Page 12 of An Inconvenient Marriage
Natalie
Ireallywasn’tgoingto get out of answering his question, but I had to try.
“What would it matter if I was? This… arrangement will be over in six months. Whatever happens after that won’t be your business.”
I’d barely spat out the words and instantly wanted to swallow them back down again. I knew better than to speak out of turn like that. Already expecting the worst, I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the sting of a slap to land on my cheek. It never came. Opening my eyes again, I found Zach staring at me with a dumbfounded expression.
Shit.
I should have just told him the truth and been done with it, because now my knee-jerk reaction had probably opened up an entirely different can of worms.
“I’m not pregnant,” I blurted. “I have no idea why you’d think that.”
He regarded me through narrowed eyes for a long moment before he finally spoke, “Your reputation precedes you, and earlier today you looked sick. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together.”
Gosh, I wished he’d move back a step or three. I just needed enough space to take a breath without dragging a lungful of Zach into my system. I also needed the space so he wouldn’t see how much his words stung.
Even though it was exactly what I wanted people like him to know and believe. But somehow hearing him say it, knowing he saw me like that, didn’t feel right.
“And as for it not being my business when this is over,” he went on, “you couldn’t be more wrong. I’ve worked hard to earn the respect I have, but all that work will mean nothing if I become known as the bastard who divorced his pregnant wife.”
He leaned in even closer, and I swear I almost passed out.
“I won’t let you or anyone tarnish my good name.” Dark eyes bored into mine. “Understood?”
“Yes,” I breathed out. “I understand.”
I figured that since I’d answered him in a way that was both acceptable and pleasing, he’d be happy and take a damn step backward. Instead, a deep frown formed, and he slightly tilted his head to the side.
I’d thought the way he was staring at me earlier was intense, but this—whatever the heck he was doing now—was way more than that. He wasn’t just studying me, he was trying to peek into the dark corners of my being and peel away the walls around the lies to uncover the truth.
At least that’s what it felt like.
And then, just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, he finally gave me room to gather my scattered thoughts and fill my lungs with much-needed air.
“Good night, Natalie.” He was gone just as suddenly as he’d burst into my personal bubble a few moments ago.
It took me one or two seconds to regain my sanity and take stock of the situation. That was also the time I realized something very important.
“Zach,” I called out.
He stopped walking and muttered a curse. It didn’t take long for me to realize he had no intention of turning around to face me. Which in hindsight wasn’t such a bad thing, considering my next words.
“There’s only one bed… What are our sleeping arrangements?”
Another muttered curse fell from his lips. That’s what I thought the angry Spanish word was.
“I don’t care where you sleep as long as you keep your hands to yourself.” He started walking again.
I quickly added, “One more thing.” This time I wasn’t at all surprised when more curses filled the room. “My luggage… where can I find it?”
I knew he had my clothes and toiletries since my father had me pack a few suitcases a couple of days ago and then had them delivered to Zach.
“It’s probably in the bedroom. Now, if you’re done, I’d like to go to bed.”
“Thank you.” I delivered my words to his retreating back.
When he was gone, I took the time to explore the living area of the suite. As beautiful as it was inside, it had nothing on the view from the window. Watching the millions of lights happily illuminating the city, I felt a smile sneak onto my lips.
