Tristan chuckled at the expressions on his parents’ faces. “I’ve never seen your eyes this big before.”

His mum and dad looked at each other before shaking off their shocked look.

“I suppose you must really love her,” Jennie said.

It was his turn to widen his eyes at his mother. “It was a one-night stand.”

“A one-night stand?” Theo said with a scowl. “Then why on earth did you choose the Shiptons’ daughter?”

“At the time, I didn’t know she was their daughter, Dad,” he said with a sigh.

“Didn’t know? Were you drunk?”

“Of course not! Geez, come on.”

“How did you end up in bed with her then? Didn’t you even ask her name?”

“I did. She said her name was Paige,” he said dryly.

Theo shook his head. “Just because you can have anyone and anything you want doesn’t mean you should, Tristan. Believe me, you’ll be happier finding yourself that one woman you can share your life with rather than constantly hopping from one bed to another.”

“Who says I do that? I don’t hop from one bed to another. I’ve had… girlfriends.”

“Girlfriends!” Jennie said, her face brightening. “How come you’ve never introduced any to us?”

“They’ve never been serious enough,” he said in a bored tone. “Anyway, about Paige—”

“How come you had a one-night stand with her?” Theo interrupted. “Did you cheat on your girlfriend?”

Argh! “No, Dad. I wasn’t with anyone then and I’m not with anyone now. You know I haven’t had time for relationships ever since you two left me to run TG on my own. Anyway, Paige just caught my eye.”

Theo shook his head. “Well, your mum’s right. Now that you’re about to become a father, you have to look into settling down. And I don’t mean with the Shiptons’ daughter—I’m just generally speaking here.”

“Or it could be with Paige,” Jennie said softly. “What’s done is done, and if the two of you really like each other, then you should give it a try. You’re having a baby together.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Tristan said, raising both hands to stop his mother. “Paige and I are not starting to date, much less getting married or anything like that. All I want is to have joint custody, at the very least. But Paige and I will have a more in-depth discussion when the paternity results confirm it’s my baby.”

“What do those crooks Larry and Debbie say about this?” Theo asked. “Are they now going to stop their idiotic lies about you? Will they now do the right thing and admit you should be the one to buy that club of theirs? Seriously, though, I don’t think you should do any more business with them even if they finally decide to honour your contract.”

Tristan took a deep breath. “They’re still refusing to have a discussion.”

“I never did trust those Shiptons,” Theo muttered. “There was always something fishy about them. They rejoiced when your mother and I stepped down to let you run TG all by yourself, thinking you’d be a pushover compared to their decades of experience. Now that you’ve toppled them off their perch, their true colours have come out.”

Tristan snickered mirthlessly. “My biggest mistake was thinking they were astute business people who would never resort to unfair practices. If I hadn’t been on the receiving end of it, I honestly would never have believed they could be so unreasonable and shonky, considering the reputation they have.”

“Is Paige angry at you for wanting to sue her parents? I’m concerned she might be unreasonable too when it comes to the baby,” Jennie said worriedly.

“No. She seems genuinely happy that I’m prepared to be involved with the baby. I don’t think Paige will be as difficult as her parents.”

“How do you know she’s not part of their scheme?” Theo asked suspiciously.

Tristan pressed his lips, disliking the suspicion but understanding it. “I don’t know that for sure. I’m watching her for telltale signs of guilt or innocence.”

Theo nodded.

“But in the meantime, we also need to extend our support to Paige,” Jennie said. “She’s carrying our grandchild.”

Tristan flashed a grateful smile at his mother.

Theo huffed. “I agree we should do that for the baby. But just don’t forget that we never thought the Shiptons could be such blatant swindlers until they out-and-out lied about the evidence. Paige’s pregnancy might be an accident, but that doesn’t mean they won’t use it against you, Tristan. Until you know for sure Paige can be trusted, you have to be careful around her. She is their daughter.”

“I know, Dad.”

His mother put an arm around his shoulders. “Bring Paige here soon so we can meet her. If we show we have nothing against her, she’ll be more likely to make things easier for you when it comes to raising the child together.”

“Just don’t fall in love with her,” Theo warned. “You never know. Their plan might be to rope you into a relationship with Paige so you’ll drop your legal action.”

Tristan’s heart banged hard in his chest. He had no plans to fall in love with Paige. But, damn it, ever since she’d shown up in his club to tell him about her pregnancy, he’d been unable to stop thinking about her. The attraction between them—heck, that was such an understatement—the sizzling, burning whatever between them was as strong as ever.

But his dad was right. As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t allow himself to fully trust Paige. That would be a very stupid thing to do.

* * *

“You got Paige Shipton pregnant? You’re going to be a dad?” Derek McCarthy asked, his face incredulous yet wondrous at the same time.

Tristan chuckled at his best buddy’s expression. It was how he felt about his impending fatherhood, only ten times—hell, no—one hundred times magnified. He was still trying to process things himself.

“Sure it’s yours?” Derek asked, looking around the coffee shop they frequented to check for eavesdroppers.

