Claiming His Nine-Month Consequence

No! She couldn’t let herself remember. She couldn’t let herself feel. She couldn’t let herself want him.

“At the end of your pregnancy, you may return to Star Valley, if you choose.” He looked slowly over her old, peeling kitchen. “You will have the deed to my ski lodge, along with a generous income to maintain it. And anything else you desire.”

Ares was trying to give her his thirty-million-dollar house? She felt suddenly faint. “I…I’m not taking it.”

“Why?”

“Because…” She put her hand to her forehead, feeling dizzy. “Nothing comes for free.”

“Let’s be honest, Ruby. As you said, I am selfish. Cold. There are some things I cannot offer you,” he said in a low voice. “Love. Marriage.” His lips curved harshly. “And we both know I won’t be much of a father.”

Ruby stared at him. His voice sounded so haunted. So…empty. “How do you know? Do you have other children?”

He shook his head. “I’ve always been careful.”

“You and I were careful,” she pointed out.

“Ah.” He gave a small smile. “But if any other woman had gotten pregnant, she would have immediately tried to cash in.”

“I’m not trying to cash in,” she said, insulted.

“I wish you were. Money is easy to give. At least it would be, with any other woman but you.” His jaw set. “I will take no more of your insults, asking if I intend to abandon you and my child to poverty,” he said grimly. “Now go get dressed.”

The floor seemed to tremble beneath her. “I won’t go.”

“Your mother is dead, Ruby. Your sister is gone. Why are you desperate to stay?” He paused. “Or are you just afraid to be alone with me?”

Terrified. But she lifted her chin. “Why would I be?”

“I can call in my bodyguard and have him physically carry you to the car, if necessary. But one way or the other, you will obey me.” He turned away. “On second thought, don’t bother packing. I will have new clothes waiting for you in New York.”

Ruby glanced down at her bright pink pajamas, which were so soft and always comforted her. “What’s wrong with the clothes I already have?”

“You have two minutes,” he said flatly.

“Until what?”

“Until I send in Georgios to carry you out like a sack of potatoes. If any of your neighbors are awake, I’m sure they’d find it very entertaining.” He turned to the door. “I’ll be outside.”

Exactly two minutes later, Ruby came out in clean clothes, an outfit she loved: stretchy, bright purple cutoffs and a vintage 1980s T-shirt with a big rainbow across the front, stretching over her baby bump. Locking the trailer door behind her, she pulled her freshly brushed hair back into a ponytail with a bright yellow bow and lifted her canvas bag to her shoulder.

Ares was already in the Lamborghini, with his bodyguard in the big SUV behind.

“I hate you,” she grumbled as she climbed in beside him.

“It’s for your own good.”

“Say that one more time, and I might slap you.”

Ares’s gaze traced over her lazily, then revved the engine. “Looking forward to it.”

He pushed down on the gas. The two vehicles drove through the trailer park and the village of Sawtooth, then out onto the two-lane state highway.

Outside, the summer night was cool. Rolling down her window, Ruby saw the dark shadow of the mountains beneath a cloudless sky of spread-out stars and bright moon. She took a deep breath of the cool air. She could smell pine trees, the river, the cottonwoods. At the thought of leaving the valley, she felt a pang of homesickness, even fear. New York. With Ares Kourakis.

As they arrived at the small regional airport, Ruby saw the enormous Kourakis Enterprises jet like a leviathan on the tarmac. As they drew closer, the jet only seemed to get bigger. Her lips parted in awe as he drove the sleek black car to a stop beside it.

Several people were waiting to meet them at the bottom of the jet’s steps. A gray-haired man stepped forward with a smile.

“This is Mr. Martin, my lodge’s caretaker,” Ares said. “He and his wife will take care of everything you’re leaving behind, your trailer, your truck. Any bills that haven’t been paid. Give him your keys.”