by Angelo, Judy
Now what did that mean? Did he believe her or was she still nothing more than a groupie in his eyes?
Well, groupie or not, Dare was here in her apartment, thousands of miles from his resort and his island, and she needed to know why. He’d certainly not come all this way out of love for her.
She was loath to broach the subject but since he seemed intent on skirting around the real reason for his visit Erin decided to take the plunge. She’d always faced her problems head on and she wasn’t going to stop now, even if it meant facing off with the lion in her apartment.
“Dare, I’ve asked you twice and you’ve not given me an answer. Why are you here?” She lifted her chin and looked him squarely in the eyes. “Is it because of the baby? You want to state your claim?”
Erin never saw someone’s expression change so fast. His frown disappeared. In his eyes was a look of shock that was like a slap to her face. He hadn’t known. Dare had not had any inkling that she was expecting his child.
“Baby? Are you…pregnant?”
Erin bit her lip and dropped her eyes. Goodness, she’d said quite enough already. Oh, Lord. She’d let the proverbial cat out of the bag and now she would have to face the consequences.
“Erin, are you pregnant?” This time his voice was stern but the shock was replaced by a calm that almost seemed more dangerous. “Tell me.”
She swallowed but still she could not speak. Neither could she look in his eyes. She did not want to see the condemnation there. This was her baby, and no matter what she would not feel shame for carrying this life inside of her.
In the end, she just nodded.
He expelled his breath. “And the baby is mine?”
Erin’s eyes flew to his and her mouth fell open in shocked anger. “Of course it’s yours. What? Do you think I make it a habit of going around sleeping with different men?”
“How should I know?” His retort was quick and brutal. “You fell into bed with me easily enough.”
“Do you know what? Just leave my apartment. Get out before I call the police. I don’t need to stand here taking your insults.” She marched over to the door and flung it open. “Leave. Now.”
Dare gave her a lethal look then strode toward her. As she stepped back he gripped the door and slammed it shut.
Erin gasped. Who did he think he was? “What are you doing? You’d better go."
“Listen to me,” he said through clenched teeth, "you can’t drop that bombshell and then expect me to walk away simply because you tell me to. I need to know. Are you expecting my child?”
“Yes, Dare, I’m expecting your child as I think you already know." She practically spat the words at him. “But never fear. I don’t expect a thing from you. I’ve already made arrangements for the baby so don’t feel you have to contribute anything. And,” her voice rose and she pointed an accusing finger at him, “if you came all this way to try to convince me to get rid of my child you can just turn around and go right back to Santa Marta because it’s not going to happen.”
“Get rid of…what the hell?” Dare raised his hand and she flinched but he simply raked his fingers through his hand. There was a look of confusion on his face. “I don’t understand. I used protection every time.”
Seeing his bewildered state Erin softened just a little. “They’re not one hundred percent guaranteed. You should know that.”
“Yeah, I do, but I thought they’d have been good enough for one night.” He shook his head. “And you’re not on the pill?”
“No.”
“But what are the odds…” he began then his voice trailed off and his eyes took on a faraway look as if he was trying to remember something. Then a look of realization crossed his face. “It must have been that third time. When you left and I rolled over there was some dampness on the bed but I didn’t think anything of it. The condom must have broken.”
“But you would have seen that.”
“If it was a small tear, probably not. I don’t sit there inspecting the damn things. Once I’m done I just get rid of them.”
For a moment there was silence as they both fell into deep thought. Erin had no idea what was going through Dare’s mind but her dilemma was coming to terms with the fact that he hadn’t known about the baby and yet he was here. What was the explanation for that? Dared she ask?
She sucked in a deep breath. She had to know. Steeling herself against his anger she blurted, “So if you didn’t come about the baby why are you here?”
“What?” Dare looked like she’d just pulled him out of a trance.
“Why are you here, Dare? Why did you come looking for me?"
His eyes honed in on hers and for the first time since she’d met him he seemed at a loss for words.
Then his face darkened in a scowl. “I came to take you back to Santa Marta.”
CHAPTER SIX
“To take me back?" she spluttered, a look of incredulity on her face. “Are you mad?”
“I’m quite sane, I can assure you,” he said, the pace of his heart returning to normal. The girl had turned the tables on him and given him the shock of his life.
“But…why?”
Dare almost felt sorry for her, she looked so confused. He knew he must be driving her round the bend but how could he help that? He couldn’t explain it even to himself. One day he’d seen her then spent the following night making sweet love to her and, like the fish in the sea, he was hooked. The funny thing was it seemed Erin hadn’t even realized she’d caught the biggest fish in the pond.
“Why, Dare? You threw me out of your bed, remember? Out of your life. So what’s this story about coming back to get me?” She threw her hands up in apparent frustration. “For what? Another one night stand?”
She was glaring at him now, her chest heaving with the intensity of her emotions. And who could blame her?
He’d done everything she’d accused him of, and more. Little did she know that he’d seduced her expertly and deliberately into going back to his villa and making love to him. He’d wanted to make her pay for pursuing him so shamelessly. He'd wanted to take what she was offering. And now he would pay the steepest price. His days of philandering were over. He was about to become a father.
