Ryan turned and saw Kelly tremble and then her fingers flexed and curled into fists. She was as pale as death, her eyes large and haunted. “What did you want?” he prompted when Jarrod made no move to leave.

“Nothing important. Just came over to say hi and to tell you Mom wanted us over for dinner Saturday night. I hadn’t seen you in a while. I know you’ve been busy with your resort deal. I’d hoped we could get together like old times.”

Ryan sighed. He and Jarrod had always been close. Until Kelly. He hated this. Hated it all. Hated that a woman had come between him and the brother he’d all but raised after their father died.

“I’ll call Mom later, okay? And we’ll get together. Just not right now.”

“Yeah, I understand. I’ll see you later.” He backed toward the door, and Ryan followed. As Ryan gripped the doorknob to close it after Jarrod, his brother whispered, “Are you taking her back after what happened?”

Ryan drew his brows together. “Aren’t you concerned that she could be carrying your child?”

Jarrod flinched and his cheeks lost color. “Is that what she told you?”

Ryan studied him for a moment, his brows drawing together as he observed Jarrod’s reaction to the suggestion. “No, she didn’t tell me that, but surely you know it’s possible.”

“Uh-uh, can’t be mine,” Jarrod said, shaking his head emphatically.

“So you say.”

Jarrod stepped into the hall and then shoved his hands into his pockets as he stared back at Ryan. But he didn’t quite meet Ryan’s gaze. “I wore protection. Look, I’m sorry. I know this is a bad situation. But the baby can’t be mine.”

Ryan watched him walk toward the elevator, the same frustrated helplessness clutching his throat. He stepped back and shut the door, angry. Angry at Kelly, angry at Jarrod and angry with himself all over again. So the baby was his unless…surely she hadn’t had other partners besides him and Jarrod. He wouldn’t even give that consideration.

When he returned to the couch he wasn’t prepared for the absolute hatred and revulsion in Kelly’s expression. Before he could say anything she fixed him with a look that froze him to the bone.

“If he ever comes over here again, I’m out of here. I won’t be in the same room with him.”

Ryan was taken aback. “You know he’s here all the time.”

Her teeth were clenched and her knuckles white. “I won’t stay here.”

Why the hell was she so angry with Jarrod? If anyone deserved to be angry it was Jarrod, after Kelly had accused him of trying to rape her. Nothing about this entire situation made sense. And he was tired of trying to figure it out.

“Jarrod said he wore protection,” he said, gauging her reaction.