Free Nothing to Lose by Angela Winters Page A

She’s been here a few months, right?”
    Sherise thought the girl had a little more polish than she expected from the Midwest. She was trying to impress someone. Better not be her husband.
    â€œSix almost,” Elena corrected.
    Justin slipped his arm around Sherise’s waist. “Elena, this is my wife, Sherise.”
    â€œIt’s nice to meet you,” Elena said with a sweet voice as she held out her petite hand.
    â€œYes.” Sherise kept her expression unaffected as she accepted her hand and shook it briefly—very briefly.
    She could tell that Elena didn’t really appreciate the fact that it seemed as if Sherise couldn’t be bothered.
    Sherise turned and headed to the plush leather sofa against the wall. “Justin, I’m not leaving until you give me what I want, so let’s make this as short and painless as possible.”
    Justin smiled down at her as she sat on the sofa and winked at him. He turned to Elena and asked, “We’ll pick this up later, okay?”
    Elena looked annoyed for a second, but she smiled and excused herself from the room. She didn’t say another word to Sherise, and Sherise understood that. She’d made the girl feel invisible; and for a beautiful girl like Elena, that was upsetting.
    â€œYou need to be in bed,” he said as he joined her on the sofa.
    â€œSo she works for you?” Sherise asked, placing her hands gently on his lap.
    Justin rolled his eyes as if he knew what was coming. “Don’t try and control this situation. Yes, she works under me. Yes, she is attractive. No, she doesn’t flirt with me. You should be nicer to her. She’s a bright young woman.”
    â€œShe doesn’t flirt with you?” Sherise responded. “When I walked in, she had her breasts in your face and you weren’t protesting at all.”
    â€œYou need to go home and get in bed,” he said, ignoring her complaints. “We can discuss Elena at a different time.”
    â€œI don’t want to discuss her anymore, Justin. I want to discuss this baby.”
    He sighed, looking away. It bothered her that he was so reluctant.
    â€œWe can’t leave things like they were the other night,” she pleaded. “If anything, therapy has taught us that. We have to deal with our problems immediately. Letting them fester is what tears us apart.”
    â€œI told you I need time,” he said.
    â€œAnd I told you, we both do, but we need to take that time together. Neither of us expected this, and—”
    â€œIs that really the truth?” he asked.
    He blinked, his expression showing that he immediately regretted what he had said.
    It took Sherise a second, but his words, coupled with the look on his face, made it clear to her what he was thinking. It was clear why he was behaving so strangely. The truth horrified her.
    â€œOh, my God!” she exclaimed. “You think . . . I did this on purpose? You think I got pregnant on purpose!”
    â€œSherise, just let it go.” He held up his hand to gesture that he wanted this to end. “I didn’t say that, so just don’t get all upset.”
    It tore at her that he’d think she’d be so underhanded. There was a lot she would do, but even she knew some things went too far.
    â€œWhy would I do that, Justin? I’m focused on my new job. We agreed that we weren’t going to try at having another baby until later.”
    He sighed as if resigned to this conversation. “You aren’t sure you tried to speed that timeline along?”
    â€œWhy?” she asked. “To trap you? To make sure you feel obligated? Have I ever seemed that desperate to you, Justin?”
    â€œI know you’d do anything to get what you want,” he said.
    â€œI thought I had what I wanted.” She stared at him, feeling very shaken by this turn. “I thought things were working out so great between us.”
    â€œSo how did