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Chantelle loweredherself into the chair, her entire body trembling. She’d gone around with him, and she wasn’t sure who was the winner.Pressing her hand against her stomach, she could feel the movementsof the baby growing inside her. She wasn’t going to give it up.
She’d gonethrough the layers of pain and anger at his leaving and was nowbonding with her baby. She’d started listening to classicalmusic whenever she was in bed and had bought baby books to read upabout what to expect. She was even planning the nursery and the themeeven though it was too soon to tell the sex.
He wasn’t goingto spoil it for her. Even though she was yearning to feel him againsther, she was going to ignore that. Right now, she has work to do.
*****
He hadn’t leftas she hoped but was ensconced in the privacy booth belonging toKane, with a drink and some food in front of him. She did her best toignore him but found it impossible. She’d taken off her heelsfor comfortable flats as she made her rounds.
At one point, he wasjoined by a stunning brunette who kept touching his arm. Tellingherself it was contempt she felt and not anger and jealousy, sheflounced back into her office and slammed the door shut. She didn’thave a claim on him and didn’t want to. He was free to seewhomever he pleased.
It was almostmidnight when she finished up and was ready to leave. A peek insidethe privacy booth showed he wasn’t there, and the relief waspalpable. It was her first day back, and perhaps she should have lefta little earlier.
Waving to thesecurity, she made her way to her vehicle, jumping slightly as theshadow detached itself from the surrounding palm trees and cametowards her.
"I wanted tomake sure you’re okay."
"Carl." Shetamped down the irritation as she disengaged her alarm. The man hadbeen hitting on her since earlier this evening and refusing to takeno for an answer. "You should take a cab home. I’ll getJohn to call one-"
"I wanted to seeyou." Before she could sidestep, he grabbed her arm and boxedher in against the vehicle. His words were slurred, and she couldsmell the liquor in his breath. He was a burly man topping six feet,and she didn’t stand a chance. If she called out, the securitywould come running, but she wanted to avoid that.
"Look, you’redrunk-"
"You’regoing to want to take your hands off her."
The silky voice hadboth of them turning. He hadn’t left, she thought weakly.
"Now. Or I‘llbreak them out of their sockets. Your choice."
"He’s justdrunk-"
"This is none ofyour business." Carl's fingers tightened on her arms. She wassure that if he hadn’t been as drunk as he was, he wouldn’thave argued.
"It is. Yes, itis." Flicking away the cigar he’d been smoking, he movedtowards them, reminding her of a panther stalking his prey. "Igave you a choice."
"Now look here-"That was as far as he got. Chantelle stifled a scream as the manlanded in the shrubs in a drunken heap. It happened so quickly thatshe wondered if she was seeing things.
"Oh, God!"Forcing her trembling legs to move, she started forward, only to bestopped as Kenji gripped her arm.
"The securitywill see to him. I’m sure he’s just unconscious." Hejerked his head as John came running.
"Why the hellweren’t you doing your job? You’re supposed to see herout of the building."
"I’msorry, sir. It won’t happen again."
"See that itdoesn't." Resisting her efforts to get away from him, he guidedher to her vehicle.
"Let go of me."
"What?" Heasked her mockingly. "No, 'thank you for rescuing me'?"
"I don't needrescuing." She was still shaken up, her insides trembling.
"I think you do,and I’m going to have words with Kane about your hours."
She pushed at him,eyes blazing. "You don't own me, and I can do what I damn wellplease."
"The baby you’recarrying says otherwise." He pressed her back against thevehicle, trapping her body with his. "I have a say in whathappens to you. You just got back and should have used commonsense togo home earlier. Now I am going to have to intervene."
