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“You need to be protected.”
The rough tone of his voice stirred butterflies in the pit of her stomach. “Are you volunteering?”
His gaze cut back to hers. “Fuck no.”
And just like that, she was sixteen again, faced with Devante Torrez’s brutal rejection.
Shelby stuffed her hurt deep down inside, stiffened her spine, and angled her shoulders to march past without touching him. She stripped off her coat along the way, and halted at the dining room entrance where everyone was gathered at the huge table loaded with food. Well, almost everyone. Asher and Honor had just gotten home from the hospital with Ava, so they were absent, and as usual, so was Grayson.
She almost kinda wished she’d skipped today.
No, Dev’s right. I can’t ignore this anymore.
His shoulder bumped hers as he stopped behind her. She shifted away at the same moment Celia looked up. Her older sister’s eyebrows rose for a brief moment at the sight of her self-appointed escort, but then she waved them forward because there were plenty of times when they were younger when the Torrez kids had eaten with their family.
“Get in here you two. Sit down so we can finally eat.”
“Everyone’s waiting,” Shelby said in a low undertone to Dev. “I’ll tell him after brunch.”
“Mr. Diamond.” His voice projected over the noise, drawing the attention of the entire table. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but may I speak with you?”
Gritting her teeth in annoyance as everyone stared at them, Shelby said, “We. Can we speak with both you and Mom?”
Her father set his coffee cup down with a slight frown. “Can’t it wait?”
“No sir,” Dev insisted.
Her mom twisted in her chair, concern in her eyes. “Is everything okay?”
Shelby heard Dev draw a breath to speak and jabbed an elbow into his ribs to shut him up. At the same time, she heard Merit joke to Loyal, “Hundred bucks says she’s pregnant.”
Dev muttered behind her as she swung her narrowed gaze to her idiot grinning brothers. “I am not pregnant.”
Gotta have sex for that.
Mae smacked her husband on the shoulder, and Merit rubbed the spot as he laughed.
Looking back at her parents, Shelby said, “I just need a few minutes, please. In your study, Dad?”
Curiosity lit his brown eyes as he nodded. “We’ll be right there.”
When she spun and pushed past Dev, voices erupted behind her. After Merit’s joke, they’d probably dream up
all kinds of scenarios. She could’ve just as easily told them all right there, but then she’d have like fifteen different people showering her with concern and advice and it was suffocating just thinking about it.
Dev followed, and as she reached the study, Shelby whirled to block the entrance. He jerked to a halt and reached out to grab the doorjamb with a wince.
She ignored a flash of sympathy—because God forbid she feel sorry for his pain—and demanded, “Why are you still here?”
“I was wrong earlier.”
Wow. Hell must’ve frozen over. “About what?”
“You being level-headed.”
That explained why he’d admit to being wrong—it had been something good about her.
“Experience proves you have a proclivity for doing rash, reckless things that put you in danger, so I’m making sure you tell your dad everything he needs to know.”
