LITMIR.BIZ

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      “I don’t hate you, Lola.” His voice was low.

      She tilted her head back to look at him beneath her lashes. “You don’t?”

      “I despise you. That’s different.” His dark eyes gleamed. “You must have spent the million dollars I gave you if you’re looking for a new sugar daddy. Do you intend to say yes? Are congratulations in order?”

      Lola narrowed her eyes. She wondered what Rodrigo would say if he knew the real reason she’d taken his payoff money: because she’d found out she was pregnant.

      Money meant more to her than pride. It meant safety. Her baby must never know, as Lola once had, how it felt to go hungry. He must never see his mother cry when she couldn’t pay the bills, or be mocked for wearing clothes to school that were too small, or harassed by teachers for falling asleep in class, because he’d spent another night taking care of younger siblings when his mother had the night shift.

      And most of all: Jett must never know how it felt to lose his family.

      Taking Rodrigo’s money meant no one would be able to take her baby away from her.

      No one, that was, except Rodrigo.

      She swallowed, her hands tightening on the shoulders of his tuxedo jacket as they danced. A father had rights. And although she still had most of the million dollars that he’d given her, she knew he had billions more. Enough to take whatever he wanted. Even Jett. And that made her afraid.

      Because she’d been his secretary once. For over two years before they’d become lovers. She knew how ruthless the Spanish media mogul could be. How he could turn on people savagely if they failed him.

      Rodrigo had good reason to believe the worst of her. Why wouldn’t he, after what he’d learned about her past?

      But he was in New York on business. He often came here. He even owned a house in SoHo. But they traveled in different circles now. He couldn’t know about Jett.

      If he did...

      No. He must never know.

      Rodrigo’s expression hardened. “Well? Do you intend to marry him?”

      “I haven’t decided,” she mumbled.

      His arms tightened around her waist. “Is that a lie?”

      Lola had no intention of going on another date with Sergei, let alone marrying him. But she wasn’t going to tell him that. She looked up. “Why do you care?”

      His dark eyes glinted. “I don’t. I’m just wondering if I should warn him about the kind of woman you really are.”

      She stiffened. “What kind is that?”

      “You’re very beautiful, Lola.” Rodrigo’s hot gaze traced slowly over her modest, long-sleeved black knit dress. As they danced to the music, he cupped her cheek. “Very.”

      Electricity ripped through her body from where he’d touched her. Sparks raced down her spine, shouting, Yes, yes. This was her man, and she’d missed him, oh, how she’d missed him. She’d dreamed of him unwillingly every night from the moment he’d taken her virginity and made her feel—

      Rodrigo dropped his hand. “But you’re ugly on the inside. You’ll do anything for money. Anything? Anyone.”

      His cruel words were like a blow.

      With a deep breath, she cut off the connection between her heart and her brain. She didn’t care if he insulted her, she told herself. She just had to get through this song. Then he’d leave. And she’d make sure she never saw Rodrigo Cabrera again, or put Jett at risk of being taken from her.

      Lola tilted her head, looking at him sardonically. “Ah. There’s your famous charm. If you think I’m so horrible, why don’t you go dance with someone else?”

      “Why? Are you so eager to be back in your lover’s arms?”

      As if she’d ever let Sergei caress her! As the song finally drew to a close, she stopped dancing, nearly trembling with relief. “Okay, song’s over. Not that this wasn’t fun, but—well, it wasn’t. Go find some other woman to torture.”

      Rodrigo stopped, looking down at her on the dance floor.

      “And that’s all you have to say to me?” he said softly. “After a year?”

      Their eyes locked, and for a moment, in spite of her overwhelming fear, the truth rose guiltily to her throat. Once, they’d been so close; once, she’d told him everything.

      No. She hadn’t told him everything. And that had been what had destroyed them.

      A hulking shadow appeared beside her. “Song is over,” Sergei said sullenly. “I’m taking her back.”

      Lola looked at the Russian with gratitude, then glanced one last time at the Spaniard she’d once loved with all her heart. “I guess this is goodbye.”

      “I guess so,” Rodrigo said, his dark eyes unreadable. He turned away.

      The orchestra started a new song, and couples resumed swirling around them on the dance floor. Lola turned to Sergei. “I’m tired,” she choked out. “Will you please take me home?”

      “Konyechna.” Sergei’s voice was soothing. “I’m sure you miss your baby.”

      Lola sucked in her breath, praying Rodrigo hadn’t heard. No such luck. As if in slow motion, he turned back to her.

      “Baby?”

      “Nothing to do with you.” But her voice was strained, even to her own ears. She had to get out of here—fast. Tossing her blond hair as if she didn’t have a care in the world, she turned back to Sergei. “Let’s go...”

      But Rodrigo blocked her path. “How old is the baby?”

      “None of your business.”

      As she tried to walk past him, Rodrigo grabbed her wrist. His black eyes glittered. “How old, damn you?”

      “It doesn’t matter!” She struggled, desperately trying to hide her fear. “He’s not yours!”

      But as Lola croaked out the lie, her cheeks went red-hot. There was a reason she’d been such a washout as an actress. She was the worst liar in the world.

      Searching her gaze, Rodrigo’s eyes suddenly widened. Dropping her wrist, he staggered back.

      He knew. She hadn’t told him, but he still knew.

      The ballroom started spinning around her. She tried to think of some way to get out of this. But her brain was frozen.

      “The baby’s mine,” Rodrigo said in a low voice. “Isn’t it?”

      “Don’t be ridiculous,” she snapped. She pointed at Sergei. “He’s the father.”

      She desperately hoped the Russian tycoon would play along. But Sergei just looked bewildered.

      Rodrigo swept him with a dismissive glance, then faced Lola. His cold expression turned to fire as his dark eyes glittered in the light of the ballroom.

      “Tell me the truth,” he said in a low, dangerous voice. He gripped her shoulder. “I want to hear you say it.”

      “Let me go,” she whispered, her throat closing.

      All her fears were crashing around her like bricks. Lola tried to lift her chin, to glare at him, to defy him. Most of all, she tried to think of a good lie.

      But looking up at Rodrigo’s hard, handsome face, she knew it would be no good. When it came to him, her lies always betrayed her.

      “Tell me, Lola,” he demanded mercilessly.

      Heart pounding, she whispered, “Yes. You’re the father.”

      *

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