He still could not believe it. Dare DeSouza, family man. When he’d left Santa Marta he’d had no idea that the joke would be on him.
But in the end it could all turn out in his favor. Obsessed with the memory of Erin he’d finally given in and come to see her with the intention of convincing her to return to the island. Now, with this development, there was no way she could say no.
“Erin, calm down. Have a seat.” He walked over and pulled out a chair. When she hesitated he frowned. “Come and sit before you keel over.”
Thankfully, she headed over on shaky legs and sank down on the chair. If she hadn’t he would have gone over and lifted her off her feet. He could see that her emotions coupled with her tiredness from work were beginning to take its toll. She was shaking.
He walked into the kitchen and filled a glass with water then brought it to her.
She gulped it thirstily then rested the glass on the table and looked up at him.
It was only then, in the light cast by the chandelier above the table, that he saw how thin and drawn she was. Her eyes were large molten pools in her face. They were circled with shadows of exhaustion.
He pulled the other chair forward and sat beside her. “Erin,” he said, drawing her eyes back to his face, “you look terrible.”
She looked surprised at his outspokenness then her face broke into a tired smile. “Thanks. You are so kind."
“I mean it,” he said, his voice low and grave. “You need to stop this work you’re doing. It’s too much.”
At that she laughed but there was no mirth to the sound. “Stop this work, he says. And then eat what? Air? And how would I pay my rent and my bills?”
“I have the solution for that,” he said. “I want you to-”
“Oh yes, come back
to Santa Marta,” she said, her tone sarcastic. “You forgot. When you came here you expected to take a slender, sexy thing back with you. I’m not any of that. Not anymore.”
“Erin,” Dare said, trying to keep his voice calm, “listen to me. I want you-”
“No, you don’t,” she snapped. “Not anymore. Not when I’m going to look like a pumpkin in three-”
Dare had reached his limit. “Woman, will you be quiet and let me speak?" he bellowed. “I want you to marry me.”
Erin recoiled as if he’d slapped her. Then her face flushed red and her eyes flashed. “I don’t appreciate you laughing at me, Dare. If this is all a joke to you I think you’d better leave.”
“It’s not a joke,” he said quietly. “I’m serious. I want you as my wife.”
“But…why?” Her voice was a mere whisper and she looked back at him with huge eyes.
“I would think that’s quite obvious. You’re the mother of my child.”
“Not yet, I’m not.”
“Oh, but you are. The youngest of the DeSouza line is now growing inside you.”
“DeSouza.” She said the name, a look of wonder on her face. “Can you believe I never even knew your last name?” Her cheeks grew red and she dropped her eyes as if in shame.
“There’s no need to feel bad, Erin. Just forget the past and look toward the future as my wife.”
“As your wife.” She repeated the words but there was no enthusiasm there. Then she looked over at him. “You never even asked me the question.”
“Of course I did.”
“No, you said you want me to marry you. You never asked me.” Her mouth was set in a cute pout.
Dare laughed. If a question was what she wanted then a question she would get. He would not be accused of not being romantic.
Just to make it more touching and more likely to be in keeping with her romantic notions Dare slid off the chair and went down on one knee. He took her slim hand in his then looked deep into her eyes. “Erin Samuels,” he said, his voice firm and full of meaning, “will you marry me?” Then he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
For a moment she only stared at him then her hazel eyes flashed and she snatched her hand from his grasp. “No,” she said, her voice vehement and hard. “Never in a million years.”
What the hell? Taken aback, Dare remained on his knees. Then, never taking his eyes off her flushed face he rose to his feet. Only then did he speak. “What the blazes was that all about?”
She lifted her face and gave him a look of defiance. “I said I’d never marry you.”
“Then why did you make me ask you?” He could feel the anger rise in him. Did she think she was playing with a damn puppy?
“I wanted you to ask me so I could give you my answer,” she said, her tone smug. “And the answer is no.”
“Why?”
She gave a toss of her head and one of her brown curls fell across her face. She lifted a delicate hand and brushed it away. “You rejected me so now it’s my turn to reject you.”
“Oh, being petty are we? So you would reject my offer knowing that you can't support yourself and the child. You would do this just to prove a point.”
“I can support my baby and me.” She had the audacity to look offended. “We don’t need you.”
He folded his arms across his chest and glared down at her. “If you think I’m going to let you raise my child in this dump you’re out of your mind.”
“Dump? You're calling my home a dump?”
“Forgive me. Your humble abode.” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “My child will not be living here nor growing up here. My child will be with me in Santa Marta.”
She gave a harsh laugh. “I want to see how you’re going to accomplish that when I’m not going anywhere.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
Dare could feel his nostrils flare in annoyance. Not a good sign. Erin was intent on pushing him to breaking point. He was going to end this before things went too far.
“Now you listen to me. You will come back to Santa Marta with me and you will marry me. If you don’t then be prepared to be cut off from the child altogether.”
