Page 60 of Conail

"I would like to make love to you again, that's what's going on." Taking her hand, he helped her down. When he started to lead the way out, she tugged her hand from his.

"I would like an answer to my question, if you don't mind."

"I don't want to talk about it. In fact, I would rather not talk at all." He reached for her again, but she sidestepped him.

"Answer the question."

"No."

She folded her hands over her breasts and stared at him mutinously.

"What the hell is the matter with you?"

"Me? You were the one who started to say something and now you're too much of a coward to follow up."

His face turned cold, his eyes flinty. Warning bells fluttered inside her stomach as she watched the changes. "What did you say to me?"

"You're a coward." Although her heart was pounding inside her chest, she was determined to have her say. "I know all about what happened to you, what that bitch did to you. I want this baby and I'm saying it to you. We're in a relationship."

His harsh laughter had her faltering. "How presumptuous of you." His voice was cold and indifferent. "We had sex twice and you jumped to the conclusion that we're a couple? Have I mentioned any such thing?"

She had heard the saying of a heart breaking, but she was experiencing it firsthand. She actually felt it splintering inside her chest. Fighting the urge to burst into tears, she clenched her fingers and bore the pain.

"You're right." She managed to say quietly. "How could I ever be that presumptuous to think that the powerful and wealthy Conail McLaughlin would ever want anything more from me than a roll or two in the hay?" Drawing herself to her full height, she lifted her chin and gave him a scornful look. "Whatever thatbitch did to you was well deserved. I would appreciate you taking me home now."

"Look--"

"Or I can call an Uber." With that, she hurried from the room and practically raced up the stairs. She was near to tears and wanted to drown herself in private.

He did not go after her. He wanted to, but did not have the words to tell her how he really felt. How afraid he was that he would be hurt again. That something inside him had made him say those things to her. Leaning against the wall, he closed his eyes. He had hurt her and never meant to do so.

But he had no idea what to do. The last time he was in this position, he had been hurt beyond belief. He needed time. And he needed space to think.

She was dressed and already descending the stairs when he walked out of the kitchen.

"Let me get dressed." He avoided looking at her as he made his way up the stairs.

*****

She was grateful that it was late enough, and everyone had turned in for the night. No doubt, her brother was cuddled up with Maddy somewhere and her parents had already gone to bed. They made the journey in heavy silence, neither of them willing to break it.

As soon as he entered the driveway, she opened the door before he could come around and do so. He came out just the same and accompanied her to the porch. When he started to say something, she shook her head. "I think you've said enough. Goodbye." She slammed the door in his face and stood there, braced against the solid wood, listening as he went down the steps and to his car.

Making her way up to her room, she closed and locked the door. Crawling into bed, she only took the time to take off her boots. Pulling the sheets over her head, she gave in to tears.

How foolish she had been to hope! she thought bitterly. He had obviously seen the opportunity to have sex with her and had seized it. The intensity had led her to believe that it was special to him when it was just routine. She had thought that they were getting somewhere, that surely after what they had shared, it meant a great deal. She had allowed herself to fall in love with him and hoped he felt the same way.

How naive could she be? And what on earth was wrong with her that she kept getting her heart broken and her ass kicked?

When was she going to learn? And now this was the biggest heartbreak of all times. She had never felt this way about anyone before. Nothing in her thirty-two years had prepared her for this. She had no idea that these kinds of emotions existed. It was on a different plane altogether.

His words came back to haunt her. No doubt he was still in love with that soulless bitch. He was still pining for a woman who had betrayed him. Could she blame him? she thought bitterly. She had seen photos of her. Michelle something and the woman had looked like a China doll, with her long fall of black hair and very white skin. Next to her, Yasmine realized that she looked like an elephant. She was twice the woman's size, and her skin was not white. She never stood a chance, she realized as the tears started to subside.

But she could not allow this to break her. She had made a mistake again, something she seemed to have a penchant for. She had spoken out of turn and had jumped the gun.

Pressing a hand on her swollen stomach, she felt the tears starting again. She had fallen in love with the baby she was carrying, one that she had agreed to carry for a tidy sum of money. She had signed a contract and accepted the cash. It was up to her to deliver. And stop thinking that she was the mother. He had pointed out to her that she was just the vessel and nothing more.

*****

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