The Billionaire's Final Stand (27 page)

              “I don’t know either, Kinsey. It isn’t like I go around knocking women up.”

              “Austin, there’s nothing we can do about it tonight. The deed is done. It’s not like we can go back in time and slip a condom on you, so let’s leave it alone until we know something. I’ll tell you what, in a few weeks if I haven’t started my cycle, I’ll get a test, then give you a call. Until then, back off.”

              “The sooner you know, the better, Kinsey. If you’re pregnant, I want to get married right away. I don’t need our son or daughter figuring out the math earlier than they need to,” he said as he bent and started putting on his socks and shoes.

              When he was done, he looked up, and he could swear he saw smoke coming out of her ears. Her face was red and she was looking at him like he was an alien from another planet.

              “What?” he asked. He had no idea why she was still so ticked off.

              “
What?
Really? I mean every woman dreams of the ideal proposal, but I think I need to send this one in to
Bride’s
magazine
,” she replied tartly.

              “You want romance? Fine, I’ll give you romance,” he thundered.

              “I don’t want romance. I don’t want anything right now but to get out of this claustrophobic room,” she yelled back.

              They stood glaring at each other for several minutes. Austin knew it wouldn’t do him any good to continue the conversation, but for some reason he didn’t want to open the door. He knew the second he did, she was going to run out and then he’d have a heck of a time seeing her again.

              Why was he chasing a woman so hard who obviously didn’t want to be caught? His pride was taking a serious downward spiral the longer he spent with her.

              “I’m just trying to do the right thing, here.”

              “I never asked you to, Austin. I didn’t ask for you to sacrifice yourself for me. If I were pregnant, that would in no way mean I’d expect, or even want, to get married. It would just mean there would be a small being growing inside me. I refuse to get married because you think you have to do the right thing. That’s no life for me to live, and it wouldn’t be fair to you, either. We would just end up hating each other and making our child miserable,” she explained, some of her temper dimming.

              “I don’t look at it like a sacrifice, Kinsey. I don’t think being married to you would be a hardship. We’ve proven we’re great in bed. That, right there, is half the battle. We obviously don’t have a problem with expressing ourselves, so there’s the other half. I say we’re a match made in heaven.”

              “I’ll think about everything, okay? I just… I need some time,” she begged.

              Austin knew the discussion was over. He couldn’t hold her hostage all night in the janitor’s closet. If she thought it was the last she’d hear from him, though, she was sadly mistaken.

              “Fine, but we need to talk more about this after you’ve rested.”

              “Okay,” she agreed too easily. He had a feeling once she marched out the door, the discussion would be over in her mind. Well, she thought he’d been persistent in pursuing her before. It was nothing compared to what he’d do to fight for his family – and if she carried his child, she was family.

              Austin opened the door without another word, and Kinsey quickly skirted around him and made a beeline through it. He followed her out and watched as she rushed down the hallway. He let her go. She could blow off some steam and then they’d revisit the discussion later.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

              Kinsey stepped outside the hospital and kept on walking. She didn’t dare look back. She couldn’t. She was both afraid he was there, and he wasn’t.

              Really, what was wrong with her?

              She couldn’t get a handle on how she felt about Austin. When he was with her, he seemed to inspire her strongest emotions, whether it was happiness, lust, joy, or sorrow. She also had to admit that when he wasn’t there, she missed him. Missed him past the point of rationality.

              Why did she like him so much? Was sex really that important? There must be a switch in her brain that would allow her to turn off her attraction to him. If only she could figure out how to find it...

              Her mind replayed the last year. Her best friend’s wedding – where it all had begun. He’d made her burn that night, and she hadn’t stopped since. She was fighting him each step of the way because he scared her. She knew she could easily fall in love, if she wasn’t there already. She also knew he could walk away without a thought. That’s who he was. She knew that, so she’d only have herself to blame if she were in love.

              Her stomach dipped, and she felt tears burn behind her lids. What if they really had made a baby together? What would she do?

              “Don’t even go there right now, Kinsey,” she muttered aloud, needing to hear the words spoken.

              Life changed all the time. Sometimes it was for the better and sometimes for the worst, but no matter what, it was important to remain standing. She’d been through a few hard times in her life, she could make it through this.

              Kinsey thought about her family. It was time to go home for a visit. Her mother would know something was wrong the moment she walked through the door, but that was the price she was willing to pay, because she needed her mom’s shoulder to cry on. She needed her father’s comforting hug. Heck, she even needed the harassment she’d receive from her brothers about her never visiting anymore.

              She could deal with it all if she just went home and regrouped.

              With a plan in motion, Kinsey picked up her pace. It was too far of a walk to her apartment, but she needed to burn some energy or she’d never be able to sleep once she got there. She decided she’d just walk until she was tired, then find the nearest bus stop.

              After a half-hour she was ready for the warmth of the bus. She found a pick-up location and waited. Her luck was with her when it showed up five minutes later. She climbed on board, huddled in her seat and waited for her stop.

              She smiled when she thought that by noon tomorrow she’d be with her mom, sitting in her big country kitchen, while chaos erupted all around her. It was exactly what the doctor would order.

Chapter Fourteen

Day Eighteen

              “I can’t seem to get a single second alone with you. I don’t want to do this on the phone, but Esther Lyon, will -” George said into his phone.