“What do you mean, cut off from the child? You can’t do that.” Her voice had risen and he heard the fear registered there.
He pressed home his advantage. “Oh, can’t I? There’s something to be said about having money, Erin. With money comes power. I have a lot of it and you don’t.”
Erin stared up at him, eyes wide and uncertain. He could see that she was vulnerable now.
“I can hire the best lawyers to present a case that it would be in the best interest of the child to be with me. I can provide everything that he or she would need unlike you who can barely manage to sustain yourself.”
She was pale now, and silent. His words were having the impact he’d intended. He decided to drive another nail into the coffin. “There’s a good chance you’ll lose custody, Erin. Do you want to take that risk?”
“You…wouldn’t.” Her voice was a broken whisper.
“I would.” He would not yield. Not now. He was too close to victory. “Marry me, Erin, and all your problems will be solved. You won’t have to worry about money, the care of the baby, anything. But if you choose the other path, know that I will do everything in my power to claim my heir.”
For a long time Erin did not respond. Then her lower lip began to tremble and she turned her face away. “You’re such a bastard,” she said with a sob and covered her face with her hands.
Dare said nothing. He might be a bastard but he was a bastard determined to get what he wanted. He’d come all this way to get Erin Samuels and he was not going home without her.
He could see she was defeated. He softened his stance and went over to take her in his arms, comfort her and let her see she was in good hands.
As soon as his hand touched her shoulder she wrenched away and when she looked up at him her eyes spat fire. “Don’t touch me,” she said through clenched teeth. “I may have to marry you but I will never be your wife.”
Dare sucked in his breath and scowled. So that was the way it was, was it? A marriage in name only.
Well, he’d already won the first battle. She would marry him. Once he got her back to the island he would take on this second hurdle. He was looking forward to the challenge. He smiled to himself. There were ways to make a woman yield and he was an expert at every one of them.
“Get some rest,” he said calmly. “I’ll be back in the morning to work out the details. Let your boss know you won’t be coming back.”
He didn’t bother to wait for a reply. He knew she was numb from shock and exhaustion. He let himself out of the apartment and headed for the elevator where he gave a satisfied sigh. Erin Samuels was his at last.
***
Within a week of Dare’s arrival Erin was in a private jet on the way back to the island of Santa Marta but this time as the wife of one of the richest and most powerful men in that land. So why wasn’t she over the moon with joy?
Instead, she felt sick inside. Had she sold her soul to this devil, Dare DeSouza? He’d given her an ultimatum and she’d cracked under the pressure, scared out of her mind that he would follow through on his threat. He could be a ruthless man. She had no doubt about that and she wasn’t taking any chances where her child was concerned.
A limousine met them at the airport and they traveled in silence, Erin flipping through a magazine or at least pretending to, and Dare engrossed in whatever it was he was reading on his iPad.
About twenty minutes into their journey the limousine turned off the main road and drove through the stately gates of what looked like a resort. As Erin glanced up she frowned. This was not how she remembered the entrance to Sunsational Resort. She sat up and looked out the window. They were traveling up a palm-lined driveway that climbed a gentle hill and then the limousine turned and there she saw on the crest of the hill a majestic mansion that m
ade her eyes widen. Huge palms graced its courtyard and framed the gleaming ivory walls and red and gold flowers were sprinkled amongst the rich green leaves that formed a soft carpet along its base. It had the look of an opulent tropical paradise.
Was this Dare’s home? Erin stole a quick glance at him and saw that he was watching her with hooded eyes. She turned away again. If he’d hoped to impress her he’d certainly done that, and more. She couldn’t imagine living in a place like this. The resort had been luxury enough.
The chauffeur slowed the car to a halt then came around to hold the door open for them. As he helped her out of the car Erin continued to stare, admittedly overwhelmed by the grandeur before her.
Then Dare was by her side. He took her hand in his and led her up the steps and into his lavish home. As they passed the threshold they heard the sound of hurried footsteps then a tiny woman with her hair pulled into a bun entered the foyer.
“Welcome, welcome Mrs. DeSouza. We’ve been expecting you.” Her eyes crinkled in a smile so bright Erin had to respond with a smile of her own. The woman had called her Mrs. DeSouza. It had sounded strange to her ears but that was who she was now - the mistress of the house. Sort of. She had to remind herself not to get carried away. Dare had brought her here under duress. This was anything but a fairy-tale marriage.
“Erin, this is Francine Lopez,” Dare said with a warm smile that was both surprising and refreshing. It was obvious that he had genuine regard for the woman. “She’s my right hand.”
“Oh, Senor Dare, you are too kind.” The woman smiled back at him then she turned her full attention to Erin. “I am the housekeeper. I have run this house for Senor Dare for the past four years but now that you are here, senora, you will give the orders.”
That brought a smile to Erin’s face. “I don’t think so,” she said with a little laugh.
“Oh, yes.” The housekeeper nodded emphatically. “The woman, she is in charge of the house. The man, he knows nothing about the house, only about making money.”