A while later after I finished my grocery shopping, I pulled into the parking lot of my store and apartment. I grabbed a couple bags and walked around front to the porch, which had an entrance to my spa and a separate entrance to my apartment upstairs. I froze in my tracks and stared at the man before me.
“What are you doing here, Bud?” I ground my teeth to keep from saying what I really wanted to.
After all, the man was suing me yet again. It wasn’t like we shared children. He was the child. Constantly faking injuries, telling lies about me, and claiming I’m the reason he’s hurt and can’t work. That I owe him and can settle that debt by paying him more money.
“I’m here to see you, babe.” He grabbed his back as he stood. “I would help you with those grocery bags, but my back is bad…as you know.”
I set the bags down. I wasn’t about to unlock my door until he left. “You’re not getting any more money from me, and I don’t want to see you.”
“Oh, I think a judge will have something else to say about that.” He took a menacing step toward me.
I fought the urge to take a step back. I wasn’t wearing high heels this time, so he was slightly taller than me…and definitely stronger.
“Lucky for me I inherited Grammy’s attorneys as well. I really don’t think you want to mess with Victoria Steele and Alexandra Knight of The Steely Knight Agency.”
His face paled slightly at the mention of their names. He was a male chauvinist by nature, but even he knew of their reputation for being ruthless and brutal. They would eat him alive and not think twice about it.
“Don’t you worry. My family has pull in this town.” His face looked smug.
I laughed. “Your family doesn’t want anything to do with you because you’re a loser. They only cared when you were married to me because they knew I would one day inherit Grammy’s money, same as you. None of you ever wanted me, and now I want nothing to do with any of you.”
His gaze locked onto the grocery bag with newborn diapers inside, and I silently cursed. He would find out sooner or later, I had just hoped it would be later.
“You’re pregnant,” he ground out, sounding less than thrilled, probably because he didn’t want to share my inheritance with anyone. “I thought you hated kids.”
“I never said I hated children. I was just afraid I wouldn’t be a good mother.” I realized I said that out loud and snapped my spine straight.
“Aren’t you too old to have a baby?” He snorted with a twisted grin.
“Apparently not, since I’m having babies,” I said with emphasis, relishing in the shocked look on his face that had replaced his grin.
“Who’s the poor bastard you tricked into that one?” He snorted.
A shadow blocked out the setting sun, covering us both.
“That would be me, laddy, and if yer not very careful in how ye talk to a lady, I’ll show ye what a poor bastard really looks like.”
At six foot five, Matt towered over Bud, and he was twice as muscular. I’d never seen that look on Matt’s face before, and I never wanted to be on the receiving end of it. It was quite comical watching Bud’s face pale considerably.
Bud held up his hands before him. “Dude, all I’m trying to do is get what is rightfully mine.”
“Let me be perfectly clear, dude. Absolutely nothing about Ms. Eisenhower belongs to ye. Understood?”
Bud stuck his chest out, but suddenly he didn’t look as strong as I remembered. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer.”
Matt’s grin looked downright intimidating. “I don’t need a lawyer to win or a court to pass judgement.”
Bud took a step back, eying him warily. “Is that a threat?”
Matt briefly flexed his chest, which even made Bud take notice. “That’s a promise, laddy. I suggest ye heed me warning while ye still can.”
Matt’s hands were balled loosely into massive fists, and he took a step forward. Bud jumped backward and fell off my porch. He scrambled to his feet and his gaze shot quickly to me.
“This conversation isn’t over, Tiff.” Bud bolted down the street, not looking injured in the least.
I looked at Matt. “Thank you, but what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the pub?”
“I was at the pub, and then I saw yer porch from me office window. I knew who he was from yer grandmother’s funeral. Not that ye needed me help or anything. I know how ye hate that. But I just thought I would make sure everything was okay.”
“Well, thank you for that. I really do appreciate it.” I picked up my bags, and Matt immediately took them from me. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“For me babies.”
I shook my head, but didn’t argue, too tired to do anything but unlock my door. I stepped inside and climbed the stairs to the apartment above my spa, just now realizing how difficult this was going to be once I was hugely pregnant with twins.
I frowned.
Matt followed me up, carrying both bags easily. “Aidan said he saw ye at the grocery store earlier.” He set the bags on the counter. “Is that all ye bought?”
“No, the rest is in my car. I didn’t want to unlock my place until Bud was gone.” I slipped my shoes off and rubbed my lower back.
“Have a seat and don’t do anything. I’ll be right back.” Matt disappeared.
I looked at the groceries, contemplating putting them away, but my back ached, and my feet were killing me already. It had been a long day. I would put them away in a minute. I just needed a second off my feet. I sat on my couch and closed my eyes.
It felt like only minutes passed by.
A strong sensation that someone was watching me had my eyelids fluttering open. Matt sat staring at me from the chair next to the sofa I was lying on. Somehow, I was lying down and a blanket was draped over me.
