He sighed. “It didn’t occur to me to tell you, okay? I’m not used to having to report to awife. You don’t work for me anymore, and I had a lot on my mind.”
Her fist curled, and she honestly wanted to punch him. Just because he’d pushed her out of her job didn’t give him the right to sneak around. If he had disappeared or died over there, she wouldn’t have known where to start looking for him.
Changing the subject, she said, “I’m not going to get pregnant if we’re not in the same house, let alone the same country. From now on, I go where you go. Do you have a problem with that?”
His dark brows darted up. “Are you saying youwantto have sex with me?”
“That is how babies are made.”
“Considering your behavior the last time we made love, I didn’t think you were that interested. You’re like a dude. The second we’re done, you take off. It’s a bit... disturbing.”
A shocking wave of heat filled her stomach, but she had to keep up the charade. If he suspected how much she enjoyed being with him in that way, he could use it against her. Information was power. He had taught her that.
“We did not make love,” she said. “We had sex. Let’s keep that clear. I am not a weepy girl, and I promise to not get clingy or crazy. We’re together for the express purpose of creating life. That is all I am focused on, and that’s all I want you focused on. The sooner we accomplish that, the sooner I can be out of your life.”
His deceptively sleepy eyes drifted down her body. “You can join me in the shower if you’d like.”
“You look tired. It can wait.”
“Sweetheart, I am neverthattired.
He ripped his tie off and let it drop to the floor. Next, his jacket and shirt followed. Her cheeks flamed to life. She dropped her gaze, feeling shy again. What the man did to her with a single glance had to be criminal. He stole her breath and killed her inhibitions to the point she didn’t recognize herself.
“Why am I the only one undressing?” he asked.
Her lips curved, and a new wave of confidence washed over her. In one swift movement, she pulled her dress over her head. Standing before him in her underwear felt weird, but she liked how his eyes lit up with passion. She crooked her finger at him and backed up to the staircase.
She grinned. “First one to the shower sets the water temperature.”
She ran up the stairs while he was struggling with his trousers, half on and half off. “Cheater!” he yelled.
Laughing, she reached the bathroom first and jumped into the shower stall. She adjusted the water. Hopefully, he liked it hot. She felt like a long steamy shower with her gorgeous husband. Everything else could wait.
♥♥♥
Katie liked to keep busy when something or someone made her mad. Lucky for her, she had an entire house to clean and put in some semblance of order. She worked non-stop for three hours while Chase called clients from his den. It was the morning after he had returned from his sudden trip to Hong Kong. Every time she thought of his presumptuous behavior, she wanted to beat him instead of the dusty rug hanging from the clothesline. She hit it harder and silently berated herself for agreeing to his ridiculous proposal. Having a baby with a control-freak probably wasn’t a good idea, even with a signed contract.
She coughed and tried to wave the cloud of dust away from her face. How dare he make decisions for her? If she didn’t set him straight, he wouldn’t stop until he took over every aspect of her life.
She stormed into the house, ready for a confrontation.
His raised voice reached her at the opposite end of the hallway as she was coming up the stairs. It was bad manners to listen in on a private conversation, but she couldn’t help the fact he was close to shouting. She hesitated. Perhaps she should return to her cleaning and wait for him to finish. She turned to retrace her steps, but the sound of her name caught her attention.
“No! I don’t want another temp like the last one. I need someone like Katie, someone smart and competent. I expect you to find me that someone by tomorrow morning or I will find somebody to doyourjob. Understood?”
She waited until he hung up the phone. Then she marched into the den without knocking. He looked up from his chair behind the desk, surprise etched on his face.
“You don’t need to hire another temp,” she said. “I am still perfectly capable of doing my job.”
“I thought you wanted to stay here and fix the house for the baby.”
“That was your idea. If you want this to work, you cannot treat me like an employee or a servant. I have a brain, and I can damn well use it. I’m not going to sit around and twiddle my thumbs while you decide everything for me. Understood? I know you fancy yourself a dictator, but I’m not putting up with it any longer.”
His eyes narrowed, and he got a strange look on his face. “I don’t know you at all, do I?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
He leaned back in his seat. “All this time you’ve beenyes, sirandno, sir.As you wish, sir. I’ve never seen this side of you before.”