Tristan glanced around him as well before relaxing in his seat. “Yeah. The condom did break. And Paige didn’t seem scared or nervous about the paternity test, so I’m sure it’ll just be a formality.”

“I have to say, you look really happy for someone who’s been whacked with this… life-changing news.”

He laughed. “I know. I can’t believe I’m this excited either, considering the circumstances.”

“Tristan!”

Tristan turned his head towards the direction of the caller and his warm and fuzzy feeling evaporated instantly. Edgar Mills, a popular breakfast show radio host with whom he was acquainted, was entering the coffee shop.

And with him was none other than Larry Shipton.

“This can’t be good,” Derek said under his breath as Edgar approached their table, followed by a frowning Larry.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Edgar said, clapping Tristan on the shoulder.

“Yes,” Tristan answered, then introduced Derek to the two men.

“I’m a regular customer of these two,” Edgar said to Derek, indicating Tristan and Larry. “I always hold regular meetings in one of their clubs. I alternate so I’m not accused of favouritism.”

“Right,” Derek said with a polite laugh.

“This place seems busy,” Edgar said, looking around. “Hey, do you mind if we sit with these guys, Larry?”

Tristan suppressed a sigh. Just his luck that he and Derek were occupying a four-seater table.

“Sure, if it’s okay with them,” Larry said with a small smile.

“Be our guest,” Tristan said, gesturing to the empty chairs. What else could he say? Edgar had no idea of his conflict with Larry.

A server came to take the newcomers’ orders. When the waitress left, Larry turned to Tristan with a smirk on his face.

“Our lawyers wouldn’t be happy about this, would they?” Larry said. “I bet they won’t want us talking to each other without them being present.”

Tristan’s eyebrow shot up. What was the man up to, bringing this up in front of a media personality? He glanced at Edgar, whose interest had clearly been piqued.

“Lawyers?” Edgar asked. “Are you guys in some dispute or something?”

Larry shrugged. “You can call it that. I’ve got nothing to hide, though, so I don’t mind chatting with all of you.”

Edgar was instantly in reporter mode. “So what’s this about?”

“You better ask Tristan. He’s the one who has no chance in hell of winning the court case he wants to bring against me, my wife and my company.”

Edgar’s eyes widened, and he leaned towards Tristan to hear his answer better.

“Perhaps we should leave you and Larry alone to discuss this in private,” Derek said to Tristan.

“I don’t mind staying,” Edgar quipped, eager for something juicy.

“You gentlemen can stay,” said Larry. “To make sure none of the words we say here gets twisted later.”

Tristan glared at Paige’s father. “I actually don’t know what court case you’re talking about, Larry,” he said conversationally, trying not to grit his teeth. “Because the only case I’ll be lodging against you and Debbie is one I’m guaranteed to win. So, no, I’m not aware of any legal action that I’d be losing.”

“Come on, Tristan,” Larry said in a goading tone. “You were too late. Just accept it and move on.”

Tristan fisted his hand under the table, wanting so badly to land it on Larry’s mouth. But he had to restrain himself from doing something that might jeopardise his position. “You are right about one thing, Larry. My lawyer won’t be happy with this encounter, so why don’t we change the subject? How’s your daughter, Paige?”

Larry’s face and ears reddened immediately. “Don’t you dare bring my daughter into this.”

Tristan smiled. He respected Paige enough that he wouldn’t bring up her pregnancy in front of Edgar. But he just wanted to shake Larry a little bit. “We’re just having a friendly conversation here, aren’t we? Did you know I met Paige in one of my clubs in Brisbane a couple of months ago?”

“She was in one of your clubs?” Edgar asked.

Tristan nodded. “She was very honest with me and admitted she was checking out the place to compare it with the Shipton one down the road. At least your daughter’s honest.”

Larry rose from his seat. “We’re going now, Edgar. I’m not going to listen to this man try to drag my daughter into the ridiculous suit he wants to slap on us. That’s why even my daughter can’t stand the sight of him.” Larry turned on his heels and walked out.

“That’s some big shit,” Edgar murmured, face alight with the prospect of scandalous news.

“And a friendly piece of advice before you think of broadcasting anything that’s been said, Edgar,” Tristan said dryly. “Get the facts straight first, or you and your station will be in big trouble. I guarantee you that between me and Larry, I’m the one telling the truth. So I suggest you sit tight on this story. The truth will unravel eventually, and I promise you, it will be juicier.”

Edgar exhaled loudly through an open mouth, waved goodbye, and followed Larry.

“Does Paige seem to hate you?” Derek asked when Edgar was out of earshot. “Larry said she can’t stand the sight of you.”

“Nope,” Tristan said, his lips curving at the memory of him and Paige staring at each other in the private room of his Sydney club a couple of days ago. He bet that if they hadn’t been interrupted, they’d have ended up kissing.

“Just don’t fall in love with her,” his dad’s voice said in his head.

Tristan pressed his lips into a tight line. He shouldn’t forget that Paige was Larry and Debbie’s daughter.