“Where did you end up, Narina?” The waitress arrived with our water and some bread that smelled heavenly. I quickly snatched a piece and pulled a bite off.
I didn’t notice that Royce was staring at me intensely or that he stiffened when I mentioned getting lost in a bad place. None of that registered to me.
Cara took our orders and told us she’d be back with our salads shortly. When she left, Royce got my attention again.
“Where did you get lost at, Narina?”
His tone was deep and borderline menacing. Royce had his jaw clenched, and I realized how bad I’d messed up telling him I got lost.
“I . . . I was in Harlem. The subway system confused me, and I took the wrong train.” I didn’t admit to him that I misread a sign because I was tired from studying and my head hurt from trying to force myself to read when the letters just weren’t computing. It was my shame that I kept hidden as best as I could. My friends knew about my learning disability, but it’s not something that I liked to talk about, especially not with Royce.
“What time were you in Harlem?”
I didn’t answer. If he was upset just by me saying I was lost, he’d be furious to know that it was at nine o’clock at night. Instinctively, I knew it was better to keep my mouth shut, so I just shrugged.
“It was a few weeks ago when I first arrived. I’m doing better with the trains now.” That was a half-truth. The only reason I was doing better with them was because I didn’t use them. It’s why I stayed close to campus or walked wherever I needed to go.
“Evading the question tells me all I need to know, Narina.”
“It’s not a big deal.”
Now it’s not. I almost had a panic attack when I realized someone was following me that night. I looked for the most crowded place I could find and went there to call a cab. It ended up costing me damn near thirty dollars to travel that whole way back to campus, but I hadn’t ventured out since.
“One thing we need to get straight right now, Narina, is that I don’t tolerate lying. Evading questions or leaving information out is the same thing as lying.”
Royce was intense and his tone brooked no argument. He was a man in control and one that liked getting his way. This whole situation was dumped on him—I was dumped on him.
“Okay,” I agreed. He was right because for better or worse we were having a child together, even if it was a complete accident.
Chapter Six
Royce
She got lost in Harlem. The thought of Narina out there on her own, late at night in this city, drove me crazy. She was too sweet, too innocent, and everything she was thinking was easily read on her face.
I wanted her, and I was going to keep her. Originally, I planned to put the surrogate up in an apartment near me. I already had a lease on the space, but I was going to sublet that shit because Narina was staying with me. I didn’t want to let her out of my sight.
It was crazy to feel this intense of a connection to someone, but for some reason, I knew she was it for me. I couldn’t wait to explore each and every inch of her beautiful body, and for her stomach to grow round with my child.
The clinic had messed up, but it was a happy mistake because I found what I’d been looking for in Narina. She was shy and the way she kept looking at me through the screen of her lashes told me that she was on the submissive side which was perfect. She was my match. I just had to convince her of it.
“The contract I brought with me today was for the surrogate. I was going to put you up in an apartment near me, so I could make sure you and the baby were okay and being taken care of, but now we are in a different situation. I’m assuming you want access and rights to the child?”
“Yes, of course. The baby is mine, too.”
“Then that settles it.”
She looked wary like she was trying to figure out what she was agreeing to.
“Settles what exactly?”
“We’re getting married, Narina, and you will live with me.”
I almost laughed at the utter shock written on her face. Her jaw dropped, and she sat back speechless, staring at me like I’d just sprouted another head. It was cute seeing her confused and flustered.
“I’m not marrying you,” she finally spoke, fire lighting her eyes. I liked seeing that spark of anger. Giving her something to be heated about kept her from looking scared. “We hardly know each other. Hell, I don’t even know your last name.”
“It’s Cavanaugh, and watch your language.”