Free One Night, So Pregnant! by Heidi Rice Page B

healthcare coverage,’ he added, with such implacable logic she wanted to scream. ‘So your healthcare costs are the least of my responsibilities.’
    ‘I have savings,’ she said, desperately trying to avert the conversation she had a bad feeling was heading her way.
    Who knew Nate Graystone would turn out to have the most overdeveloped sense of responsibility of any man on the planet? He might not want to be a father, but he was obviously determined to do the right thing. And while on some levels that was admirable, on others it was terrifying. She didn’t want to become the responsibility of any man, least of all a man like Nate.
    ‘That’s beside the point,’ he said, tucking the phone back into his pocket.
    ‘No, it’s not,’ she blurted out, the thin note of panic making her voice rise.
    He tucked his forefinger under her chin, nudged her gaze back to his. ‘Why are you so determined to do this on your own, when there’s no need?’
    The penetrating stare made her insides feel as if they were shrinking. ‘Because I like my independence. It’s important to me.’ She didn’t want to become dependent on him, in any way. She’d survived on her own since she was fifteen, becoming emotionally and eventually financially self-sufficient. And she couldn’t afford to lose that. Especially not to a man who could make her body yearn for things it shouldn’t need. How did she know she could trust him not to use that against her?
    The flush crawled up her neck as Nate leaned back in his chair studying her.
    He gave a rough chuckle. ‘Tess, you’re having a child in seven months’ time. In case you haven’t figured it out already, your independence is history.’
    She suppressed the silly little clutch in her chest at the easy affection in his tone. And realised that trusting Nate wasn’t her biggest problem.
    How did she know she could trust herself?
    * * *
    Nate took in the bright flush of embarrassment on Tess’s cheeks, and had to resist the powerful urge to hug her. ‘Let me help.’
    Despite being the one woman who genuinely needed his financial assistance and had every reason to demand it, Tess Tremaine really didn’t have a hidden agenda. The thought made the unfamiliar flutter of admiration under his breastbone increase. And the desire to help became all the more acute.
    Placing his palm on her cheek, he hooked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear and wondered where her fierce desire to remain independent came from. ‘We made this child together, so it’s only fair that we both deal with the consequences.’
    ‘I don’t think that’s—’ she began.
    ‘And it isn’t only the cost of healthcare. What about your living situation?’ he interrupted, deciding to approach the problem from a more pragmatic angle—because while her insistence on not wanting his money was clearly genuine, and commendable, it was hardly practical. ‘You can’t stay on your friend Eva’s floor for ever, now can you?’
    She scowled. ‘I am going to murder Ed next time I see him.’
    ‘Don’t blame Ed. I can be very persuasive.’
    ‘Believe me, I know that.’ Her cheeks coloured and he felt the instant spike of heat at the double entendre he hadn’t intended. Her chin rose. ‘But it’s not a floor. Nick and Eva have a very nice guest room. Plus, I’ve been checking out the want ads regularly. I’m sure I’ll be able to land something soon that will give me a more reliable income and hopefully maternity benefits too.’
    He doubted that. The economic climate was making it tough going for everyone, especially people in the hospitality business.
    Taking in the stubborn look on her face, though, he refrained from stating the obvious a second time. He’d already tried to bully her into accepting his help, and it had backfired spectacularly. He now knew a little more about her, enough to know that her pride and her dogged determination to maintain her independence were not going to work in his favour. But