Read Online The Price of Honor by Emilie Rose - Free Book Online Page B

trouble, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I have to get ready for work.”
    He made no move toward the door. Instead his brow furrowed. “I will raise the child.”
    She recoiled. “No!”
    â€œDoing so will permit you to return to competition.”
    â€œIf—when—the time is right, I’ll go back on the circuit.”
    â€œWill you be able to afford a nanny?”
    â€œI’ll find a way to make it work.”
    â€œI will give you a million dollars for the child.”
    Shock stole her breath. “This isn’t about money, Xavier. I have never wanted your money.”
    â€œThen consider the child. I can provide more stability for it than your vagabond life on the road.”
    But it wouldn’t be a life filled with the love and laughter and joy Megan had shared with her parents and brother. They’d been a team, a cohesive unit—her mother and brother and her on the sidelines cheering her father on until her family had died and left her behind. She should have been on that plane with them—would have been aboard if she hadn’t been at home with chicken pox.
    â€œYour wife might object to you bringing home a baby.”
    â€œCecille will do as I say.”
    One of these days his entitled attitude and assumption that everyone would happily jump to do his bidding wasgoing to slap him with a dose of reality. Perhaps she’d had a lucky escape. Too bad her heart refused to believe it.
    â€œYour marriage is doomed to fail with that mind-set.”
    â€œI do not fail.”
    No. He didn’t. And that worried her. If this turned into a custody battle her chances of winning were slim even with Wyatt’s promise of a great lawyer.
    â€œXavier, I have never asked you for anything. But I’m asking now. Please forget all about me. About us.” She rested her hand on her stomach. “Go home to your fiancée, get married and have your perfect family. And forget you ever knew me.”
    His eyebrows slammed down. “ C’est impossible. You are carrying my heir. I will leave you to reflect on my offer. You will see that it is best for the child to reside with me.”
    Â 
    Megan wouldn’t let Xavier’s gifts weaken her resolve to do the right thing for her baby.
    She set the platter of croissants on the table in the stable’s empty break room for the staff to enjoy, but her fingers refused to heed her brain’s command to release the dish.
    Her willpower wavered. Maybe she could have just one flaky, crispy, sweet, buttery—
    â€œShould I schedule an intervention?” Hannah asked from behind her.
    Megan jumped and snatched her hands away. “Oh. No. I’m— I thought I’d—” She sighed. “Yes. Someone needs to take these away before I give in to temptation and eat the whole batch.”
    â€œAre those the famous almond croissants you’ve raved about for the past year?”
    Megan nodded.
    â€œHow many have you already eaten?”
    â€œNone. Yet. I’m resisting. But it isn’t easy.” A crumbclung to her fingertip. Her mouth salivated in anticipation and her arm lifted a few inches before she fought off the urge to lap up the tiny morsel. She dusted off her hands and backed another step away from the tempting confections. “Xavier had them flown in fresh this morning.”
    â€œNice of him. So why are you torturing yourself? It’s not as if you need to diet.”
    Megan shrugged, aiming for a casual dismissal to keep her cousin from worrying. Hannah was head-over-heels in love and about to marry the man of her dreams. The last thing Megan wanted was to bring her off that natural high. “They were a bribe to convince me to continue being his mistress until his wedding.”
    â€œUntil his— What an egotistical, selfish jerk.”
    So much for not upsetting the bride-to-be. Hannah looked angry enough to wring Xavier’s neck