Free Salsa Heat by Rae Winters Page A

missed her last monthly cycle, and she could be pregnant.
    Instead of going to work, she walked over to the nearest pharmacy and brought a popular home pregnancy test. She seen the commercial on television and it was supposed to be accurate and quick. Shay needed to know now if she was carrying Linden’s baby.
    §
     
    In hours, Shay had her results.
    Damn! How could I have been so stupid?
    She was pregnant. The test had confirmed that, and Linden was avoiding all of her calls. Things weren’t going to go down like that. First, Michael dogged her, and now Linden. He would be accountable for his actions!
    We created this baby together, and he’ll see me!
     

 
    Chapter Nine
    Shay left Philly that Friday morning. She caught the first Amtrak train smoking headed to New Carrolton, Maryland and took a cab to his office. He had given her one of his business cards, and she planned to visit him at his office. He couldn’t avoid her there .
    Linden was the CEO of Stewart International, an office supply company. Shay had every intention of seeing him that day. But if he chose to ignore her again, a sistah would have to come out of her face, and everyone in his company would know about their little secret!
    Three hours later, Shay stepped into his office dressed in a conservative navy blue pantsuit and gold tank top.
    “May I help you?” An elegant, matronly woman sitting behind a desk stamping envelopes for outgoing mail asked.
    “Yes, I’d like to see Mr. Stewart,” Shay said politely.
    “Do you have an appointment?” She asked, smiling up at Shay.
    “No, I don’t, but he’ll see me. My name is Shay Bennett.”
    “I’m sorry, Ms. Bennett, but Mr. Stewart is out of the office for an extended period of time. Would you like to see his vice president of sales, Mr. Chandler? He’s handling all of Mr. Stewart’s clients.”
    “Yes, I’ll speak with him, instead.”
    Mr. Chandler turned out to be the blond-haired suit—one of the men with Linden at the club in St. Lucia. He was working out of Linden’s office, she noted, as she stepped into the office. Linden’s name was boldly embossed across the door.
    “Where’s Linden?” Shay demanded the moment the secretary closed the door. She marched up to the desk with a serious attitude.
    “He’s out on medical leave. May I help you?” he asked, politely. There was a smug look on his face as if he was covering for Linden.
    “Why don’t you cut the bullshit? He was fine the last time I saw him. I’m not leaving this office until I see him!” she announced.
    “You’re in for a long wait because he’s not in the building. How may I help you?”
    He asked, sitting high and mighty behind the desk in Linden’s office.
    “Do you remember me?”
    “Yes, you created quite a show at that club in St. Lucia, Ms. Caramel Delight. Peter and I had bets on you, and I betted that you’d make it with the boss.”
    “My name is Shay Bennett, and I really need to see him. Don’t make me create a scene in here.”
    He stared at her for several seconds.
    “I’ll plant myself in this office until I received what I came for,” she threatened.
    Finally, he gave her what she wanted.
    “Linden was in a car accident on his way home from the Baltimore/Washington International Airport, returning from St. Lucia. There was a head-on collision with a tanker truck, and now he’s recuperating at his parents’ home in Virginia.”
    Panic, like Shay never known before, tightened her throat.
    “H-how badly was he hurt?”
    “He’s paralyzed, Shay.”
    “No!”
    Her chest felt as if it would burst, and she collapsed in the first chair nearest to her. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Now, she knew why she hadn’t heard from him. He really wasn’t avoiding her.
    He needs me!
    “I need to see him. Please…may I have his parents’ address?”
    “Linden isn’t receiving visitors, Shay.”
    “He’ll see me! ”
    “You were just an island fling, Shay. You can’t possibly believe