“Let’s just say... Hudson’s father wasn’t the only one who offered to pay for him not to be born. When I refused, she withdrew the financial support she’d promised when I quit you in high school. She said she’d pay off my college loans, contribute to my expenses, all kinds of broken promises.”

His mouth fell open. “But she...she takes care of him. He’s with her tonight.”

“Well, how would it look if she didn’t? Remember, my mother is all about appearances. Once Hudson arrived, she had to be the doting grandmother.” She thought for a moment. “To be fair, I think she does care about him.” She gave Zayne a crooked grin. “I don’t think she’ll be offering to babysit much now that she knows about us.”

“There isn’t an us, Andrea.” He grimaced. “At least, there shouldn’t be.”

She stepped closer, putting her hand on his chest. “There is an us. Right here. Right now. Can’t you feel it?”

He put his hand over hers. “I can feel it, but of all the miserable things your mother has said and done, she said something very true today. I can’t get past it.”

“What was that?”

“You want to get this new job. You want to run more festivals. You want to show your mother how much you can accomplish on your own.” He took a deep breath and stepped away from her, making her heart constrict at the loss of his touch. “You can’t do that sleeping around with a Rutledge.”

He probably thought he was being noble and wise. But in reality, he was being incredibly selfish. Her panic changed to rage, and she slapped him across his cheek.

ZAYNE ABSORBED THE blow in silence, but inside he was breaking. He’d hurt her. But he was doing what needed to be done. Marissa Wentworth was right. He was bad for Andrea. He was a Rutledge. He’d spoil her future.

“You are so full of bull.” Her eyes narrowed and she stabbed at his chest with her forefinger. “You’re not ‘a Rutledge’! You’re not your last name, damn it. If that were true, I’d be ‘a Wentworth,’ and I refuse to believe that.” She poked him hard again. “And if I can do that, so can you.”