Page 24 of Conail (Members From Money Season 2, #150)

He looked at Yasmine and for a second, something flickered in his eyes. "I have a meeting. Thanks anyway."

"Any time."

With a slight smile for the mother, he gave the daughter another long look before striding towards the vehicle and getting in.

They watched as he backed out and the taillights disappeared.

"Now honey, that was very rude of you."

"He's overbearing."

"Still, the man insisted on picking you up from the hospital."

"Not out of the kindness of his heart." She climbed the steps, carefully avoiding the puddles. "It's good to be home."

"You must be hungry."

"Starving." She admitted with a laugh.

"Let's get you fed. I have some vegetable stew I just made." Maeve guided her towards the warm and cozy kitchen and made a note to call and inform Eleanor of the progress she was seeing between their children.

*****

He was decidedly bored. The elegantly and lavishly decorated ballroom was filled with people.

Women wearing expensive gowns and glittering jewels flitted around laughing and making conversations.

Men in their sober tuxedos were grouped in one corner of the room, discussing the stock market and the latest exploit of the President.

He had just extricated himself from a clinging blonde who was determined to have him take her back to his place.

Not that she wasn't alluring. Barbara Grandison was very appealing.

The popular talk show host was divorced, and rumor had it that she was looking for husband number three.

It amused him to think she would consider him.

Letting his eyes roam the crowd, he stiffened when he saw her.

He rather thought she would be here but hadn't given it serious consideration.

Rumors also had it that her marriage was in trouble.

It was a shock to him that he no longer cared and that seeing her did not have him going off on a tangent.

He could look at her and objectively admire her beauty.

Michelle Lee now turned Grayson had a Chinese mother and a Caucasian father and the combination was exquisite.

He had been fascinated by her beauty the first time he saw her three years ago.

And had made his move. She had ended up in his bed that very night.

She was a defense attorney and one of the best. Beauty and brains had attracted him in the beginning.

"Darling." He felt his mother's hand slide through his arm and turned to look at her. Seeing the anxious look on her face, he gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm fine. Really."

She studied his face and realized to her relief that he was.

"She's coming this way, perhaps it's time to take me on the dance floor."

"I see Errol approaching," he gave the lawyer a brief nod. "And Michelle is coming this way. No need to try and shield me from her." He nudged her towards the man who had reached them. "Go on mother."

She left reluctantly, barely giving the woman a glance.

"Michelle." He inclined his head as she crossed to him.

"Your mother hates me."

"I suppose she does." He snagged two glasses of champagne and handed her one. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, I suppose." She was aware they were the cynosure of almost every eye in the room and felt as if she was in the spotlight. "Can we talk?"

"I don't think there's anything to talk about."

"Please Conail."

With a nod, he took her arm and led her from the room and the avid attention of the curious onlookers.

They were shown into an empty conference room. As soon as they entered, he put distance between them and went to lean against a massive fireplace. "How's your husband?" he asked casually. "I'm surprised he's not here with you."

"Mark is out of the country." She seemed nervous, the fingers of her left hand pulling at the hem of her fire engine red dress.

It was her favorite color as he recalled and one that made her skin looked luminous and was a stunning contrast against her long waterfall of black hair.

He was shocked that he could be in the same room with her and not want to touch her.

"What do you want?"

She flinched at the harsh sound of his voice.

"I made a mistake." She whispered.

His thick brows lifted, and he felt nothing at all. Not exhilaration -- just pity.

"I see," he still had the champagne in his hand and lifted it to take a sip. "What does that have to do with me?"

She gazed at him pleadingly out of lovely hazel eyes flooded with tears. "Mark dazzled me. He was the opposite of you. He was attentive and sweet--" She spread her hands in desolation. "I thought that was what I wanted."

"And now it's not?" he cast her an amused look. "You seem to have great difficulty making your mind up."

"I still love you."

He waited for the surge of familiar emotions he always had where she was concerned and only felt a slight twinge of pity.

