I’m so pissed that it takes everything in me to control my damn temper.

Gone visiting someone!

The heat in the truck should keep me warm, but I feel chilled to the bone with disappointment. I sure as hell hadn’t expected to find Emma had left to visit someone—whom her mom wouldn’t tell me.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were up to something, but that’s ridiculous. Emma’s mom is a homemaker who has appeared exasperated with her daughter on more than one occasion.

Plus, finding one of Emma’s men on my way back to my truck hasn’t helped with my temper. Just how many times has she been unfaithful to me? I need to not even think about that right now.

Deeply inhaling, I realize I’m not too far off the ranch and I still haven’t thought on what I’m going to tell Charlotte. I could tell her I’ve spoken to Emma, but then I’d be lying. She wouldn’t know it, but would probably find out. Besides, I’d know.

“Damn it to hell.” I slam my hand against the wheel and curse loudly.

Makes me wonder if Emma knows about Charlotte and is purposely avoiding me. Wouldn’t put it past her with the antics I’m discovering she often got up to. Even though I have Charlotte, deep down I know that I wouldn’t have been able to go ahead with the wedding. I couldn’t. I haven’t been happy in a very long time, and I certainly wouldn’t be with her.

Sometimes I wonder how things would have gone if there weren’t any indiscretions on Emma’s part. I certainly wouldn’t have spent the most amazing night of my life with Charlotte, if Emma hadn’t screwed up. Something tells me that Charlotte would have been on my mind, regardless.

Turning onto my drive, I slow the truck before I end up in a ditch. It’s been cleared, but with the fresh snow in the air, it’s going to need doing again before Christmas, otherwise my father won’t be able to get home.

Slowing to a stop as I see the large house, I feel a huge sigh of relief when I see Emma’s car parked up, but then, just as suddenly, I curse. Slamming the brakes, the truck skids a few feet before coming to a complete stop. Flipping my seat belt off, I run up the porch steps and into the house.

I’m gasping for breath as I take in the scene before me.

Emma with her blonde hair all over the place instead of groomed, has Charlotte backed into a corner.

Taking in the situation, I drop my jacket to the chair by the door, and make my way to get Charlotte away, only to find Emma flying into my arms, sobbing into my chest.

I pat her awkwardly, and look at Charlotte over Emma’s head. Her complexion is pale while she slowly moves away from the corner of the room. It’s now, when I get my brain functioning again, that it hits me, I have the wrong woman in my arms.

Emma refuses to let go of me, but, with some anger on my part, I manage to get myself free and push her gently down into one of the chairs. “Do not move,” I tell her when she goes to reach for me.

“I went into town to talk to you,” as I say those words I glance at Charlotte, who is propped up against the wall, but staring out through the kitchen window. As much as it kills me not going to Charlotte, I need to deal with Emma and get rid of her first.

“Emma, look at me.”

She shakes her head.

“You need to look at me.” I reach out and lift her face so she can see me. “I wanted to do this gently, but not only did I find you gone when I called at your house, but I found another man that you have apparently been fucking.”

Emma’s eyes widen. “That’s a lie.”

I shake my head. “I needed to talk to you because I’m breaking our engagement.” I sigh in relief. “I stayed with you for the wrong reasons. I’m sorry, Emma, but there isn’t going to be a wedding.”

I take a step away and glancing up, I notice Charlotte with tears in her eyes, which gives me cause for concern. It feels like I’m moving in slow motion as I move toward Charlotte, when whispered words catch my attention…

“What about your baby?”

My momentum slows and comes to a stop with shock. “What baby?”

Charlotte stares behind me so I turn and see Emma standing with her hands on her hips and an ugly smirk on her face.

I start laughing.

Charlotte is shocked at my reaction. In fact, I’m shocked at my reaction, which suddenly pulls me back to my senses.

“You believe her?” I ask Charlotte who just stares at me. “I can’t believe you’d think I’d sleep with her after I’d been with you.” Even as the words leave my mouth, I know that they’re unfair, but I can’t stop them.

I point behind me. “Emma is not pregnant with my child. I haven’t had sex with her in over twelve months. I’m not an idiot.” Tugging my hair with my hands in irritation, I face Emma. “You need to leave.”

“Why are you lying to her?” Emma asks, crying.

Give me strength!

“I’m not lying to her, you are.” I slowly inhale and release it just as slowly because my temper is about to come out when I need it reining in. “We both know that I’m not the father. It’s impossible. So, I suggest you stop with these lies. If you don’t, I’m going to talk to a lawyer and have him issue an order for a paternity test.”

She looks smug. “You only want that done because you know it’s yours and you think you can scare me.”

I burst out with a few choice words before I give up with Emma for the moment, and go to Charlotte.

My world completely rights itself when she easily moves against my chest and wraps her arms around my waist. She buries her face into the curve of my neck and stays right there. I inhale her fragrance when I bury my face into her hair and let her calm me.

I glance up and watch Emma, who is watching us with a look of jealousy on her face. I don’t honestly believe that it has anything to do with me. My guess is that it’s something she wants and has yet to find it.

Placing Charlotte in the chair nearest to me, I move back to Emma. “What have I ever done to deserve your lies?” I ask, overwhelmed with tiredness.

“You never loved me,” Emma whispers.

“We’re both to blame for that. You don’t love me. If you did, you wouldn’t have gone looking elsewhere.”

“Are you trying to get me back for that?” The surprise in her voice causes me to curse.

“No! I am not getting you back for anything. We are over. We have been for a long time. The situation we’re in now is my fault. I should never have agreed to help you when you came to me after I got back from Lexington…but blaming me now for getting you pregnant won’t work Emma. I’m not so cruel that I would make you do the paternity test now, but unless you admit the truth, I will be having a lawyer serve you with papers the minute your baby arrives.

“I’m in love with Charlotte, and I have been for months. She’s mine and we’re going to be together regardless of what you say, but you know what? I hope you find what I have with Charlotte one day because it feels amazing.” Hopefully she’ll feel guilty for her accusations now that I’m wishing her well for the future.

“You mean that, don’t you?” Emma whispers. “Why are you always so nice?”

I laugh. “I was raised well, but me being nice only goes so far, Emma. I won’t let you ruin what I can have with Charlotte.” I let my words hang in the air and turn to glance at Charlotte.

She’s pale and her eyes are rimmed red, but she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I desperately want to wrap my arms around her and tell her everything will be okay. I know it will be in the end, I’m just pissed that Emma is trying the ‘you’re the father’ with me when we both know I’m not.

Turning my attention to Emma, she stares at me for a long time before turning to Charlotte. “He’s telling you the truth. We haven’t been together in over a year, so this baby I’m carrying, isn’t his.” She glances to me and then to Charlotte. “I’m not a horrible person. I’m sorry.” Her last words uttered, she heads toward the door.

“Wait up. I’ll walk you to your car. It’s slippery out.”

She rolls her eyes.

“Humor me, okay? You’re pregnant, and we don’t want an accident. You need to be in good health to go and tell the actual father.”

She winces. “I guess.”

“Charlotte, don’t move.” I look at Charlotte but don’t get any response. With nerves dancing in my stomach, I help Emma to the car. Good thing I did because she lost her footing a couple of times.

My mind is on Charlotte and what she must be thinking as I close Emma’s car door and watch her drive off.

At the end of the day, I’m finally free to be with her.