“Do you know what you’re doing?” Theo demanded.

Tristan rubbed his face. Was his dad going to be as difficult as Larry?

“I don’t think this is an altogether bad move,” Jennie said to her husband. “How can Larry and Debbie hurt Tristan more than they’re already doing by Tristan marrying Paige? And your son has already confirmed he’ll still sue them if they continue their slanderous accusations. At least this way, he’ll be supporting Paige and the two of them can have a harmonious relationship for the sake of their baby.”

“Did I tell you it’s a boy?” Tristan asked casually.

“A boy?” both his parents said delightedly.

“Yeah. We’re naming him Tanner.”

Jennie pressed her palms on her cheeks. “Ooh, that’s a great name. Was that your idea?”

“No, it was actually Paige who chose it.”

“See, this is another reason why I’m suspicious of that woman,” Theo said with a frown. “Why would she chose a name that’s clearly after Tristan’s name?”

Tristan rolled his eyes. This constant questioning of Paige’s motives was grating on his nerves.

“Why can’t Paige choose that name?” Jennie asked, glaring at Theo. “What’s so suspicious about that?”

“She hardly knows Tristan, dear,” Theo reasoned. “Why would she be so attached to Tristan’s name when her own parents think Tristan is untrustworthy? She’s just buttering him up.”

Tristan’s chest constricted at the possibility of Paige being in collusion with her parents. He honestly didn’t think she was, but he supposed he shouldn’t close himself off to the possibility. Good thing he’d be living with Paige. He’d be able to watch her closely for signs that she was just playing him.

“If I were you,” his dad said, “I’d get Gavin and Carter to do a full-on investigation to make sure those Shiptons are not conning you. It’s something you should have done from the beginning anyway.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Jennie murmured. “Just make sure Paige doesn’t learn about it so she doesn’t get hurt.”

Theo huffed. “So she can’t hide evidence, you mean.”

“Dad, surely you know by now that I generally have good judgement on things. How else was I able to take TG to where it is now? You should trust my judgement regarding Paige too.”

“Paige is not a business decision,” Theo said dryly.

“No, but she hasn’t lied about the baby.” He pointed to the document sitting on his parents’ coffee table. It confirmed the paternity of Paige’s baby. He was, without a single shred of doubt, Tanner’s father.

Theo picked up the sheet of paper and waved it. “We’re happy with this, Tristan. This is not in question. But it wouldn’t hurt to get your private detective buddies to do some sniffing around, would it? What’s the harm in trying to protect your butt?”

He sighed. “You’re right. There’s no harm in checking things out.”

* * *

Tristan shifted on his seat, uneasy at the dismayed expressions on the faces of Carter Garett and Gavin Redford. Why were they looking so concerned? It wasn’t as if he’d made the stupidest decision they’d ever heard, was it?

“So you don’t know Paige Shipton all that well, I take it?” Carter asked.

“Depends on what you mean.”

Gavin frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I think I know her well enough,” he answered with a shrug. “She’s been put in a terrible position by her parents, and she feels obliged to help them. I can understand that.”

“If her story is all true,” Gavin said, “then she’s obviously very loyal to her parents. That’s what worries me.”

Carter nodded. “My take from what you’ve told us about Larry and Debbie is they’re trying to hide something. Why else are they so determined to stick to their version of the story despite your threats to sue them? And for two people with decades of experience running a successful business, how could they have waited until things are so bad that they have to rope their daughter into a scheme to fool the trustees of their family trust fund? Thing is, even if Paige is only innocently dragged into this, where will her loyalties lie when push comes to shove, especially if it turns out that Larry and Debbie are indeed shonky?”

Tristan let out a harsh breath, annoyed that his friend was pointing out the bleeding obvious. “I understand all that. I see all that. But what would you have done in my position? If I don’t marry Paige, her parents won’t get the money. Yes, that’s not my problem, and if Larry and Debbie are deceitful folks, then maybe they deserve it. But where would that leave Paige? She’ll blame herself. She can’t help but take on the responsibility. I just can’t…” He rubbed his face, not knowing how to express his dilemma to his buddies.

