Billionaire's Island Bride(24)

Erin never saw someone’s expression change so fast. His frown disappeared. In his eyes was a look of shock that was like a slap to her face. He hadn’t known. Dare had not had any inkling that she was expecting his child.#p#分页标题#e#

“Baby? Are you…pregnant?”

Erin bit her lip and dropped her eyes. Goodness, she’d said quite enough already. Oh, Lord. She’d let the proverbial cat out of the bag and now she would have to face the consequences.

“Erin, are you pregnant?” This time his voice was stern but the shock was replaced by a calm that almost seemed more dangerous. “Tell me.”

She swallowed but still she could not speak. Neither could she look in his eyes. She did not want to see the condemnation there. This was her baby, and no matter what she would not feel shame for carrying this life inside of her.

In the end, she just nodded.

He expelled his breath. “And the baby is mine?”

Erin’s eyes flew to his and her mouth fell open in shocked anger. “Of course it’s yours. What? Do you think I make it a habit of going around sleeping with different men?”

“How should I know?” His retort was quick and brutal. “You fell into bed with me easily enough.”

“Do you know what? Just leave my apartment. Get out before I call the police. I don’t need to stand here taking your insults.” She marched over to the door and flung it open. “Leave. Now.”

Dare gave her a lethal look then strode toward her. As she stepped back he gripped the door and slammed it shut.

Erin gasped. Who did he think he was? “What are you doing? You’d better go.”

“Listen to me,” he said through clenched teeth, “you can’t drop that bombshell and then expect me to walk away simply because you tell me to. I need to know. Are you expecting my child?”

“Yes, Dare, I’m expecting your child as I think you already know.” She practically spat the words at him. “But never fear. I don’t expect a thing from you. I’ve already made arrangements for the baby so don’t feel you have to contribute anything. And,” her voice rose and she pointed an accusing finger at him, “if you came all this way to try to convince me to get rid of my child you can just turn around and go right back to Santa Marta because it’s not going to happen.”

“Get rid of…what the hell?” Dare raised his hand and she flinched but he simply raked his fingers through his hand. There was a look of confusion on his face. “I don’t understand. I used protection every time.”

Seeing his bewildered state Erin softened just a little. “They’re not one hundred percent guaranteed. You should know that.”

“Yeah, I do, but I thought they’d have been good enough for one night.” He shook his head. “And you’re not on the pill?”

“No.”

“But what are the odds…” he began then his voice trailed off and his eyes took on a faraway look as if he was trying to remember something. Then a look of realization crossed his face. “It must have been that third time. When you left and I rolled over there was some dampness on the bed but I didn’t think anything of it. The condom must have broken.”

“But you would have seen that.”

“If it was a small tear, probably not. I don’t sit there inspecting the damn things. Once I’m done I just get rid of them.”

For a moment there was silence as they both fell into deep thought. Erin had no idea what was going through Dare’s mind but her dilemma was coming to terms with the fact that he hadn’t known about the baby and yet he was here. What was the explanation for that? Dared she ask?

She sucked in a deep breath. She had to know. Steeling herself against his anger she blurted, “So if you didn’t come about the baby why are you here?”

“What?” Dare looked like she’d just pulled him out of a trance.

“Why are you here, Dare? Why did you come looking for me?”

His eyes honed in on hers and for the first time since she’d met him he seemed at a loss for words.

Then his face darkened in a scowl. “I came to take you back to Santa Marta.”





Chapter 6





“To take me back?” she spluttered, a look of incredulity on her face. “Are you mad?”

“I’m quite sane, I can assure you,” he said, the pace of his heart returning to normal. The girl had turned the tables on him and given him the shock of his life.

“But…why?”

Dare almost felt sorry for her, she looked so confused. He knew he must be driving her round the bend but how could he help that? He couldn’t explain it even to himself. One day he’d seen her then spent the following night making sweet love to her and, like the fish in the sea, he was hooked. The funny thing was it seemed Erin hadn’t even realized she’d caught the biggest fish in the pond.