Page 62 of Hayes

"You could both trick my son into doing what exactly?"

"I never wanted to do it, but he threatened me. You don't know what it's like." She stretched forth a pleading hand, pulling back when it did not make an impression. "He threatened to kick me out, take away my allowance–"

"You expect me to feel sorry for you?" Hillary raked her with a contemptuous glance. "You are beautiful, young and cunning. I am certain you can find some old fool to fall for your dubious charms. I understand Douglas Creary is looking for a bride."

Simone blanched. "He is a hundred years old!"

"He is seventy and has never had children. He also has a fortune and is very fond of younger women, much younger women. My dear, you are only a victim if you make yourself into one. If your father is as cruel as you claim he is, then it is in your best interest to do whatever it is to survive."

*****

"I think you should stop working."

Glancing up from the article she was editing, she stared at him with a frown.

"How long have you waited to come up with that?"

They were in his bedroom after having a meal in the informal dining room with his mother, who had imparted the news that Simone would not be a threat anymore.

"You were spotting, and we would not want that happening again. It's not like you are going to need the money. " Tugging his sweater over his head, he walked over to sit on the sofa where she was.

"I have to work."

"Tell me why."

"It gives me a sense of independence, and it reminds me that I am not with you for the money. I lost everything that I thought I had when the tragedy happened to my parents. Their lifestyle was extravagant.

Mother did not wear the same dress twice. They threw lavish parties and spent money as if they had an endless supply of it. I hated it—hated the fact that being accepted in so-called society meant more to them than anything else."

"I am not like that."

"I am not saying you are," she countered softly. Putting away her device, she turned to face him. "I love writing, enjoy the challenges of creating a story and turning it into something the readers can enjoy. I have money saved up, it's not much, but I was determined to live a very simple life."

"Now that's changed." Taking her hand, he linked their fingers. "My lifestyle is not simple. I am the CEO of one of the top airlines in the world. I travel a lot; I also entertain quite often. I am responsible for thousands of employees all over the world as well as my board members. I want you by my side."

"As what? A decorative wife?"

"As my partner. Do your writing remotely. Pick a room, any room in this house, and I will have decorators come in to design it to your taste. We are visible, more so, because of what happened with your parents. People will be watching us, the press will want to know what we are up to, hoping for a story. I am not saying this to scare you–"

"And yet you have accomplished that."

He lapsed into silence as he gazed off over her left shoulder. "I will support you in whatever decision you make, you know that very well."

"I do."

"But I just want to keep you safe."

"By having me stay inside the manor until you are by my side," she surmised.

Sighing softly, he used his free hand to rub the side of his face. "I don't want to lose you."

She gave him a knowing look. "You keep expecting me to run off again."

"It's not–" Blowing out a breath, he shook his head. "I keep expecting that something someone says will trigger the need for you to get away. Christ! I hate that I am so damned insecure that I want to lock you up and throw away the key."

"What I did, damaged us," she acknowledged quietly, fingers tightening on him. "I was a scared seventeen-year-old girl who had just lost her parents and not just in a normal way. I had the run pulled out from beneath me, and I ran. Hayes–" Lifting a hand, she cupped his jaw.

"I am not that girl anymore. I am a woman who is in love with a man who is going to be my husband and the father of my child. I would never run away from you again. I couldn't."