Page 57 of Billionaire Boss's One Night Stand

“What are you in such a hurry to find me fornow? You said you needed a minute. Aminute, Matt.”

I nodded, glad that she was here and speaking. “I wanted a moment to just… react. To get my head on straight again. You dropped a hell of a bombshell on me.”

“It was news to me, too. I was shocked, the same as you,” she argued, “but I didn’t freak out and run away from any of my responsibilities.”

“I didn’t run away.”

“That’s what it looked like tome!” She stabbed her finger at her chest. Those jade eyes glowed with heat.

“I didn’t run away. I just needed to think. To let it really sink in.”

“And in doing so, you gave me a really damn good sign of how I can count on you. I saw how you would stick around when it matters.” A rough huff left her lips. “You missed the whole meeting too!”

“That wasn’t my intention. I was just overwhelmed.” I shook my head as the rain fell harder. “I was focused on making sure we were all ready for the meeting, and then you told me that you’re pregnant, and it threw me all off.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to suggest that my timing was bad?”

“It was.”

“I wanted to tell you after the meeting, dammit. But you kept pushing.”

And here, I’d planned to have a talk with her after the meeting too, about wanting a lot more with her. She’d beaten me to the punch there.

“I take pride in what we put together for Gammon. And your not being there bothers me.” She lowered her face, sniffling a bit. “I wantedusto get the approval and praise from them. You were supposed to be there!”

“And I should’ve been.” I took hold of her upper arms, determined to make her face me again. Rain fell harder and faster, but she looked up, squinting from the water that I didn’t block with my taller height.

“I’m sorry, Loren. I lost track of time, just thinking and letting all of my thoughts and opinions settle. You told me something so far out there, so unexpected, that it wasn’t something simple to accept and move on from. Having a baby wasn’t something I planned on happening anytime soon.”

She bristled instantly, jerking out of my grip and walking off. “Then don’t. Don’t plan on it. I’ll handle this all myself.”

“What? No!” I rushed after her again. She didn’t stop, but she didn’t hurry to slip away.

“You took that the wrong way.”

“My God. Are you trying to gaslight me now?”

“No!”

She stopped so suddenly, glowering up at me, that I skidded into her. We collided, and I didn’t hesitate to hold her close.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t assume you want nothing to do with me or this baby.”

“Because I love you!” I swallowed hard after letting that truth pop out like that. She pushed, and that was all I could reply with.

Her rolling her eyes wasnothow I envisioned my first and only declaration of love to be received.

“Matt, listen to yourself. I don’t know where you walked or what you’re under the influence of now, but this is insanity. You don’tloveme. I was a one-night stand gone wrong. You don’t need to jump to conclusions and make up stupid claims that you ‘love’ me.” She shook her head, lowering it. “I want approval. I am a people pleaser, but I’m notthatdesperate for approval and love. Don’t concern yourself with me or this baby. I’ll handle it all myself.” With a final wry laugh, she turned away. “It would only be a disservice to suggestloveis mixed up in between us,and I won’t settle for your trying to throw it out there as a last-ditch attempt to make this more confusing.”

“Don’t—” I hurried to catch up and see her face again.

“I’ll handle it all myself, Matt,” she argued tiredly.

I hated that she sounded so exhausted, so dragged down by my actions.

“No. No, you won’t,” I told her.

Cutting her off, I forced her to look up at me. Leaning down to get to her eye level, ignoring the rain plastering our hair and clothes to our bodies, I cupped her face and waited until she locked that green gaze on me.

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