away right now, or you’ll need the doctor,” he said. There was no wiggle room for interpretation. He was getting ready to charge Shawn.

“Tell your dogs to back off. We’re just having a discussion,” he growled and pointed at Goran.

I slowly stood and hitched my purse up onto my shoulder. “Goran is not a dog. He’s doing his job, and do not speak to him or me like that again, or I will let them throw you out of the hospital.” I stepped into Shawn’s personal space and stared up into eyes that hadn’t changed. Everything he’d said about being different was nothing more than lip service. “Let me make something very clear to you, Shawn. I owe you nothing, and what I do regarding my mother’s care is also none of your business. I appreciate you helping take care of her while I wasn’t here. I’m sure she has enjoyed having you around, but you do not question my love or ability to take care of my mother ever again. Now, if that is all you wanted to talk about, you have my answer. My life has moved in another direction. It did the day you made the conscious decision to cheat on me, and I have never looked back.”

There was something so rewarding about seeing the shocked and annoyed look on his face. Turning, I walked to the door, and Goran silently glared at Shawn. I looked over my shoulder at him. “I wish you well, Shawn. I hope you find what it is that you’re looking for. But you’re misguided if you think that it’s with me.”

Stepping out of the room, I went on the hunt for someone who could tell me how long my mother would be so I could get the hell out of there.

Chapter

Eighteen

SAVANNAH

“All I’m saying is that if he touches you again, I’m going to break all the bones in his body and then leave him in the woods,” Goran said. I didn’t put it past him, but I was done arguing the point. I’d told him not to worry and that I had everything with Shawn under control. Goran didn’t care.