LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter Five

      Kim’s hand trembled as she stared into the rich red wine. She took a sip, hoping it would calm her raging nerves. But her legs felt weak and the night’s strain was wearing her down.

       “Why, Kim? Why did you keep my daughter from me?”

       The cold bitterness in Brandon’s voice hit her like a punch in the stomach. But painful memories swirled around her, rousing her own anger.

       She lifted her head, refusing to let him dump the blame on her. “Because you told me you didn’t want me, remember? That you were in love with another woman? Then you married her two weeks later.”

       The whirlwind romance had been almost as shocking and hurtful as the breakup. She had spent a lifetime with Brandon, yet he’d fallen for Marty Canterberry in weeks.

       The ice clinked in Brandon’s glass as he choked down his drink. “That didn’t give you the right to keep my child from me.” Anger made his voice harsh. “To not tell me I was going to be a father.”

       Kim finished the wine, then set the glass down with a thud and folded her arms. “The day I found out I was pregnant, you were on your honeymoon with your bride. Where did you go, Brandon? The Bahamas? Bermuda? I forget.” A trace of sarcasm laced her tone. “I didn’t think either you or your wife would welcome me showing up announcing that I was carrying your child.”

       There, that was the cold hard truth. Let him deal with it.

       Brandon clenched the glass so tightly she thought it was going to break. “You could have told me when I returned.”

       “Yeah, right. Let’s see—when you were setting up house with Marty?” Kim barked a laugh. “You gave up any right to me or to Lucy when you chose her over me.”

       Brandon’s eyes flared hot. “So you kept her from me out of revenge?”

       “No,” Kim said, shocked that he would think she was that vindictive. “You didn’t want me, Brandon. I didn’t fit into your future, your dreams anymore. I couldn’t help you achieve the success you wanted.” A tremor rippled through her as she unleashed on him. “I didn’t think you would want a baby either. She would have messed up your plans, too.”

       She paced to the window and looked out at the stars and moon. Darkness bathed the property, outbuildings and pastures. Yet she imagined Brandon and Marty riding across the land with the wind in their faces, smiling as they approached the house, and bitterness heated her blood.

       Dammit, maybe a part of her had wanted to get back at him. He’d broken her heart, destroyed her dreams and left her pregnant while he was off screwing another woman and climbing his way to the top.

       Brandon’s feet pounded behind her; then he swung her around to look at him. A muscle ticked in his clenched jaw. “You knew how much I loved my sister, Kim. How scared I was of having a child with that genetic disorder.”

       Kim stiffened. “Yes, I knew. And believe me, I worried that Lucy would have problems.” And she’d struggled over what she would do if she discovered her baby had inherited that disorder. “Johnny took me to a specialist and paid for tests—”

       “Johnny,” Brandon muttered beneath his breath. “I should have been the one there, Kim. Not Johnny.” He squeezed her arms so tightly Kim winced. Then he seemed to realize it and released her. “Johnny should have told me.”

       “I made him promise not to,” Kim said, refusing to allow him to blame her brother. She inhaled a deep breath, seething. “Besides, you keep forgetting that you broke up with me.”

       “Then you went straight to Carter’s bed.”

       “That’s not how it happened,” Kim said in a tortured voice. “Besides, we’ve been over this before. It’s not like my sleeping with Carter for one night should have mattered to you anyway. You were already in Marty’s bed.”

       “If I’d known about Lucy—”

       “What?” Kim shouted. “You would have changed your mind?” She shoved her face in his. “You’re unbelievable, Brandon Woodstock. Do you remember the horrible things you said to me the last night we saw each other? You called me all kinds of hurtful names and said you hated me.” She threw up her hands. “Knowing how you felt, how could I possibly have come to you with the news that I was pregnant? You probably would have accused me of trying to trap you.”

       “But you didn’t want that, did you?” Brandon said in a hoarse voice. “You didn’t fight for me at all.”

       No, she’d been too crushed. And how could she have fought against Marty Canterberry, with her gorgeous body and social standing and money. She had everything Kim hadn’t had.

       And she had helped Brandon achieve his dreams.

       “Don’t you dare make this about me.” Kim poked him in the chest. “You walked away, Brandon. You made your feelings about me clear back then. You made your choice. I had to live with it and now so do you.”