She was getting ready to shimmy out of her dress when Sebastian stilled all movement.
“How long after you two broke up did we make love?”
Every cell in her body froze solid. “A day.” Lightheaded with dismay, she nevertheless forced herself to ask, “Where are you going with this?”
He grabbed her upper arms and turned her toward her nightstand. Her throat trapped a small cry as she spied the pregnancy book she’d been reading before bed the previous night.
“Are you pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“Were you planning on telling me?”
Misery engulfed her. “Yes.” But she’d hesitated too long before answering.
His body vibrated with suppressed fury. “You set me up from the beginning, didn’t you?”
“What?” She flinched away from the suspicion in his eyes. “No.”
But he didn’t hear her denial. Or if he had, he didn’t believe her. His fingers bit into her flesh, keeping her pinned beneath his merciless stare.
“You found out you were pregnant. Your boyfriend dumped you. You seduced me so I’d believe the baby was mine.”
His accusation came at her like a tire iron. Missy was too stunned to protect herself. Reeling from the impact, she struggled to breathe.
She wasn’t surprised he’d jumped to that conclusion. His first wife had used a pregnancy lie to first get and then stay married to Sebastian. Why would he trust any woman after what he’d been through?
But that he believed it of her aligned all her defensives against him. She stiffened her muscles and straightened her spine. Digging the heel of her palms into his chest, she gave him back glare for glare.
But beneath her outrage, her heart had been gutted. The pain made trying to be strong so much harder. She thought she’d be better prepared for this moment. Hadn’t she seen it coming the first morning after they’d made love? But
knowing he’d eventually reject her and the reality of the experience were vastly different.
And deep down, she’d wanted to trust him. She’d even started to. After the casino night fundraiser, a seed of hope had sprouted. She’d fought to keep it from taking root, but with every fiber of her being she’d wanted things to work out between them. He’d sure done a good job convincing her she’d fit into his world. That he’d be by her side, protecting her.
Look how long that had lasted.
“Answer me, damn you,” he ground out, looking ready to shake her unless she spilled everything. “Is the baby your boyfriend’s?”
The lie she’d promised she’d tell him hovered on her tongue. It would be so easy to claim the baby was Tim’s because it was clear that’s what he was expecting to hear. She’d lose him. But isn’t that what she’d decided was best for all concerned?
She lifted her arm and broke his hold. “This baby is mine. And no one else’s.”
“Stop evading the truth.” He expelled the words through tight lips. His eyes blazed with fury and despair. “Who’s the father?”
“What’s the point in telling you? You’re already convinced it’s Tim’s.” Her head spun. At the moment, the only thing keeping her upright was her stubborn pride. “You need to go.”
By some miracle she kept her voice steady. Telling herself this was for the best didn’t make the loathing in Sebastian’s gaze any easier to stomach. Tears burned the back of her eyes. She couldn’t cry. She wouldn’t.
Sebastian gathered in an enormous amount of air. His chest swelled with it. The condo was so silent Missy could hear the hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. Her heart thumped in her ears. At last, he released his breath. His next words shocked her to her toes.
“I’m not going anywhere without you,” he intoned. He’d regained control of his emotions. “My family is waiting for us at my parents’ house. We’re supposed to be celebrating my mother’s birthday.”
“Your family is waiting for you.” Faint with confusion, Missy shook her head. “I’m not going.”
Why would he want to have anything to do with her after what they’d just been through? The answer jumped into her mind a second later. For the same reason he’d stayed married to Chandra despite all her craziness. He was a man who honored his commitments.
“You’re going if I have to carry you out to my car.”