Worth More Than Money (Worth It 3)

His gaze hardened on me and it made my heart still in my chest.

“We need to talk about all this.”

“Then we can do it in your car. You’re not getting me into your bedroom,” I said.

“Trust me, I’m not going to touch you.”

“Wow. Don’t look so enthused. The least you could do is not look absolutely disgusted at the notion.”

“Would you get out of the damn car so we can go inside?” he asked.

I knew it was a bad idea. I knew if I unbuckled my seat belt I was giving him the upper hand. But we did need to talk, and with how big-mouthed people were in my hometown, it was better if we did it behind closed doors. It didn’t look like anyone was at the bed and breakfast anyway, which didn’t surprise me. It was the most expensive place to stay in all of Williston.

Not even the owners looked as if they were there.

I got out of the car and followed him into the house. We scaled the stairs until we got to the third floor. The private floor. Of course, he would be on the top, private floor. I walked in and he closed the door behind me, and I could’ve sworn I heard it lock. I walked over to the furthest corner and put my back against it, folding my arms over my chest. I needed to know what he had to say for the baby’s sake and I certainly was owed an apology. But I wasn’t expecting any miracles. I didn’t expect him to be on board with any of this and I sure as hell didn’t expect him to be happy about it.

Then again, I hadn’t expected him to come after me, either.

“Would you like to sit?” Gray asked.

I looked over at the small sitting area at my side and nodded. I reached for the chair and pulled it out, then gingerly sat down. My apron was still wrapped around my waist and I smelled like booze and smoke. I watched Gray carefully as he poured me a glass of water, then set a glass of wine in front of himself. He sat in front of me, his legs spread out. Taking up as much room as he could.

Posturing.

I knew when a man was posturing.

“So. Talk,” I said.

But all he did was stare at me. His eyes danced around my body and it made me very uncomfortable. What the hell did he think was going to happen? Did he think I was going to apologize? I didn’t have anything to apologize for! He was the asshole here. I grabbed my glass of water and took a long pull, then fluttered my gaze out the window.

He might’ve wanted to stare at me, but I didn’t want to have anything to do with his presence.

Or so I told myself.

I was painfully aware of how long he stared at me, and I wondered what was going through his mind. What his purpose behind this intimidation tactic was. I set the empty glass of water down, shocked at how much I’d had to drink. My tongue still stuck to the roof of my mouth and my anxiety mounted. I jiggled my leg and bided my time, waiting for him to speak.

But I couldn’t take it any longer. I didn’t have the luxury of relaxing. I didn’t have a job that worked for me and raked in millions a month while I sat in a hotel room, eyeing someone like a piece of damn meat.

“Either talk or take me back to work,” I said flatly.

I panned my eyes back over to his and watched a grin crawl across his cheeks.

“You don’t need to worry about getting back to your honky-tonk,” he said.

“What the hell does that mean?” I asked.

“I’m taking you back to Napa with me.”

My eyebrows hiked up my forehead as I sat back into my seat.

“Oh really. And when were you going to discuss this with me?” I asked.

“I wasn’t. That’s what you want, isn’t it?” he asked.

“What I want is for you to take me back to my job and quit trying to intimidate me. I didn’t ask you to come after me, so as far as I’m concerned you owe me an explanation.”

“Your job doesn’t matter because I’m giving you what you want. I’m taking you back to Napa Valley with me and taking care of you until we can figure out whose child you’re carrying.”