A Weekend Temptation by Krista Caley Page B

for the baby.”
    “He wants what’s best for him. Only him.”
    “I don’t want to do anything to rob a child of his father.”
    “The baby can still see his father. Nothing has to change between us.”
    Alexander leaned back in his chair as if he wanted more distance between them. “Everything has changed now that you’re pregnant.”
    “What are you saying?”
    “I think it would be best if we didn’t see each other anymore. This is just too complicated for me.” Then Alexander stood.
    Too complicated? He didn’t think she was worth the fight. Or maybe he didn’t want to raise another man’s baby.
    “I know you want to be married, have kids. Maybe you should give Joel a chance. He obviously cares about you.” Then he left Ava and her untouched appetizer, alone.
    She followed in Alexander’s footsteps on a cloud of white-hot steam. Too angry to eat or sit there one more minute.
    She could imagine what Joel would say. Her skin sparked and her feet slammed into the pavement. At this rate, she was going to break the heel of her new Dolce & Gabbana red pumps.
    She groaned. Just her luck. There he was. The commanding bastard.
    It didn’t surprise her to find Joel’s black limo lurking outside the restaurant or the devil himself leaning against it as if he owned her. As if he even had a right to be there.
    She was not in the mood to talk to Joel Stanfield or to hear his I told you so .
    “Why are you here? Come to offer another kiss-off ransom?” She snarled, stopping in front of the opulent vehicle, more irate than she’d been in her entire life. If she was in the mood to examine herself, she’d have to admit she was more angry about Joel offering Alexander the money, than she was by Alexander breaking their engagement.
    “You’re mine, and I’ll do anything to keep it that way,” he said.
    Her arms clamped around her middle. “I am no one’s now, thanks to you.”
    “Alexander didn’t leave you because I offered him money. In fact, he didn’t take the check, so if he left you, it’s not my fault.”
    She puffed out a hot breath. “It damn well is your fault. It’s your sperm’s fault for being so determined and goal oriented!” Her finger sliced through the air and jabbed him in the chest.
    Joel captured it and brought it to his lips for a zinging kiss. She yanked free and held herself again. Hands safely tucked against her ribs and away from him, she continued her rant. “How could you? You think you can buy everyone, control everyone. Well, you can’t control me. I’m never marrying you, Joel Stanfield. Never.”
    She started to spin from him, but he grabbed her arm, making her face him.
    “I won’t lose you and the baby. I’ll do anything to make sure I don’t.”
    “Clearly you would. You already have.” She snorted. “For a man who doesn’t want children—”
    “Just because I didn’t want to have children doesn’t mean I don’t want our baby.”
    She shook her head and wiggled against his jailing fingers, without success. The man was strong and determined to win. “That makes no sense. Why don’t you want kids and love?”
    “It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you marry me. That you let me take care of you and our child.”
    “No,” she said through clenched teeth.
    “You’ll say yes. But you’re tired tonight. A lot has changed for you. In the course of a few months, you quit your job, you became pregnant, and now you lost your worthless fiancé.”
    “He’s not worthless. Alexander’s perfect.”
    “If he was so perfect, you’d still be wearing his ring. He wouldn’t be put off by you having another man’s baby.”
    Her brows lifted. “Wouldn’t you be?”
    “Not if I loved you. Alexander told me he loved you too much to take the money. I say if he loved you, he would have fought for you.”
    Another jab straight into her pounding heart. Did Joel really have to be right? Now of all times! Now when her female pride had been destroyed?
    She’d