Page 112 of Save Me
“Don’t start. Today is not the day.”
“Yes, I heard.” She mock pouts. “I know Henry can be difficult, but you are proving to be equally so.”
“I’m only protecting what’s mine.”
“Sloane,” she purrs, trailing me through the spacious place like a cat on my heels, waiting for any opportunity to rub up against my leg.
I heard this suite was big, but you could host a party for thirty people in here without batting an eye.
Voices draw me down a hallway in the back and through double doors.
“Oui. Just like that.” Joel aims his camera at Abbi, who leans against a wall near the bank of windows in a lace bra and underwear, a gauzy, see-through robe draped over her body, parted at her protruding belly. The afternoon’s rays give her an angelic glow. She’s had her hair and makeup done and looks sexy as hell.
Sloane is going to look like that.
She’ll have a swollen belly too, and inside, she’ll be carryingmychild.
It hasn’t sunk in yet. I might need a few more days for that to happen. Maybe an ultrasound or two. And while this isn’t how I ever planned for it to happen, the longer I sit with the thought, the more welcome it becomes, because the one thing I am sure of is that I care aboutSloane. Deeply. Hell, I probably love her, but I’m too chickenshit to admit it to myself yet. The last two times did not end well for me.
This time? I’m not letting anyone get in the way.
“For a guy intent on trying to destroy this hotel, you sure can’t seem to stay away.” Henry peels himself from the wall he was leaning against and stalks forward. “Do you have any idea the PR nightmare you’ve caused me? What it’s going to cost to make this go away?”
I don’t have the bandwidth to dance around words with this guy. “Sloane’s pregnant.”
That slows him in his tracks. “It’s yours?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
“Do you want a matching black eye?” My fists clench.
“Can we take a break?” Abbi offers an apologetic smile to Joel.
“I need to use the toilet anyway.” He sets his camera down and ducks out.
Margo follows him. Thankfully. I don’t need an audience for this.
“It’s his.” Abbi collects a silk robe from a nearby chair and slips it on, covering herself up.
Henry’s surprised gaze shoots to his wife. “How long haveyouknown?”
“I figured it out at dinner on Tuesday.”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“Why would I?” Her tone is sharp, and the look she tosses is disapproving.
He sighs heavily, taking a swig of his scotch as hewanders over to the window to look out on the water. “Okay.And?” There’s a clearwhat do you want from me?ring to the word.
I had no plans to face off against him again today. Not until I listened to Sloane explain the reasons why she wants to keep this baby, followed closely by the reasons she thinks she can’t—all stemming from Henry fucking Wolf.
I grit my teeth and mentally prepare myself to do the one thing I never pictured myself doing. “Look, I didn’t ask for this job, or the car, or the house. You’re one of the richest bastards out there, and I’ve never asked you for a dime. Icouldhave, after that day in the mine.”
Henry’s jaw grows taut.
“I’ve never asked you for anything, but I am asking you now: stop pursuing this project. Leave Sloane and her home and her businesses alone. That is all I’ll ever ask from you. Let her live her life the way she wants to.”
