wherewithal to take his words to heart.
“I’m going to lose my job.”
“I’ll talk to Paddy.”
“I don’t need any favors.” I cringe after hissing the words out.
This man just rescued me from a situation that could’ve turned very ugly since I had no place to go, and I repay him with attitude.
“I just—” I run my hands over my face, no doubt smearing the makeup I paid extra careful attention to this morning in anticipation of seeing him again. “I want to do things on my own.”
“Needing help sometimes doesn’t make you helpless.”
His eyes focus on the street ahead of him, but I don’t miss the way his fingers twitch on the steering wheel. Is he agitated that he has to say these things out loud or does he want to reach for me?
“I just thought I got away from that stupid life.”
“A rich girl—”
“I’m not rich,” I interrupt.
“A girl with rich, famous parents working in a rundown pub is a big deal to some.” He doesn’t look at me, and I’m thankful for the reprieve.
My lips quiver, tears burning the backs of my eyes and threatening to run over.
“Besides,” his handsome mouth pulls up in a grin, “how can they keep an eye on your bump if they don’t track you down.”
My lip curls in disgust. One, because even if I were pregnant, invading a person’s life the way they constantly do is rude. Two, don’t those idiots know that people can have sex and not get pregnant?
“There’s not going to be a bump.”
His truck rolls to a stop at a red light. His eyes drift to the rearview mirror first before they swing in my direction. His gaze starts on my stomach, making me grow warm, before drifting up to my face.
“Yet.”
If I were drinking or eating something, I’d choke.
I turn my head, breaking our eye contact. Saying things like that gives me hope, and that’s a dangerous, stupid thing to have where I’m concerned.
We drive around in silence for an eternity. It may only be fifteen minutes or so, but he doesn’t say a word as we navigate the streets of St. Louis. I haven’t ventured very far since starting my job. Taking every shift offered and begging for more doesn’t really leave much time for exploring. I can admit it’s a gorgeous city. The Gateway Arch was never on my list of must-see things, but it’s gorgeous from a distance.
“Where are we going?” I finally ask.
“Where do you want to go?” The teasing lilt to his husky voice doesn’t have his desired effect on me.
I roll my eyes and look out the side window. “Back to my hotel.”
He doesn’t speak as he drives around the block and heads back in that direction.
Knowing what I need to do, I pull my phone from my pocket and hit the contact for work.
“Sam?”
My boss sighs on the other end of the line. “Remington.”
“I ugh—”
“I’m sorry, Remington.”
“I understand.” I tell him goodbye and hang my head as I drop my phone in my lap.
Just like that, I’m back where I started when I first arrived in this city. Maybe now is the time to move on. I have a little saved, but without a job or prospects to find a new one, I know leaving isn’t smart.
“I’m going to have to go back to that shitty hotel,” I mutter, more to resolve myself to the fact than anything.
“Which hotel?”
“Riverview. It’s off Gravois Avenue.”
The truck lurches. “What? You stayed down there?”
I shrug. “The rooms were cheap.”
“And Benton Park West is one of the worst neighborhoods in the fucking city. Do you know how lucky you are nothing happened to you?” His jaw ticks. “Riverview? There isn’t a fucking river within miles of that damn place.”
I thought the same thing when I stayed there, and yeah, the motel was crappy, the guy at the front desk was a creep, but no one bothered me. Granted, I leaned the box spring up against the window even though I was on the third floor and pushed the dresser against the door.
“You’re not going back there, Remi. I won’t allow it.”
“Allow it?” I cross my arms over my chest, the indignant side of me raring to go. “Need I remind you that you aren’t my father?”
I hate people bossing me around. Call it the number one pet peeve I have.
“Need I remind you what happened the last time you told me that?” His eyes burn hot, tongue licking out at his lips. “I’ll spank your ass