Page 41 of After-Party Consequences

Okay, stop thinking about the prawn for two seconds, or you’ll freak out again.

‘Your luggage is here,’ he said. ‘I told them to put the downstairs condo back on the rental market.’

She swung round. ‘Um...when exactly did I agree to move in with you?’ she managed, annoyed by the he-who-shall-be-obeyed tone she was becoming far too familiar with.

She’d had a solid sleep on the plane. While she still felt off-kilter, she wasn’t the fragile, over-emotional pushover she had been when they’d boarded his jet.

From the way he frowned—as if he couldn’t quite believe she would contradict him—she knew it was way past time she started standing her ground. She might be pregnant with his baby, but that did not make her his property.

‘When you spent a good ten minutes throwing up this morning,’ he replied flatly.

Her cheeks burned. Trust him to bring that up. ‘How is that relevant?’

Before she could follow up with all the reasons why itsowasn’t, he had crossed the room and placed his palm on her cheek.

‘Calm down, Charlotte,’ he said softly, the concerned tone as disturbing as the sudden urge to lean into his hand. ‘I don’t want you on your own if you’re sick again. That’s all.’

She pulled away from his touch. But she couldn’t deny the wave of emotion threatening to sweep away her perfectly valid objections to his high-handed behaviour. ‘I still don’t think I should move in with you,’ she managed, far too aware of the needy feeling pressing down on her chest. ‘This isn’t even a real relationship,’ she added. ‘I’m just here as your stunt date for the summer.’

He tucked his hand into his pocket, but his gaze remained fixed on her. ‘I think we’ve gone beyond that now, don’t you?’

She stepped back, the tantalising aroma of woodsy cologne and soap playing havoc with her resolve now, too.

Surely this was just another example of her wacky hormones? Or was it the biology of pregnancy which seemed to make her body obsessed with the father of her child?

‘I don’t want to sleep with you again,’ she said, although even she could hear the hesitation.

Could he see the yearning? Sense the arousal which was making her sex ache?

But he didn’t call her out on the lie. ‘The apartment has several guest rooms. Take your pick.’

‘I... I still don’t think it’s a good idea.’

She would be living with him even if they weren’t sleeping together. Wasn’t that too intimate? What if she got suckered into thinking they were a real couple?

But then he disarmed her again. ‘I want to be close by if you need me,’ he said, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

‘It’s just morning sickness, Cade. It’s perfectly normal. Most pregnant women get it,’ she said, far too aware of the hole forming in her belly.

She recognised that hole, and the urge to fill it, which had made her do stupid things once.

She didn’t want to be that reckless girl again, looking for approval from a guy like Cade—who she had discovered today had the unique ability to seize on her weakness and exploit it.

‘I still want to keep an eye on you,’ he said, the placid, persuasive tone contradicted by the fierce determination in his eyes. ‘And FYI, I don’t give a damn about other women. The only woman I give a damn about is you. Because you’re the only one having my kid.’

She drew in a careful breath. The curt statement struck at the heart of her insecurities...but also made her aware of something important.

This is about his baby. It’s not about you.

She took a moment to control the wayward emotions which were way too close to the surface. Again.

What if this feeling of vulnerability, this urge to accept the support he was offering, was nothing to do with that needy, unloved girl—and everything to do with the strange situation they found themselves in? If that were the case, would it be so terrible to let him carry some of the burden? To let go of a little of her independence? As long as he understood that accepting his support did not mean he could dictate her life?

‘I’m pregnant, Cade. I’m not an invalid,’ she said. ‘I still plan to set up a workshop while I’m here to work on mycommissions. My business is important to me. Especially as I’m going to be a single parent in eight months’ time.’

His gaze darkened. ‘You won’t need to support yourself. I’ve asked my legal team to draw up a financial agreement which will ensure my child will never want for anything. I also intend to compensate you generously for your role as its mother. I would never abandon that responsibility.’

She sighed, her panic and confusion downgrading considerably in the face of his rigid expression—and the shadow in his eyes. She’d triggered something she hadn’t intended to, but she was glad she had.

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