Free A Film Star, A Baby, And A Proposal by CC MacKenzie

again.
    And he 'd finally, finally, saw it for what it really was.
    A gauntlet.
    A challenge tossed.
    A nd like a fool, instead of picking up that challenge, he'd totally lost his temper. She'd been looking for a reaction, a commitment from him. And he'd given her an ultimatum. Had he lost his fucking mind?
    She 'd unerringly struck right at the heart of what he'd missed out on and secretly desired his whole life. A family. His own family. The bitter truth that Eve expected him to sign away something so fundamentally precious, the miracle of his child, had hurt. Hell it still hurt.
    He couldn 't force her to stay with him or to travel with him.
    What was he going do?
    He must have dozed off.
    All was still and quiet.
    It was the quiet that woke him.
    The fire was still merrily flickering away, but something had changed. Matt turned his head and spotted that change floating past the windows in fat white flakes.
    Snow.
    He leapt up, jogged to the double French doors and stood there grinning like a fool.
    He 'd put good money on it, Eve was planning to leave him today.
    Well, babe, karma was a bitch.
    And that bitch had just dumped at least a foot of the white stuff on top of Ludlow Hall.
    Turning on the flat screen television , he saw the weather was centre stage and breaking news.
    Eve was going nowhere.
    With a spring in his step, and humming 'Jingle Bells' under his breath Matt strode through his bedroom into the shower.
    Determined to pack early and organise a taxi to take her home, Eve pulled the curtain cord to find a scene depicting a winter wonderland under a heavy sky that promised a helluva lot more.
    Huge pine tre es groaned under the weight of snow. The river ran like a black ribbon through pristine white.
    And with a falling heart she knew she was going nowhere fast.
    Bugger .
    " Lovely weather we're having," Matt all but sang as she emerged at last from the sanctuary of her bedroom.
    Today she wore black leggings, thick woollen socks the colour of Rudolph's nose and a matching fleece. Copper hair was tied in a high ponytail. She still looked pale, but mouth wateringly beautiful. And if the glitter in those golden eyes was anything to go by, she hated his guts.
    Feeling nothing but love for her in his heart, Matt tossed her a friendly smile. "What would you like? Toast? Tea? Cereal?"
    Her only response was a look that would curdle the fresh milk in the jug. She sat at the table and without taking those eyes from his, lovingly fingered the knife of heavy silver next to her plate. By the look on her face she was probably dreaming of stabbing him with it through the heart.
    " I discover something new about you every day," she told him. "Yesterday, I learned you're a slob and a big bully. And today I've realised you're a deeply unpleasant character. I don't know what I was thinking having sex with you."
    Even when she was furious Matt decided Eve was absolutely adorable. Who'd have thought having her pissed off with him would be such a turn on. He kept his eyes on hers as he placed a slice of buttered wholemeal toast on her plate.
    " Baby, we've never had just sex. We made love, hot and passionate love. We need to reconnect. So I think we need to do a lot more of the same. What do you say? Your bed or mine?"
    He grinned into her stunned face.
    Solid ice entered those fabulous eyes and her knuckles went white as she gripped the knife.
    Silence.
    How could a man with so much kindness in him be so insensitive?
    The cocky smile slid from his face.
    The pressure in Eve's chest was so tremendous she couldn't bear it.
    In spite of doing her level best, her eyes filled.
    Matt winced, reached across the table to cover her hand gripping the knife with his.
    " I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I said it to make you laugh, not cry."
    " Leave me alone. I don't need you. I don't want to..." Want you, she nearly said and slapped a hand over her mouth.
    He stood , came around the table and crouched down beside her.
    " Eve..."
    If