A Weekend Temptation by Krista Caley

concern.
    “I…I shouldn’t have come without calling first. I…I’ll just leave now.” Ava stumbled away through the dining room, grabbed her coat, then dove into the safety of the building’s elevator.
    As the elevator sank, Ava leaned against the back wall for support, so she wouldn’t collapse. Joel was engaged! To Claudia.
    He’d said he didn’t want Claudia anymore. He’d made it seem like he’d wanted Ava. She banged her head on the mirrored wall behind her. It should have hurt, but she wasn’t focused on her body. She was too busy replaying the engagement scene in her head.
    Anger and embarrassment heated her skin.
    So much for the fantasy that after being with her he couldn’t marry another. He didn’t miss her or even think about her. Oh no, the minute he’d dropped her back in the city was the minute she’d left his mind.
    He’d wanted Ava’s body. He’d had it. He wanted her no more.
    She shook her head. What would Joel do when he learned she was pregnant with his child? Would it change a damn thing?
    Her pregnancy certainly had rocked everything in Ava’s planned-out world. But would it change anything in his? Would Joel continue to marry his stunning, perfect life-partner? Would he change his plans?
    No, he wouldn’t. Sure, he would support her and the baby. He’d support them in style. But that was it, because he didn’t love Ava. He’d moved on with a shrug of his broad shoulders.
    As the elevator dinged and opened, a high-pitched hysterical laugh escaped her lips. Joel was going to love her news. And he’d thought Ava would disappear from his life forever.
    Surprise. The man who didn’t want children was going to have a baby with the woman he wanted gone.
    Ava’s cell rang as she’d shuffled through the deserted, marble lobby, and her stupid heart fluttered as she read the caller ID. It was Joel.
    “Why did you come? I thought I made it clear I didn’t want to see you again.”
    Talk about making a girl feel wanted and welcome. “God, you’re such an arrogant ass. I didn’t come because I wanted you back.” Or to ruin your perfect life, the way you might have ruined mine.
    “Then why did you come?” His tone was drenched in disbelief. It made her wish she’d dropped the pregnancy bomb right there, at his fancy party, in front of everyone. But no matter how angry the man made her, that wouldn’t have been right. This news was meant for his ears and his ears alone.
    “I have to tell you something,” she croaked out.
    “What?”
    “Trust me, you’ll want to hear this news in person. Give me five minutes, then you can go back to Claudia.”
    “My car will be in front of the building by the time the lobby doors open. Sit in back and wait. I’ll be there in five minutes, max.”
    “But you have guests. This is your engage—”
    “Five minutes,” he said then hung up.
    The man was actually going to ask a dining room of guests to wait for him? So he could talk to her? On the morning of his engagement brunch? She shivered and rubbed her arms. That was cold even for him.
    Or maybe she did mean more to him than he admitted? Her heart flickered worthlessly. She was being optimistic.
    He didn’t want her. He was just curious or worried about her news. He’d told her she was as pale as death. He probably sensed her news was world-changing, and he didn’t want to wait a moment longer to hear it.
    Don’t delude yourself into thinking Joel Stanfield cares. That was asking for a heart slashing.
    Exactly three minutes after she’d made herself comfortable in the back of Joel’s limo, she watched his guests file out of the building and drive away.
    Then five and a half minutes later, Joel slid into the back of the limo and instructed his chauffer to drive around the city. The driver didn’t question where to go; he didn’t have time because the privacy glass was already up.
    Joel leaned forward, hands on his knees, fingers tapping. “All right, let’s have