Page 101 of The Bonus

I flick my tea towel over my shoulder and walk through the house and open the front door in a rush. Cold dark eyes meet mine. “Gabriel.”

Oh no.

“Hello.” We stare at each other for a beat.

“What are . . .”

“I’m here to see my children.” He cuts me off as he walks past me into the house. “Stay out of my way.”

14

Grace

“Stay out of your way?” I gasp as I march after him. “That is…” I widen my eyes, about to explode, “…not happening.”

Wearing a navy suit and tie, it’s obvious he has come straight from work. He dumps his laptop case onto the floor and looks around as he puts his hands on his hips. “Where are my children?”

Something about him calling my children his children is like waving a red flag in front of me. “Listen.” I pull him by the arm into the kitchen so that they can’t hear us. “You do not get to show up here unannounced,” I whisper angrily.

“I just did.” His cold eyes hold mine, and he steps forward, causing me to step back. “I’m staying here tonight.”

Something about his huge body with all its dominance standing over me makes my stupid body react, the air crackles between us and damn it, this hot asshole is infuriating.

“Yeah, well, it’s not happening. You’ll have to get a hotel or something.”

“Everything is booked out.”

“Not my problem.”

“Let’s get one thing clear, Grace…” He takes another step forward, causing me to take another step back. “I am your problem, your only fucking problem. I will be staying here in this house with my children tonight.”

“No.”

“Call the police and have me removed.” His eyes flicker with fury. “I dare you.”

“I will have no hesitation in doing that, asshole.”

“Do you really want to start the war, Grace?”

“Bring it.”

He gives me a slow, sarcastic smile.

“What the hell do you want from me?” I spit.

“Equality,” he growls. “And god damn it, you are going to fucking give it to me. I am here to say goodbye to my children forever, and I’m staying here.”

“I don’t have a spare bedroom, there is nowhere for you to sleep.”

“I’ll sleep in your bed and you can sleep with the kids. It’s just one night.”

“I am not sleeping with the kids,” I scoff.

“Then you share a bed with me.” He raises a sarcastic eyebrow.

A million depraved thoughts run naked through my mind…

“That is out of the question,” I snap. I stare at him for a beat while I collect my thoughts.

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