The Price of Honor Read Free Page B

day. She wouldn’t need the fancy designer dresses he’d bought her since she wouldn’tbe attending parties with him. Besides, pretty soon they wouldn’t fit. She was already noticing her tops fit more snugly.
    She wanted to howl in pain and frustration. Couldn’t he see he was making a huge mistake? But unless he relented on his marriage plans she couldn’t risk returning to the house where she’d been so happy with him—the cottage where she’d finally allowed herself to trust in forever. The memories would undermine her resolve to do the right thing for herself and her baby. Besides, she couldn’t afford to have him guess her secret and possibly claim her child.
    He moved closer. The fence blocked her retreat. As the distance between them decreased, a slight quiver overtook her body. He lifted a hand and cupped her face in the warmth of his palm. “How can you walk away from what we shared, Megan?”
    As tempted as she was to lean into his touch, she resisted. It wasn’t easy. “I could ask you the same thing.”
    â€œBut I am not.”
    She forced herself to twist out of reach. “Yes, you are. You’re engaged to marry someone else. You know I won’t settle for second place. I always fight for first—in the ring and out of it. You once told me my zeal was one of the things you liked best about me.”
    â€œI admire many things about you, including your ambition and independence. But there is no need to throw a tantrum because you cannot have your way in this.”
    She gaped at him as anger boiled inside her. “A tantrum! You think I’m throwing a tantrum?”
    â€œWhat else could it be? I have showered you with gifts. I have even given you a home. I will make sure you lack for nothing even after we end our association. If you return to Grasse.”
    â€œI’ve never cared about your money, your estate, yourfancy cars or airplanes. You’re not offering what I want most, Xavier. You. Exclusively.”
    â€œYou have me exclusively now.”
    â€œBut only until your wedding. One of these days I’m going to want a husband…and children. I want someone to grow old with. A friend and a lover. You want that with someone else. Do us both a favor and move on.”
    Her stiff muscles protested as she turned and ordered them to carry her away from the best— and the worst —thing that had ever happened to her.
    She didn’t need to hear gravel crunching under his heels to know Xavier followed. Her body sensed his like a divining rod does water. His purposeful stride quickly brought him up alongside her, and though her eyes hungered for another look at him, she denied herself the pleasure and the pain.
    â€œI have nothing more to say. Goodbye.”
    â€œIf we are going to quote past conversations, then you will recall that my determination is one of the traits you claimed we shared and you admired. Do not expect me to give up so easily when what we have is so good. I fight for what I want, and I want you, mon amante. ”
    â€œWhat we had. Past tense.” Apprehension tightened in her middle. She should have listened to her intuition and refused to ride his horses when he’d first approached her. But she hadn’t. She’d been swept away by a man who bought treats for her horses instead of gifts for her, and she’d ignored the warning prickles and signed the contract promising to become his trainer and rider.
    After the first competition he’d asked her out while she was still high on the euphoria of winning. She’d somehow found the strength to refuse but then he’d pursued her, unrelentingly bulldozing right over her vow to never become involved with a client.
    She couldn’t let him overpower her again. She had to get rid of him. But how?
    She glared up at him. “Stop following me. I won’t play cat and mouse with you. And I won’t entertain you until