Page 91

“How many times do I have to tell you that I’m trying to protect you from the cruelty of the press? They’ll hunt you down. They’ll dig up your past. You don’t need that stress. Not with the baby.”
“Oh, the baby that you don’t even want?” she asked, shooting me a look.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I heard you the other night. Talking to that man about how you had no interest in marriage or babies.”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t know she had heard that awful conversation that I had to smile through like I believed what I was saying. I must have sounded like such an asshole. No wonder she left.
“Yeah, what a fun conversation to walk in on…” she snapped, noticing my surprise.
“Heart, I didn’t mean any of it.”
She crossed her arms and looked at me as if my nose was growing.
“I’m serious. It was all business. I was just trying to schmooze that guy and tell him what he wanted to hear so we could possibly do business together in the future.”
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,” she muttered.
“I know, but it’s true.”
“Even if it’s true, it’s ridiculous, Daniel. Why would you pretend to be someone you’re not to impress some asshole? Unless, thatiswho you are.”
“It’s not. It was stupid. But it’s just how business works. You have to understand.”
“I don’t have to do anything. I don’t know what is true or what’s for show with you. If I was doubting you before, now I know I can’t trust you at all. Not to be a father. Not to be a boyfriend. Not be in my life at all.”
“You don’t mean that,” I said, walking behind her desk.
“Don’t,” she said, giving me a look that could have killed me right there if I took another step closer.
I put my hands up to show I meant no harm. “Please, just listen to me.”
“No, I don’t need you trying to get out of talking like you did Friday night. You can’t just pretend there’s nothing wrong by getting me into bed with you,” she said, getting to her feet.
That wasn’t fair. We both got lost in each other in that hallway. In that suite.
“It takes two,” I reminded her.
She rolled her eyes, and that pissed me off.
“Don’t act all high and mighty when you’re the one who came up with me to that hotel room. No one forced you.”
“How dare you.” Her face turned a bright shade of pink. I wasn’t sure if she was blushing or angry.
“Face it. You’re scared too. That’s why it’s easier to fuck than to talk.”
“I never wanted any of this!” she cried, shaking her head.
“Really? Because that first night at my place, you were singing a different tune. In fact, you were screaming my name on the bar of my counter.”
My frustration was fueling the words that were coming out of my mouth quicker than I had time to process them.
“I-I…” she stammered.
“You what?” asked a voice from the doorway.
I looked up suddenly and saw Heart’s boss, Brian, standing there. He looked between the two of us with his head cocked and his questioning brow raised.