Page 33 of Forbidden Passion

He moved inside and shut and locked the door. “Good. I got it figured out. They had picked up the wrong load of lumber. The load they had was for another job, so we had to go to one of the warehouses and get the right one.”

She hadn’t realized he had a warehouse, much less more than one. She wanted to know but would never ask how much he was worth. It made her uncomfortable to think he was a millionaire. God, if he found out how poor she really was, would he look at her differently? She only had a few more years to pay off her student loans, and then she’d be free.

“Do I smell chocolate?” he asked.

She laughed. “Yes. I made chocolate cake.”

He looked surprised. “I didn’t know you baked.”

“I love to but rarely have the chance. Besides, I don’t like making something because I hate to waste anything. I usually take stuff to the pediatric nurse’s lounge.”

“Now, you have me to feed.”

She rolled her eyes at the grin on his face. “Come on, and I’ll cut you a piece.”

They sat at the table, talking and eating dessert. When she looked at the clock, it was too late to go to her house.

“I should find something to make for dinner.”

He pulled her onto his lap when she passed. “No, let’s order pizza and watch movies. What do you think?”

“I love the idea. I can’t remember the last time I had pizza.”

A little over an hour later, she leaned back against him with her head on his lap and groaned. “God, I ate too much,” she complained.

He chuckled, rested his hand on her stomach, and started making slow circles.

Her eyes slid closed. “That feels good.”

He kept at it as they watched the second movie of the night.

She couldn’t get over how relaxed she felt with him. It was like they’d known each other for years instead of months. She tried to push away the doubts she still had and let herself enjoy him as long as she had him.

Chapter Fifteen

Tessa rubbed her temple. She’d had a headache for a few hours and knew she should take some aspirin, but the day had been crazy, and she hadn’t had a chance yet.

The phone rang at the nurse’s station. “Hello.”

“I need one of you nurses to come down to the ER and get a child that needs to be on your floor. She’s been sitting in the room for over an hour, and we need the bed. It’s been crazy today. Must be a full moon.”

Tessa looked around and couldn’t see anyone. “I understand. It’s been like that here, too. I’ll be right down.” She called down to the main desk. “Is there a security guard available?”

“Not right now. They are having an issue in the ER. All the orderlies are busy, too. I can send one up as soon as they’re free.”

She couldn’t wait that long. If all the security was needed, something bad had to be going on, and she wanted to get the child out of there. “No, that’s fine. Thank you.”

Tessa hung up and headed for the elevator. She knew she’d be fine if she used the elevator because there was always someone on them. She made it to the level the ER was on and headed that way. A hand came out of one of the closets, and before she could understand what was happening, he pulled her into it.

Her first look at the man made her blood run cold. Pierce. How the hell had he gotten into the hospital? When she recognized the orderly uniform he was wearing, it made sense.

The man hit the side of her head, making her head spin. She saw the duct tape he pulled out of his pocket and tried to fight.

“You fucking cunt. You’ve made my life a living hell, and you’ll pay for it.”

“They’ll catch you, and then you’ll be arrested,” she cried out.

He tore off some tape and tied her hands together, the next one went over her mouth. The whole time, she struggled and pleaded. When the tape went on, it dug into her skin and made it hard to breathe.

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