Page 50 of Possessive Mr. Pen

I park on the curb near her favorite café and meet her eyes.

“No.Everything.”

She plucks the silver card from my fingers and uses it to tap the black.

“Are you sure?I have some major expenses coming up.”

Deciding to strike while she’s off kilter from the proposal, I smirk and lean over the center console.She doesn’t shy away.

“Do you mean Hannah’s clinical trial?”

Her pupils shrink and fear clouds her eyes.I grab her nape and speak before she thinks the worst.

“I had nothing to do with her acceptance, I haven’t read her medical records, and I’ve never contacted her or any of her caretakers.I know of her clinical trial only because you were distraught last week.”

The tension coiled within her makes her nape taut under my hand.For several horrible heartbeats, I wonder if I’ve gone too far.Ever since I fucked up and tried to blackmail my way into her bed—using her need for money to pay for her sister’s clinical trial—nothing has gone right.From offering her a contract marriage much earlier than planned to making a scene at the jewelry store and rushing a proposal, mentioning her sister’s medical expenses may be another horrid misstep.

Hilary blows out her breath and visibly forces herself to relax.

“I don’t want to know what that means.It’s too stalkery.As your employee, I should have notified you anyway since I’ll need to take leave on her travel days, I just… I haven’t gotten that far yet,” she admits.

I tug her face toward me and use her narrowed focus on my lips as a distraction to slip the black card between her fingers on top of the silver.

“I forgive you,” I murmur.

The extended pause between me speaking the words and her understanding them proves my effect on her.I steal a chaste peck to her lips before releasing her and leaning back.

Anger glitters in her eyes, but her stomach rumbles and breaks the silence.I smirk and check for incoming vehicles before opening my door.

She curses under her breath.I look behind me as I rise and confirm she recognized my ploy as she studies the black card.

The mix of emotions on her face clears away my doubts and makes the path forward clear.

No more pussyfooting or fumbling around.After I feed my cranky woman, we’re going to visit all her supposed sisters—starting at the care facility then heading to her apartment—and begin their move into the townhouse this afternoon.Then tonight I can fill my warrior queen in on the plan.

And hopefully fill other parts of her, too.

She’s so close.I need her closer.

Tonight.

Chapter 13

Hilary Winthrop

After eating way too much,I lower myself into the passenger seat and wonder how I’m going to stay awake the short drive to the office.Even buckling in requires a level of concentration I’m not sure I possess.

Connor leans over the center console and reaches across me, but with my stomach heavy from food and an inexplicable sadness, instead of shoving him away, I study him up close as he pulls my seatbelt across my chest.Without a word, he lifts my arm, buckles my seatbelt, and settles my wrist in my lap before turning to the wheel.

I don’t understand.I’m getting everything I hoped for.The contract marriage is solving so many of my problems.Hannah will get her treatment.I won’t have to part with Aisha and Momo.All my financial woes are gone forever.Hell, I’m even marrying the man who features in my deepest, darkest fantasies.

So why do I want to scream and cry until my voice gives out?Why does the memory of him, smug and evil, dropping to one knee and asking me to marry him fill me with sorrow?

My lashes droop the second Connor shifts into gear.I turn to look out the passenger window, blink, and wake to roads I don’t expect.

“This isn’t the way to the office,” I mumble.

“We’re not going to the office.Take a nap.We still have a ways to go,” he says.