"What do you expect me to do about that?" he asked her mildly.

"You love me--"

"Loved. I'm involved with someone else. She's also carrying my baby." He inhaled sharply as the words came out of his mouth. "Oh Christ." Draining the glass, he slammed it down on the mantle. "I have to go."

"Conail--"

"Go back to the function or go home, it does not matter to me. Goodbye Michelle." He strode from the room without a backward look.

*****

He had no idea he was going there until he got to the turn off leading to the farmhouse.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel, and he felt his breath hissing out in panic.

What the hell was he doing? What was he going to say to her?

He wanted a relationship? Christ! He actually stopped the car on the dirt road and tried to tamp down the nausea rising in his throat.

Leaning back, he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

Touching the button, he let in the chilly air to get rid of the sweat forming on his forehead.

The sounds of hooves clattering reached his ears. He looked out curiously, sitting up straight as he recognized the person hunched over the saddle horn.

The swirl of uncertain emotions he had been dealing with disappeared instantly only to be replaced by absolute terror and then burning anger.

She was out of her bloody mind! Gunning the engine, he made his way through the open wooden gates and arrived just as she was entering the barn. Shoving the door open, he charged in, eyes blazing.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he was shouting and did not even notice. The anger inside his chest was burning a hole.

"What--"

"You were riding? In your condition and in this weather?"

"I told her--"

He swung around to the man he had not seen standing by a stall. "You allowed her to get on a horse?" Without waiting for a response, he swung back to her. "Are you out of your goddamned mind?"

"I happen to be a damned good rider."

"You're five months pregnant!" he wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled. He could not tell when he had ever been this angry. "Are you that stupid?"

"Watch your--"

"Go to hell!"

Brother and sister spoke at the same time.

Paying them no mind, he crossed to her and took her arm. "That does it. You're coming home with me. Go and pack your bags."

She tried to drag her arm away, but it was useless. And he was dragging her along with him.

"Let me go, damn you."

"You're going in and packing your bag. I'm not asking."

She finally skidded to a stop at the steps, her eyes blazing.

Wrenching her arm away, she fisted her hands on her hips.

The sweater was blue, and it came to almost her knees and highlighted the swollen mound of her belly.

The air around them was charged, almost burning with tension.

Maeve standing at the window, watched with interest and excitement.

"I'm not going anywhere, and I certainly do not appreciate you coming here and thinking you can manhandle me. I am not one of your employees."

"In case you have forgotten, I am paying you for a service--"

"Why Conail!" Maeve figured it was time she intervened before they came to physical blows. "How nice to see you." She beamed at him. "I was just making hot chocolate and would love it if you would join us." Taking his hand to ensure he followed her, she led the way to the front door.

"Here we are." She announced as she pulled out a chair for him to sit. "I also made raspberry tarts that will go well with the hot chocolate." She glanced at her daughter who had remained standing and was positively vibrating.

"Why don't you take a seat honey?" She turned to the cupboard to retrieve cups.

"After you've finished eating, you're going to pack, or I'll do it for you." He told her grimly.

"Make me."

"I--"

"Here you go." Maeve placed the cup in front of him and interrupted his train of thought. "Thank you."

"My daughter would never endanger the baby she's carrying." She continued as she sliced through the tart. "I rode until I was almost in labor."

His gray-green eyes swung to her as she handed him the plate.

"She was bent over the saddle as if she was racing against time." His mouth was tight with anger. "What if something had spooked the horse and it threw you? What then?"

"I know how to handle my mare so back the hell off. What are you doing here in the first place?"

"It's a lucky thing I came. I don't give a damn if you're trying to kill yourself-- Where are you going?" He shoved his chair back and rose as she left the table.

"To my room." She turned to her mother. "You can show him out."

"Why don't you sit and finish your drink?" She suggested calmly as he stared at the empty doorway. "And give both of you time to calm down."

He turned to look at her and nodded slowly. "I'm not leaving without her."

She hid a smile and simply nodded.