              “Don’t you dare say it, George,” Esther interrupted him.

              George groaned in frustration. He felt like an errant teenager, hiding in a bathroom stall. He’d tried to get away from his kids, but something was always coming up. Every time he turned around, there they were. He had to speak to Esther – had to make her see they were meant to be together.

              He missed her – missed her more than he thought possible. He knew, without a doubt, he loved her, and he was dang well going to get her to agree to be his bride.

              “I miss you,” he sighed.

              There was a long pause on the other end of the line…

              “I miss you, too, George.”

              “All you have to do is let me tell my family and then this is all over. We can quit hiding. I’ll take you around the world where there won’t be a chance of anyone interrupting us. Let me spoil you, Esther. Nothing would please me more.”

              “You’re such a romantic, George. It’s why I’ve fallen in love with you. But nothing has changed. I don’t feel right about this with Joseph in the hospital. What if he doesn’t make it? Then, our start would always be a moment of sadness,” Esther explained.

              “Joseph wouldn’t want me to be unhappy, even if he didn’t make it. I know my brother,” he insisted.

              “I just don’t think the kids would accept it, George. What if they somehow know, and they’re trying to keep us apart because they don’t approve?”

              “That’s nonsense. My children want me to be happy, and they already love you.”

              “I just don’t know….” She trailed off.

              “Esther…” he began.

              “Dad, are you in here?” Max called. George wanted to yell. Instead he remained quiet, hoping his son would go away.

              “I can hear your son, George. I’ll talk to you later,” Esther said before quickly hanging up. With a frustrated groan, he kicked the metal wall, causing a loud echo in the bathroom.

              “Yes, I’m here. I’ll be right out,” he muttered, trying to mask his annoyance.

              “Is everything all right? What was that noise?”

              “I’m fine. I just slipped and kicked the wall.”

              “Okay. We’ve been looking for you. It’s time to go back to Joseph’s room.”

              George gave up on his hiding time and made his way out of the stall.
I can’t
even use the toilet in peace
, he thought grumpily.

              Max looked at him with suspicion, but didn’t question him further. George hung his head as he followed Max, having no clue that Max was texting his siblings and cousins at that moment, telling them they’d have a new member added to their family at any time.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

              The room filled as everyone came back at the same time. They beamed when they found Katherine waiting for them.

              “You’re very eager,” Katherine said.

              “Yes, please continue. We won’t say a single word,” Cassie said.

              Katherine smiled as her nephew, Max, leaned in and gave his wife a kiss. The kids were all doing so well, still looking very much in love and happy with their spouses. She knew their love would continue to grow, long after she and Joseph had to leave them behind.

              She looked to her husband and silently told him it wasn’t yet time to leave, though. They had many years left, and a family to still take care of.

              “Now, where was I when we last left off?” Katherine asked.

              “The big meeting was coming up,” Mark answered quickly.

              Katherine chuckled, enjoying the enthusiasm of her son. It was amusing how even the boys were enthralled with her memories.

              “Oh, yes, Mark, that’s right. I was so nervous. We were having a huge board meeting. I hadn’t heard from Joseph since the phone call and I knew he’d be there. Of course he would. I hoped he’d sit back and stay in the background, but you know Joseph isn’t one to hide in corners. I was getting ready to open the meeting when there was a stirring in the room…”

              Katherine took a deep breath and rose from her chair. She looked around the table where the other board members sat, all eyes on her. Then she looked out at the crowd, the investors who wanted answers, wanted to know their money was being taken care of. They all had a stake in the company, and wanted what was best for them. What
was
that, though?

              Benjamin had handpicked his board and had complete faith they’d choose wisely after he passed. Katherine felt the weight of the thousands depending on them to make that decision.

              She opened her mouth to speak, when there was a stir in the room. She didn’t need to meet his eyes to know Joseph had walked in. He was the wild card. The one they all wanted, but didn’t know if he’d be the right person for the job. He was both the hope and the tragedy.

              They knew he loved his grandfather, but he’d left without a word. He was also wildly successful on his own, so why would he want to lock himself down to such a demanding position. If they chose him, and he declined, the stocks would plummet because the people would lose faith in the board of directors. He was there, but he hadn’t said whether he’d actually accept the position if it was offered to him.

              It was a difficult decision, and she had one of the key votes. Sweat broke out on her brow as she looked over the crowd, her eyes immediately finding his. He stared back, unconcerned with the people watching. It was as if he were letting the world know he didn’t care what they thought. He’d do whatever pleased him.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

              His gaze locked with hers, Joseph was frozen for a moment. She stood proud at the table, wearing a black business suit, her hair in a knot at the base of her long, slender neck, and a notebook in her hand as she waited to begin her presentation.

              She was stunning.

              He wanted to start by taking down her hair, watching it cascade across her shoulders, making her appear softer. He missed the girl of five years before, who had stars shining in her eyes. This woman she’d become was spectacular, but she was too guarded. He needed to sneak beneath the wall she’d built and slowly tear it down, piece by piece if need be.

              As their eyes stayed locked together, he could swear he saw her breath hitch. But she quickly regained her confident demeanor and turned away. There was no hesitation in her manner, no indication that she was burning as hot as he was.