“I was angry because I thought ye only wanted to prove some stupid legend, and I didn’t want to start something that would only end up with me getting hurt.” He sighed. “Ye made it clear you never wanted to get married again or have children.”

“Well, I’m having children now.” I laughed.

He shook his head. “Aye, and ye still don’t want romance.”

I sat up a little straighter. “Because I don’t want to get hurt again.”

He nodded. “I know, lass, but where does that leave us?”

All my bravado left my body on a big exhale. “I honestly don’t know.”

“I’m not yer ex, love, and I would never hurt ye.” His eyes looked sad, and all I wanted to do was make his pain go away.

“Matthew…” His name was a whisper on my lips as I reached up and cradled his cheek with my palm.

“Tiffany…” He turned his head until his lips brushed my palm.

Neither of us spoke.

His head started to slowly lower to mine, and my breathing quickened. My gaze locked onto his lips, and I licked mine, waiting for the electricity to hum between us the moment our lips touched like it always did. My eyelids fluttered closed, and my lips parted in anticipation when my cell phone rang.

I let out a yelp and jumped.

Matt jerked back, startled.

I frowned at the caller I.D. and answered my phone. “Zoe? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. Chaz called and said Bitsy Beaumont Brimstone just had her baby… and she’s asking for you.”

Chapter Nineteen

“Ican’t believe how tiny she is.” I stared at Bitsy’s baby through the nursery window at the hospital, and my heart melted. Babies really were a precious gift. She looked just like her mommy.

“Aye, lass, angels from Heaven. We’ll be having a couple gifts of our own pretty soon.” Matt’s entire face registered his excitement.

All I felt was terrified.

“Guess I’d better get in there and see what Bitsy wants.” I walked down the hall towards Bitsy’s room.

“Want some company?” Matt fell into step beside me.

I stopped outside her door. “No, she asked to see me, so I’ll grant her that.” I could hear voices inside but couldn’t tell what they were saying, although the voices were growing in volume. That couldn’t be good.

Matt nodded and stepped back to lean against the wall. “If ye change yer mind, I’ll be right here.”

I raised my hand to knock, but the door flew open.

Brimstone stared at me, his face red and flushed, then he pulled himself together and nodded once. “Ms. Eisenhower.”

“Principal Brimstone.” I nodded back and then stepped inside the room while Roger started talking to Matt. I left the door open a crack. It somehow made me feel better knowing Matt was right in the hall and had my back.

Bitsy’s face was flushed as well, and tear-streaked. “That man is a monster.” She blew her nose.

“Who?” I handed her more tissues.

“My soon-to-be ex-husband.”

My jaw fell open. “You and Roger are getting divorced?”

“Yes, no, I don’t know.” She wailed harder.

I sat on the edge of the bed and took her hands in mine. We might not be friends, but she was a woman and new mother. My friends and I were all about empowering and supporting women, period. It didn’t matter who they were.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

“He’s sick of me already. That’s what happened.”

“I doubt that’s true.”

“I could tell right from the start that the only reason he married me was because I was pregnant with his child. His reputation means everything to him in this stuffy old town. I think he resents me now for taking away his freedom. I know he doesn’t look like a Casanova, but looks can be deceiving. He very much enjoyed the single life.”

“Oh, I remember.” Poor Zoe would never forget after running into him by accident at The Gentleman’s Club beside Adult World when he mistook her for Little Red Riding Hood and wanted to be her big bad wolf.

“That’s how I got into trouble to begin with. I fell for his lines. He didn’t even wait until I was out of the hospital. Now that we had the baby while married and not out of wedlock—no offense—he informed me he wants an open marriage. He wants to become swingers. Apparently, there’s a whole group of couples he knows who take turns hosting parties and hooking up with each other’s spouses. He used to go to parties when he was single because a single person is called a unicorn and in high demand.”

I ignored the ‘having a baby out of wedlock’ comment because I was shocked over the rest of the information she’d revealed. I knew Brimstone had a wild side, but I never imagined he was into that lifestyle…but hey, I wasn’t one to judge.

“As long as you both are happy, then what’s the harm?”

“Happy?” She scowled. “He might be happy, but I’m not. I don’t want to be open, or swing, and I don’t even like unicorns. They freak me out. Open? That’s a joke. He means open between us but secret to the town, of course. God forbid his precious reputation be tarnished.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Divorce him…I think.” She gave me a pleading look. “That’s why I came to you. You’ve been divorced and you’re going to raise these babies alone. I figured you’re an expert in this department. Please, Tiffany, you have to help me.”

I laughed out loud.

The woman was beyond offensive, and my patience was wearing thin. “I’m no expert, Bitsy. I was only married once, and he cheated on me. I came here in good faith, but yes, you are offending me. If there’s nothing else, I think I’ll go.” I stood.

Bitsy cried harder. “I’m sorry. Please don’t leave. I’ve never been good with words. Never had many friends, either.”

I sat back down in a chair this time. “Apology accepted. Divorce is messy and hard and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Do you love Roger?”

She nodded hard.

“Then talk to him. You never know how much he’s willing to compromise unless you have an honest conversation. Maybe there is a way to save your marriage, if that’s what you want. You have a beautiful, precious baby girl now that you share. I’ve seen you and Roger together. It’s plain to see he married you for more than just her. He cares about you, too.”

“You really think so?”