Chapter 3
PENNY
How on earth am I supposed to respond to that?
Considering I’ve had a crush on Greyson going on four years now, I should feel ecstatic.
Yet, his offer to marry me feels hollow.
He said he’s wanted me for years, yet gave no indication of his affection, and as I’d said, I don’t want to be a job.
“No, thank you.”
“Is it that I’m too old?” he asks, his dark features contorting in offense. “Because that makes me a damn good provider.”
“No. I don’t trust that this is what you truly want. You’ve never expressed an interest in me, or having children, for that matter.”
He pushes my plate out of the way and reaches across the table, folding his hand over mine.
“Let me at least try to show you how much I want you.”
“How?”
“Move in with me, let me take care of you, let me show you how fucking badly I want you. And if you don’t believe me, you can leave, but it can’t be until after the baby comes.”
“But that’s five months away!”
“Five months that you’ll be provided and cared for.”
“And all I need to do is move into the guest room?”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Not into my guest room, Penny. Into my bed.”
“But…” My words trail off as I think of how good it felt to have his massive body pressed against mine.
“While you’re in my home, we’re to act like a couple in every way. If you are hungry, I’ll make sure you’re fed. If you need clothes, makeup, or anything else, I’ll give you a credit card to purchase what you want. And if you are in need of relief, that’ll come from me, too.”
I swallow a thick knot in my throat. “Relief?”
“I know how thoroughly you enjoy the attention I give to you.”
My cheeks flush with heat.
“Well, what do you say?”
The last thing I want is to be taken in out of pity, but this doesn’t have to be a forever thing. I can move in and form a plan, knowing that Greyson will tire of me.
Eventually, he’ll see that we’re not compatible, and we’ll find a way to co-parent amicably.
It’ll be difficult, but it’s the right thing to do for our child.
“You have a deal.”
The look of relief that washes over his face damn near breaks my heart, because it’s almost like he believes we could be a real couple.
Greyson talks the entire way back to the ranch about all the things he’s going to buy for the baby, and while I’m excited about his enthusiasm, a part of me is terrified because it all sounds too good to be true.
After he pulls up to the main barn, I start towards the workers’ quarters, where the live-in help resides, but Greyson stops me.
“You’re staying with me.”
“But…”
“Tell me what you need from your room and I’ll get it for you, but while you’re carrying my child, you’re not stepping foot in the worker’s quarters again.”
I grumble but follow him into his house, which I’ve only been to a handful of times.
He shows me around, eventually leading me into his bedroom.
“I have some things to take care of, but while I’m gone, feel free to nap.”
“Is that what pregnant women are supposed to do all day?” I say sarcastically.
“If you’re not tired, then shop online for clothes. I’ll get your new credit card to you by tomorrow.”
Before leaving, he bends, planting a kiss on my forehead, which is sweet.
Of all the unplanned pregnancies that have ever taken place, mine is the luckiest because Greyson isn’t just generous, he’s kind.
I was a fool to think he’d resent me for the situation we’re in. That’s just not like him. Even before he got me pregnant, he’d always made sure I was taken care of, as he does all of Crimson Crest’s workers.
Despite the joy I now feel at having a significant number of my problems erased, there is still a lingering sadness, because a part of me still feels like I’m trapping Greyson.
If he’d truly wanted me, he wouldn’t have waited so long, and he wouldn’t have been drunk.
Chances are, he’s not lying to me. He’s just misremembering feelings, mistaking curiosity for lust as some type of coping mechanism.
Soon, he’ll realize what we are to each other. That I was nothing more than his assistant who was available when he needed companionship.
But as tragic as that sounds, I know it could be far worse.