Wes had listened to his child’s heartbeat, and then he was off to his next tournament. He almost didn’t want to go.

More and more lately, Wes found himself glued to Kaylee’s side, much to her confusion and annoyance. But dammit, he was desperate to be a part of Kaylee and their unborn child’s life.

He found any excuse to swing by Club Kids, and brought Kaylee lunch every day he was in town, which she didn’t seem to mind. Her appetite had expanded exponentially. If Wes got anywhere near her food, she gave him the evil eye.

Lesson learned: never come between a pregnant woman and her food if you value your limbs.

Halfway through his latest tournament, his buddy Tom invited him to go out for drinks. Wes wasn’t big on drinking during a tournament, but Tom had insisted.

They’d just sat down at the bar and ordered beers when Tom started laying into Wes.

“I need a hookup.” Tom scanned the bar, his gaze landing on a short blonde in the corner. “Too tense out there on the course. Be my wingman tonight?”

Fuck. The last thing Wes wanted was to flirt with a woman so his friend could get laid. And why should he have to?

“Not tonight.” Or ever, he thought.

Wes had a kid on the way. He wasn’t in the same place as Tom anymore. Which was a shocking realization. He wasn’t interested in the lifestyle his buddy led, and that Wes had led mere months ago, though even then he’d been getting tired of it.

Ever since Kaylee had come into town, Wes had stopped chasing women. He’d been training and busy, but really, it was like he’d become a compass needle pointed only at Kaylee. All else had faded into the background. She was the only woman he wanted, and it wasn’t just about sex. Though he definitely wanted to have sex with her if she ever let him back in her bed.

Wes loved Kaylee. She was his equal—the woman he’d throw down for. The woman who told him he was being an ass when he was being an ass. And for some reason, a smackdown from Kaylee was worse than from anyone else.

He laughed when Emily, the velvet hammer, gave him a hard time, or when his brothers were up his ass. But if he upset Kaylee, he couldn’t take it. He had to make things right as soon as possible, because the last thing he wanted was for her to be unhappy.

“No?” Tom said. He shook his head. “How quickly they forget. I got your golf course on the tour, which got you the sponsor’s exemption. That’s the only reason you’re sitting here right now.” He stared back at the blonde and the group of women she was with. “I think you owe me, don’t you?”

Wes didn’t mention that he’d played damn well, and that was the reason he’d made it past the Tahoe Invitational. He sensed a threat when he heard one. “How long have you been a dick?”

Tom huffed out a breath. “Excuse me? You want to rethink your words? Don’t forget, I’m in with the tour organizers. One word from me, and you’d get pulled just like that.” He snapped his fingers.

Could he? Wes wasn’t so sure, and he honestly didn’t give a shit.

He rose from his chair and tossed down cash for his unfinished beer. “I’m heading back to the hotel. Enjoy your night.”

Tom stood abruptly. “I won’t forget this, you know,” he called as Wes made his way to the exit.

Wes strode out of the bar where he hadn’t wanted to be in the first place. And when he reached the hotel, he considered leaving the whole damn tournament. Which was insane. Or maybe not.

His brothers were right. It didn’t matter how many sandwiches Wes brought Kaylee when he was in town. He was still gone most of the time. Which meant he was putting the tour ahead of his family with Kaylee, the same way his father had put the club ahead of Wes and his brothers.

He had a chance to be a real father, and what was he doing? Placing work ahead of the most important woman in his life and his future child just so he could dick around the pro tour circuit in the middle of the pack.

Could he qualify for the tour full-time? Win a tournament? Possibly. But then what would he have? Success would be hollow if he missed raising his daughter. And if he didn’t have Kaylee.

Wes put in a few phone calls then packed his bags.

He knew where he wanted to be. And it wasn’t here.

---

When Wes arrived in Lake Tahoe, Kaylee wasn’t home. He dropped his luggage off at his place and headed for the club. It was after hours, and he couldn’t imagine where she might be, but he hoped one of his brothers would know before he ruined the surprise by calling her.

He didn’t need to look far. And it wasn’t one of his brothers who helped him out.

Wes walked into the Fireside Lounge and scanned the tables. Kaylee sat at the bar across from Emily, who was bartending, but only for Kaylee, it seemed. They were at one end of the bar, and the regular bartender was helping the rest of the customers at the other end.

Wes released a heavy sigh. Nothing like not knowing where the pregnant mother of your child was at nine o’clock at night. Not that it was late, but yeah, he just needed to know she was okay.

He started toward them, and Emily looked up. She held up her hand discreetly, staying him.

Kaylee took what appeared to be one of several orange shots, and Emily said something quietly in her ear. Kaylee nodded, and Emily hurried over to Wes.

Emily must not have told Kaylee that he stood in the lounge, because she didn’t look back.

“What are you doing here?” Emily said in a hushed voice, glancing toward the bar.

“What am I doing here? Why are you giving my pregnant girlfriend shots of alcohol?”

“Girlfriend?” She quirked her eyebrow.

He sighed and motioned for her to continue. As far as Wes was concerned, Kaylee was his girlfriend.

“It’s orange juice, not alcohol. Orange juice has folic acid in it, which is good for the baby.”

Wes shook his head. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Emily grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the lounge and into the lobby. “Kaylee can’t drink, but she didn’t want to be alone tonight, so we’re improvising. Now why are you here? Shouldn’t you be on some golf course across the country?”

He glanced away. “I came back.”

Concern crossed her face. “Did something happen?”

“Not exactly.”

“Given how open you’re being, I take it you’re not going to tell me what’s up?”

“Correct.”

“Fine, but you can’t be here right now.” She peered toward the doorway of the Fireside Lounge, where they could just make out Kaylee lifting her next orange juice shot.

“Why the hell not?”

“Because Kaylee is feeling sad. It’s not easy being a single pregnant lady.”

“She doesn’t have to be a single pregnant lady,” he said. “I’ve been trying to show her that I want something serious.”

“Well whatever you’ve been doing, it isn’t working.” She turned and started toward the lounge. “Maybe you should be more direct,” she said over her shoulder, leaving him stammering.

Wasn’t that what he was doing by leaving the pro tour to be with Kaylee?

Wes missed the club and his students, so leaving the tour wasn’t only about her. He wanted to be there for his brothers as well. The truth was, he was happier in Lake Tahoe than on the road.

He’d been trailing Kaylee every chance he got when he was home, trying to show her he was there for her. But until today, the things he’d been doing were actions worked around his schedule.

Wes and Kaylee were adults with a child on the way. He needed to show her that he was serious and in it for the long haul.

Kaylee wanted direct? He’d show her direct.