Free Working on a Full House by Alyssa Kress Page B

Valerie had not been able to convince herself. True, half of her had argued she didn't even know how to find Roy. He'd told her he didn't have a permanent address. Was she supposed to troll every poker room in an effort to hunt him down? Besides, he didn't even want a baby.
    But the other half of Valerie, the Sunday school half, had been unrelenting. She had to make an honest effort to find the man. The child growing in her womb was half his. Valerie knew she could not rest unless she went and did the 'right thing.'
    That's why she'd driven to Las Vegas this weekend. So far, she'd walked past every poker table in every casino on the Strip without finding Roy.
    A not-so-small part of Valerie was relieved. She knew she ought to find him, but she couldn't say she actually wanted to. She'd done her best to make Roy a dream, something that had only happened in her fantasies.
    She didn't want to see his face, and how differently he'd view her in real life — especially after he heard her news.
    With her stomach knotting, Valerie glanced at her watch. "Ten more minutes," she murmured. She'd wait at the bar ten more minutes, in some twisted idea the place they'd met was where she was most likely to find him. She'd already spent two hours here, watching people stream by, none of them Roy.
    But now she felt a bubble of relief. Ten more minutes and she'd be done with her duty...
    Of course that's when she saw him. Strolling through the crowds with a laptop computer under one arm, he was coming right toward the bar. Grace, strength, and harsh male beauty. God, Valerie had forgotten how much male beauty. Her hand froze on her water glass. For a minute she couldn't move.
    I can't do this . He was so — He would be so — But somehow she managed to set down her water glass. She even started to unbend her legs and slide off the barstool.
    He saw her. She knew because his graceful stride faltered. On his face shock was quickly covered by a hard, cold mask.
    In that moment she knew: not only had he never expected to see her again, he'd never wanted to.
    She swallowed something hard and bitter down her throat. In her deepest heart of hearts, she now knew she'd dreamed it might be otherwise, and that he'd be happy to see her.
    Reality was the exact opposite.
    Valerie managed to descend the rest of the way from her barstool, and balanced on wooden legs.
    Roy didn't take his eyes off her. The ever-present crowd of Las Vegas streamed past him to one side and the other, but he just stood staring at Valerie like she was an apparition from hell.
    Oh, boy, did she not want to do this.
    Then he started toward her, swiftly, determined. It wasn't easy for Valerie to avoid shrinking back, but she stood firm until he came to a stop at the potted plants ringing the bar platform.
    "Valerie." His voice was as unreadable as his face.
    "Roy." Valerie's voice was a squeaky whisper.
    His head tilted a fraction of an inch. "You're looking for me, I take it."
    With a jerky motion, she nodded.
    There was a subtle shift in his stance. What did that mean? It was impossible to tell as his face managed to get yet more stony.
    Taking a slow step back, he said, "Then you'd better come with me."
     

CHAPTER SEVEN

     
    He took her up to his suite. Valerie was surprised by the opulence of that. A suite. He must have had an upswing in his fortunes since their one date. In any event, it was a relief not to have a bed, reminder of their downfall, taking a prime position in the room. In fact, she couldn't even see a bed from the elegant sitting room.
    He walked past her to set his computer on a desk. "Can I get you anything? Something to drink?"
    "Uh, no. No, thanks."
    He indicated the sofa with a nod of his head. "Then, please. Have a seat."
    "Uh...I think I'd rather stand."
    His gaze was bland as he turned. "Whatever you like."
    "Yes. Ahem." So, get on with it, you ninny . But Valerie was sure he must have guessed. She wished he would say it out loud, so she wouldn't have