Leverage (Part Three)(17)

“Not possible.”

“Anything is possible.”

“Not in this regard. You might call me crazy but I feel something for you that is stronger than anything I’ve felt for anyone before. I have every reason to walk away from your situation but I simply can’t. Not unless you push me away and that’s the honest truth.”

“You’re too good, Miles,” she murmured, wiping away tears. “Too good.”

He lifted her chin with his finger to stare into her eyes. “I’m not perfect,” he warned, shaking his head. “Please don’t think that I am. Maybe the reason I’m so willing to see it through with you is because I sense a kindred spirit.”

She held his gaze and said in a clear voice that hid the tremble in her stomach, “I sold my virginity to Boston for an obscene amount of money and signed a contract that basically granted Boston access to my body until he tires of me.” She waited a heartbeat then asked, “What do you think of me now?”





-6-




Boston packed his things and checked out of the hotel. His flight was scheduled to leave in two hours. He had an hour to tie up loose ends and then get onto the ferry back to St. Thomas.

To consider Julianna a loose end was further proof that he was drowning in a cesspool of his own making. But there was no turning back now. He’d set situations in motion that he couldn’t take back. Julianna would never forgive him, never take him back and he knew that to make her would be to ensure she hated his guts forever. Was he trying to earn her forgiveness? Hell, he couldn’t answer that question with any sort of confidence. He didn’t know what end was up anymore.

He entered Larimar’s lobby and found the sweet Lilah manning the desk again and he forced a smile for her benefit because she was a nice woman and for some reason, he liked her. “Good evening, Mr. Kincaid,” she said brightly. “Staying with us for dinner? Cajun chicken is on the menu tonight and it is so good it’ll change your religion.”

He offered a brief smile but declined, saying, “I won’t be staying. Is Julianna in?”

Lilah bit her lip, then nodded slowly. “She returned awhile ago. She seemed sad. You guys should really try and work things out,” Lilah risked.

Boston didn’t respond, not because she ought to mind her own business but because his heart felt as if it were cracking in half and he didn’t trust his own voice at the moment. Instead, he accepted her advice and moved on toward Julianna’s bungalow. He knocked twice and waited. Within minutes Julianna appeared, her gaze widening when she saw him. “Boston…what are you doing here?”

“May I come in?” he asked stiffly, preparing himself for a really shitty conversation. “I have a few things to say that I’d rather not say standing outside for anyone to hear.”

She nodded and stepped aside, closing the door behind him. Once inside, she crossed her arms and took a healthy step away from him, her gaze wary. “What do you want?”

Where to start? Boston hesitated, for the first time in his life he didn’t know what to say or rather, he knew what to say but he couldn’t quite get the words right in his head. He rubbed his mouth, immediately reminded of where his mouth had been a few short hours ago and he nearly choked on his own shame. “Listen, this just isn’t working out as I’d hoped,” he said, cutting right to the chase. “Our business relationship is becoming more work than it’s worth,” the lie nearly cut off his own air supply but he had to get through this “and I’m ready to terminate.” She lifted her chin, remaining silent but her gaze dulled. When he realized she had nothing to say, he continued. “Listen, the situation has changed and we need to adjust. Of course, I will expect a relationship with my child but you are free from my employ.”

“So now instead of your whore, I’ll be your incubator?”

He narrowed his gaze, hating that her icy tone hurt so badly. “If that’s the way you’d prefer to look at it, fine. I will expect you to care for yourself and I will provide the means to do so. My lawyers will hash out an acceptable allowance and my company will provide excellent health benefits. Our correspondence will be limited to conversations regarding the offspring.”

Her lip curled with obvious disgust. “Offspring? It’s a baby! Say it. Our child. Not offspring, not progeny, our fucking child! We made a baby, Boston. Can you, for once, let your damn heart feel something for another human being? This baby is going to need a daddy, not a boss or a business partner. A daddy! Can you be a loving influence on our child, or not? I need to know or else I will fight you tooth and nail to keep you from it.”#p#分页标题#e#