Page 38 of Cowboy

“I haven’t had sex in months.”

My mouth falls open. He cannot be serious.

“Brittney never wants it anymore, and honestly, she’s getting fat.”

“She’s pregnant,” I defend, although I owe the woman nothing.

“That’s just it. I don’t think I’m cut out for fatherhood.”

My arms cross over my midsection, my own belly protruding just the slightest bit. My heavy breasts truss upward with the motion, and Shelton’s eyes fall there on my body.

“You look good, Red.”

“Don’t call me that,” I snap, but he’s licking his lips like he does. His eyes smolder as he narrows in on my enlarged breasts. I recognize all the signs of him wanting something from me, only he’s not coming anywhere near me.

“Please, Strawberry. I want us how we used to be.” His use of my childhood nickname bristles up my spine, and his statement doesn’t settle well with me. He’s not saying take him back, forgive him. He’s not even saying he loves me. He only wants sex.

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt. As much as I didn’t want to tell Shelton, the words tumble out like a shield of protection. He stumbles back like I’ve struck him. His hands flare out at his sides before bracing him against the edge of his sporty convertible.

“With him?” His voice drips incredulous as though it’s unbelievable I’d choose to sleep with someone else after he did the same to me.

“It could be yours.” It’s a possibility. Still, I realize the second I say the words they’re bitter and choking. I don’t want this child to belong to Shelton. I don’t want anything more to do with him.

“That can’t be.” The doubt in his voice drives my desire to be rid of him deeper.

“We slept together the night before I left. The night before I learned you were with another woman, probably in our own bed. The same bed you slept in with me.” I step forward, all my energy turning into a need to slap him, and I’ve never hit anyone in my life.

Slowly, Shelton smiles, a devious grin appearing on his pretty face before it registers that he’s possibly gotten two women pregnant at the same time. The smile quickly fades. “This cannot be happening.”

As if sleeping with a med student and getting her pregnant while still married to me isn’t scandalous enough, the idea of having two women pregnant by him sounds worse.

Shelton tips his head, and his eyes narrow. “You’re lying.” His voice grows tighter as his fingers curl against the edge of his convertible.

My mouth falls open. “Why would I lie about being pregnant?”

“Scandals are what you live for, and you want to hurt me.”

“Are you kidding me right now?”

“You’re saying this to get back at me. I don’t want to be a father, and I’m upset about Brittney’s pregnancy. You’re trying to scare me off, but it’s not going to happen.” He presses off his car and steps up to me, crowding my space. He lifts one arm and secures his hand near my shoulder over the open bed of Bull’s pick up. “There’s no way you are pregnant, sweetheart.” He hisses the term Bull used, but I will not let him taint it for me. “You’re too old.”

“You son of a bitch,” I snap, pressing at him, pushing him to move away from me. While Shelton isn’t as solid as Bull, he’s still strong, and he hardly flinches at the pressure I put on his chest. Using the truck as leverage, he tugs himself forward, pinning me with his body to the side of the large vehicle. His face dips for my neck, and he mutters near my ear.

“We were always good together like this. Your fiery spirit mixing with my big dick.”

I gag over the dirty words that would have turned me on at one time. My hands press harder at him, struggling with his nearness but not feeling truly threatened by him.

“Well, your big dick dipped into someone else, and it’s not coming anywhere near me again.”

Shelton shifts as if grinding against me will remind me of how good we once were. He should have remembered all those times before he decided to dally with the dollop under his instruction. My hands push harder at his pecs, and the strangest thought occurs to me. It doesn’t feel right touching him. His isn’t the firm chest I want to run my hands over. His aren’t the arms that I want to hold me. And his big dick isn’t that big.

I’ve had bigger, better, and someone with more heart behind his worth.

“Get away from me, Shelton,” I demand, pushing at him once more.

Thankfully, he puts distance between us, but he doesn’t release his hold on the truck. “Are you really pregnant? Is it mine?”

Holding a figurative stake for his heart, I do what years of entertainment news has taught me to do.