Free Billionaire's Island Bride (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) by Judy Angelo

her
pregnancy?
    Blindly, she
stumbled into the kitchen and leaned against the counter to catch her breath.
    “Hey, are you
alright?” Mildred, the sous chef, approached her, a look of concern on her
face.  “You look like you’re about to pass out.”
    “N…no.  I’m fine,”
she whispered then sucked in a deep breath.  Come on, Erin.  You’re stronger
than this.   She lifted her head and gave Mildred a smile.  “It just got a
bit too hot out there.  I’m okay now.  Are any trays ready?”
    Mildred pointed to
a tray laden with cups and a pot of coffee.  “Table sixteen.”  She shook her
head.  “Thank God the day is almost over.”
    Those last thirty
minutes of her workday were the hardest of her life.  Out of the corner of her
eye she could see Dare sitting in the far booth, a glass and a bottle of wine
in front of him.  She’d moved with feigned ease, serving the customers, chatting
with them and laughing where appropriate.  But she could feel Dare’s eyes burning
into her.  As discreetly as she could she slipped a paper napkin into her hand
and turned away to dab at the perspiration beading her brow.  She would never
let him see her sweat.
    As it neared ten
o’clock Erin sidled into the kitchen then headed for the changing room.  Moving
swiftly, she shed her uniform and donned her street clothes then grabbed her
purse.  Tonight she would not leave through the front door as she normally did. 
She almost giggled as she thought of Dare waiting patiently for her return. 
He’d have a long wait.
    She bid her
farewell and slipped out the back door that led into a dingy alleyway then she
hurried up the path and out to the main road where she took off, walking at a
brisk pace.
    She heard the purr
of an engine and looked up just in time to see an ink-black Mercedes Benz
convertible pull up beside her.
    “Get in.” Dare was
scowling at her and his tone brooked no argument.
    “I…don’t need a
ride,” she said, clutching her purse tightly to her chest.  “I’m fine.”
    She was backing
away when his voice, clipped and cold, stopped her.  “Don’t make me come get
you.  I’ll lift you up and throw you in here if I have to.”
    Erin froze.  Then
she slowly approached the car.  He would do it.  She could see it in his eyes. 
This time, she knew, it was best to give in.  With a sigh she pulled the door
open and slipped into the passenger seat. 
    She hadn’t even
settled in before he took off down the road, making her whip around to stare at
him.  “Where are you taking me?” she demanded.
    “Home.”
    “But…you don’t
even know where I live.”
    He didn’t even
bother to respond.  That was all the answer she needed.  He did know.  Was he
having her watched?  Had he been spying on her ever since she’d returned to
Canada?  Erin’s heart pounded at the thought.  He knew she was pregnant.  He
knew where she lived.  What else did he know about her?  Did he know about her
past, too?
    That thought was
sobering, so much so that it left her at a loss for words.  She’d meant to
blast him with her rage, demand an explanation, but she could not.  She was too
worried about how much he knew.
    Within minutes
Dare was pulling into the visitors’ parking area in front of Erin’s apartment
building.  He switched off the engine and turned toward her.  “Let’s go,” he
said.  “We need to talk.”
    Erin did not even
bother to object.  Before he could move to get the door she climbed out of the
car and marched toward the entrance.  If he had to run to catch up with her
then it would serve him right.
    Unfortunately for
her, he didn’t need to.  Within seconds his long strides had him by her side so
that by the time she got to the entrance it was he who held the door open for
her.  They crossed the lobby then rode the elevator in silence.  Deliberately,
she kept her eyes averted, breathing slowly, trying her best to calm her
nerves.  It was not an easy task, not