Page 120 of Beyond the Hate

I shush him. “I’m not pregnant.”

I can’t even remember the last time I had sex. There is literally zero chance of me being pregnant. Unless vibrators suddenly carry sperm. In which case, I’m in big trouble.

“Why did Chloe say you are?”

“Can you keep your voice down?”

Those bright blue eyes he shares with his brothers narrow on me. I wish he was gazing at me intently because he was planning on devouring my mouth but Mr. High and Mighty would never lower himself to have a relationship with the hired help. Never mind he didn’t grow up with money and he’s basically hanging on the coattails of his brother.

“Answer the question,” he grumbles.

I’ll deny it to my dying day but his grumbling has nerve endings waking up all over my body. Damn him and his sexy voice. And his sexy eyes. And his sexy muscles.

“Have you met Chloe? She’s a troublemaker down to her bones.” I motion to her and Chloe widens her eyes. “See? Told you.”

“Do I not appear innocent?” Chloe asks.

Blossom giggles next to her. “I’ve watched you threaten to gut a patron for not leaving a fifteen-percent tip. Innocent got up and walked away the second it saw you coming.”

Chloe beams. “Thank you.”

“It wasn’t a compliment,” Blossom mutters.

“I’m getting a drink,” I declare and start to walk away. Rhett shackles my wrist to stop me. I raise an eyebrow at him. “Do you want to remove your hand from my body?”

He immediately lets go and raises his hands. “Answer my question.”

“Ask an intelligent question and I’ll consider it.”

“Are you fucking pregnant?”

“No!” I shout. “Are you happy? The entire island will know I haven’t had sex in over a year within the hour. Thanks for nothing.”

I stomp away.

“You haven’t had sex in a year?” he yells after me.

I do the mature thing. I give him the finger and keep walking.

If I wasn’t his brother’s assistant and work in the same building as him, I’d be glad to never see the controlling, domineering man again. Unfortunately, I have no choice.

The job with Eli offers benefits. And I need my benefits.

Chapter 35

“I need to lock my Lace down, so she can’t escape me.” ~ Eli

Several months later

Eli

I freeze when I hear the door open. Shit. Paisley’s home. I throw everything in the suitcase and shove it under the bed.

I sprint to the bathroom and flush the toilet. I’m washing my hands when she walks in.

“Hey, Lace. You’re home early.”

She narrows her eyes on me. “What are you doing here?”

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