Page 44 of Sterling Heat

Dammit. Why hasn’t she told me? Seeing as Vale is buddy-buddy with my roommate, I ask, “Did she happen to mention the father?”

Clay’s brows lift. Stone watches me.

“No. And even if she did, I wouldn’t betray her trust unless she’s already mentioned him to you.” Vale eyes me, searching for an answer. The truth is, Enya is tightlipped about him, other than he hadn’t been kind to her.

You’re kind to both of us. And frankly, it’s refreshing.

How could anyone not care about Enya? Then I consider her parents and whoever Adara’s father is, and I don’t want to think about any of them.

Enya has me. And Vale, apparently.

“Thanks for looking out for her.” The gratitude I just gave could come from anyone, but my family is reading me. I’m thankful Vale has extended herself to Enya and my appreciation suggests I care about Enya.

“When you goin’ to make an honest woman out of her?” Clay questions, lifting his beer and pointing at me.

“Enya already is an honest woman and I’m not the father. I’m just her roommate. For now.”

“Why?” Vale stares at me, eyes widening. “What do you mean for now?”

“Didn’t Enya tell you? She owns the old Wallace farmhouse.”

Stone continues studying me.

“Fuck,” Clay mutters blunt and low. His eyes shift toward Hudson making sure he’s out of hearing range. Our nephew has been busy digging in the dirt along the side of the yard.

“I heard that,” he calls out without even lifting his head or looking in our direction. “That’s one dollar, Uncle Clay.”

“A dollar?” Clay huffs. “What happened to a quarter?”

“Inflation.” Hudson still doesn’t glance upward.

Vale smiles at her son before looking back at us. “Trudy Wallace mentioned the place had sold and the owner was doing extensive renovations to the house. I hadn’t realized it was Enya, though,” Vale explains. Concern fills her face. “When does she move in?”

“A few days.” And I’m not counting down like I can’t wait. Her move will be bittersweet. Plus, I don’t like to think of Enya living in that house. Alone. And with a baby.

“Are you helping her move again?” Vale watches me, searching for something.

I shake my head. “She says she has movers lined up.”

“I’m not convinced her contractor is doing his best by her. He wasn’t local and I’ve seen some of his work.” Knox’s statement reminds me he’s been out to the place, doing some brickwork there.

“Like what?” I’m instantly on alert that Enya’s contractor took advantage of her.

“Just little things. Like the tile job in her bathroom is shit. The sink in the powder room is off-center. Thankfully, her kitchen cabinets were an independent crew and they installed them for her.”

“I don’t like how any of that sounds,” I admit. Enya hadn’t told me about any issues with her new home, only that the contractor pushed for another week. However, Enya held firm on her move in date. Two weeks with me was her limit.

Knox slaps his hand on my shoulder. “When she moves into her new place, not going to be your problem, though, is it?”

“Maybe another man will move in,” Clay adds.

“What the fuck? What other man?” I snap.

“Whoever the baby-daddy is,” Knox continues.

“Or a new guy who wants to be the baby’s daddy,” Clay arches a brow at me.

Fuck that. And fuck them.