“Why is their family problem of any concern to you?” Carter said, narrowing his eyes at him.

Tristan scrunched his face in frustration. “I don’t know. But what do I do with Paige? She’s the mother of my child.”

“You could still give her your full support even if her parents lose their business, couldn’t you?” Gavin asked. “Refusing to be part of their fake marriage plan doesn’t change the fact that you’ll still be honouring your responsibilities towards your child. Unless, of course…”

“Unless what?”

Gavin shrugged, but his eyes were watching him intently. “Unless it’s your heart and not your brain you’re listening to.”

“Of course I’m listening to my heart. I love my baby!”

“And Paige?”

“She’s the mother of my child!”

Gavin and Carter exchanged knowing glances.

“What?”

“Will you be keeping your hands off her when you’re in your fake marriage?” Carter asked.

Tristan reddened so deeply that he could almost see the heat coming off his face.

Gavin sighed. “We’re not against you falling for Paige, Tristan. I actually think it’s cool since you guys are having a baby. We’re just worried about what it might mean for you down the track—if things become more complicated than any of us expected.”

Tristan stood up from his seat and paced the room. He got where his buddies were coming from. Was he letting his attraction to Paige stand in the way of good sense?

It would serve him better if held a higher level of suspicion against Paige. But for the life of him, he couldn’t muster enough of it.

As for love…

Yes, he was falling for her.

Fuck. Now that the L word was out in the open, he was starting to get scared. Hadn’t people walked to their ruin because their feelings had blinded them to the truth? Was this happening to him right now?

He stared out the window and a young couple with a baby attracted his attention. The man was pushing the pram, and his wife or girlfriend linked her arm with his as they chatted merrily.

Tristan smiled. He and Paige would need to get a baby stroller soon, and only the best would do.

Damn it, he wanted to play happy family with Paige and his baby. That would never happen if he rescinded his agreement with Paige.

He turned to his buddies. “Please focus your investigations on why Larry and Debbie insist I was too late in purchasing the club when I know the timeline doesn’t support that claim. I want to know what they’re hiding or protecting. As for marrying Paige, I’m going ahead with it. I just can’t leave her in the lurch. My lawyers are already working on the prenup and making sure it’s airtight, so that’s one less thing for me to worry about.”

“Okay,” Gavin said. “For your sake, I hope we find nothing against Paige.”

“Thanks. I’m pretty sure you won’t. But if you do, then that’s when I’d start worrying about that part.”

“So now let’s move on to more important things,” Carter said. “When will we receive our invite to your wedding?”

Tristan chuckled. “We’re eloping! I don’t even know where. I do feel sorry for Paige that she has to organise a secret wedding with all the drama happening with her parents. She’s so stressed right now.”

“Hey, I’m sure our wives will be happy to help if you ask them,” Gavin said.

Tristan brightened. “Hey, that’s an idea!” He trusted Natasha and Cassie like he trusted Gavin and Carter. Since Paige couldn’t afford to tell anyone on her side about her upcoming wedding, it might be up to him to arrange one that would look like a proper event well planned by a couple in love, not some kind of hurried celebrations that would raise the trustees’ suspicions.

It could even be a surprise for Paige. Wouldn’t that be good?

Loud sighs from his buddies interrupted him. He found them shaking their heads at him, albeit with understanding smiles on their faces.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing, dude,” Gavin said with a smirk. “We just hope everything works out for you because you’re a lost cause already.”

“Hey!” he protested.

“I suppose you can always reconcile with your in-laws, go into a business partnership with them, and all of you can live happily ever after,” Carter said.

Tristan smirked. Seriously, he might just do that to end all the drama—as long as Larry and Debbie agreed to stop their slanderous accusations.