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Nolan Buchanan, one of the three owners and CEO of Buchanan Enterprises, stared at the scrawl on the paper in his hand, openly perplexed and rapidly growing agitated Was it possible? Was this some sort of trick? There were plenty of people anted a piece of a Buchanan, but only an idiot would stoop to so so easily disproved…unless it was no ruse and they had the DNA to back up their claim Sweat dampened his brow and he wiped it away as he dropped the paper to the table and stalked away, needing a moment to collect himself

“You look as if you’ve just seen your past flash before you and you’re about to fall over in a faint,” his twin brother Vince joked as they passed in the expansive hallway of their fa quip, Vince double-backed and followed hi?” he asked “Is it Penny? Oh, shit It’s Penny, isn’t it? Where’s Dillon? She’s not due for anothertoo much in her delicate state but he didn’t listen — ” Just as Vince started to jabber about Penny’s recent mad dash to repaint the nursery for the third time as if he were the father instead of Dillon, their older brother, Nolan gripped his arhtly and shook his head

“It’s not Penny; she’s fine,” he assured his twin, still not able to fathoravity of the situation if it were true He lifted his gaze to Vince’s and said, “You’re not going to believe this — frankly, I’ot an anony that I’m a father”

Vince’s eyes widened then he shook his head in disbelief “No way It’s a shake-down for ed mother?”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, too,” he agreed “What do you think I should do?”

“Was there a name attached to this supposed baby mama?”

“No Just that I’d find her working as the sports trainer for a ernaut”

“There was no contact information?”

Nolan shook his head “Should I just ignore this and see if it’s a hoax? Maybe it’ll just go away if I don’t give it any attention” Vince’s dubious expressionwhat he had to do “Looks like a trip to San Jose is in my near future,” he said

“I could go with you,” Vince offered “I could use a change in scenery Besides, I’-tailed cat in a roo this and changing that when she ought to put her ass in a chair and relax I don’t kno Dillon deals with her right now”

Nolan nodded but histoo quickly in a myriad of different directions to add his opinion on their stubborn, very-pregnant sister-in-lahen he was fighting the urge to lose his lunch on the Italian tiles

A child?

“It’s probably a hoax,” Vince said, trying to ease his fear but it wasn’t working and worse, Penny herself appeared fro on one of her repulsive ice cream, corn chip, and mustard concoctions that she sas delicious

“What’s a hoax?” she asked, around a spoonful, looking to the twins for an answer She rubbed her round belly and groaned, causing both Nolan and Vince to rush to her side in case she needed help but she swatted them both aith open irritation “You’re both as bad as Dillon I’lass I’m fine,” she assured the anytime soon Now, answer my question What do you think is a hoax?”

Nolan shot Vince a look, reluctant to tell Penny just yet but he could tell she wasn’t going to let him off the hook without an answer so he si, “I’m fairly certain it’s a ruse to shake me down for so that I fathered a child” Just saying the words htened, “But I’d have known if I’d fathered a child I mean, I’m always careful”

Penny narrowed her stare at hi about Penny was, she wasn’t simply his sister-in-law — she’d once been his and Vince’s lover, too Long story They didn’t talk about it anymore — Dillon had already threatened to reaze in memory at her lovely breasts — but in that one look, Nolan saealth of knowing and he flushed “I always check to make sure protection is used in some form or another,” he said in a low tone “I would never be so foolish as to play without a safety net”

“You have to find out if it’s true or not,” she said adamantly “How old is this child?”

“The note didn’t say, just that I’ll find the ue hockey team, as a sports trainer”

“Well, that settles it; we’re going on a road trip” She turned and started to waddle away, presuently “What?” she asked, frowning “I can travel,” she insisted

“I’m sure you can but I’d rather handle this on s Please don’t cry, he prayed Since her pregnancy, Penny had burst into tears at the oddestover the toaster oven because her toast was too dark on one side Dillon had responded by throwing out the toaster and i her a new one, desperate to steht’ve seemed extreme but Nolan would’ve done the sa the next generation of Buchanan

His knees treain Was there another Buchanan out there? Was it a boy or a girl? He scrubbed his hands over his face, focusing “I need to handle this privately, love Besides, didn’t Dillon pro day?”

She brightened “Oh! That’s right! He did,” she agreed, re “Sorry, Nolan I need that spa day My back is screa You think you can handle this on your own?”

He nodded “I do It’s probably nothing I’ll be back before you know it”

“Okay Let me kno it turns out” She smiled and waddled away, her es and chocolate-dipped strawberries, which was fine by Nolan A distracted Penny at this stage in her pregnancy was a good thing

“You dodged a bullet there,” Vince said, chuckling

“

Don’t I know it I love her but…”

“Say no o solo?” he asked

“Actually, I think I’ll handle this on ht? Soeon?”

Vince grinned broadly “Yeah, I can hardly wait”

Yeah, he’d rather spend ti pleasurable as well but he knew he couldn’t rest until he put to bed this ridiculous clairin for his brother’s sake and perhaps for his own “It’s nothing And when I find out who thought pulling this ruse was a good idea, I’ive them a taste of Buchanan justice”

Vince nodded in support “Go get ‘em, bro”

Feeling far o, Nolan strode froements Perhaps with some luck, he’d be back within a day or two and he could catch a little entertainment with his brother