the years I’ve been at this. I just can’t go home on instincts. I’m gonna call him if I have to. I’ll know. I’ll hear it in his voice.”
Sabine nodded. “So then get on a plane now. Just leave.” When he didn’t move, her chest caved in. “Because if it’s no, yer not going home. Right?”
He looked down at the notebook. “I’m sure you can do something with three hundred thousand dollars?”
“I’ll make something work.” She shrugged, the defeat in her voice and her slumped shoulders killed him. Watching her dream die. “Maybe I can convince Shane to move to L.A. Maybe he’ll agree to live off his trust-fund for a while before I can pay him.”
“And you don’t have a trust fund?”
“Girls dun’t get trust funds in my world. They get dowries that go to their husbands.”
Gray shook his head. “I’m sorry. I find your traditions a load of bullshit.”
Sabine
ANGER COURSED THROUGH Sabine.
Sure, those traditions were backward and demeaning. But they were hers to call shite. Not Grayson’s.
In her re-calculations, she considered the monetary value of Shane working for her. Only if he agreed. That wasn’t a definite
The alternative?
Nothing.
She spent a week having a ball with a beautiful man who made her feel things she didn’t think her heart would allow.
She also guaranteed her freedom by losing her virginity. Sure, that had been a last last last resort in the event Shane rang the alarm that the Quinlans were on a plane to drag her back to New York once and for all.
She’d taken care of that. Had the most incredible night. Gray had made love to her. God, he was so powerful, driving into her to ease the ache.
It felt glorious.
Freedom.
Her body felt used and sore, her lips were bruised and her nipples raw from his mouth. But she’d felt alive.
Until now.
“I guess I’ll just have to wait longer to expand the business. Work harder.” She shrugged and stalked off toward the hallway that led to the bedrooms.
“Where are you going?”
Over her shoulder, she said, “I’m getting dressed and then I’m going home.”
He stood in the doorway of the bedroom while she looked around for something to put on. “H-home? To New York?”
That’d been the worst part. Everything had been taken away from her. She’d lost her sister and her freedom at the same time. Because she wasn’t willing to submit to their wishes, her parents had become ghosts to her.
Her family and their love. For a man she didn’t love.
Who should have to make those choices? And what if god-forbid, she couldn’t get pregnant? Her wee ones would have been the only joy in her life, the only love because Kieran would never love her. Having a babe wasn’t a guarantee. Her aunt back in Waterford never had children. She’d heard infertility was hereditary. Buried genes.
There were no guarantees.
If she made her own future then she controlled her destiny.
“I’m going back to L.A.”
“Please don’t.” Gray’s voice went shaky as he marched up to her with heavy steps.
He gathered her into his arms and kissed her. Like he found some unknown button on her soul, she kissed him back. Wrapped her arms around him and let his mouth devour her. The man had a power over her that frightened her. But she wanted him. Needed his touch and his kisses. Because in a day or two she’d be alone again. Living with broken dreams. Scattered like ashes in a burned-out building.
“I know I lost it all in Vegas. But take this last chance on me. We’ll get on the road right now. You can’t expect to run a business and not allow for unforeseen events.”
“Are ye saying some kind of miracle can happen between here and New York?”
“Miracles happen all the time.” He brushed his fingers across her lip. “You’re here with me in Chicago. You let me into your bed. You gave me everything you had to give. I consider that a miracle.”
“I might have something left in that department.” She slid his tee-shirt off and let him drink in her naked body. It could be the last time she made love to him. She needed him inside her one more time.
Gray gripped his hard cock. “Are you sore, mama?”
“A wee bit. Ye did it right. Did me right.” The backs of her knees hit the mattress of the bed they shared and she brought Gray down on top of her.
The messy tangled sheets were a vivid reminder of how Grayson Hart made love in a bed.