A Deal with Benefits

by Susanna Carr

  She covered her face with her hands. “You’re right. I did. I’m ashamed of what I did. I swore I would never act that way, and what happened? I allowed my emotions to take over. Oh, God. I’m just like her.”

  Her? Sebastian frowned. Who was Ashley comparing herself to?

  “It doesn’t matter how much I tried to...” She took a deep breath and lowered her hands. She squared back her shoulders and struggled to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, Sebastian. I felt I had to leave but I didn’t need to go with Salazar. There were other options. Better options. I can tell myself that I was desperate to get back here, but the truth is I wanted to swing back at you.”

  She’d succeeded. It was as if Ashley knew exactly where to strike. He must have lowered his guard or revealed how he felt when they were in bed. He was addicted to Ashley. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, couldn’t refrain from touching her. She was his weakness and she exploited it. Just as he knew Inez Key was her weak spot.

  “Why is this place so important to you?” he asked. “Why are you willing to fight for just a piece of it?” He watched as she swallowed roughly. For a moment he didn’t think she would answer.

  “It’s where I grew up,” she said unevenly, as if she had to pull out the words. “It was a special place for me and my mother.”

  “That’s it?” He sensed there was more. This island had a pull on Ashley that she couldn’t break. What would cause that?

  “No, it’s more than that,” she admitted. “Whenever the tabloids found out about my dad, my mom would bring me here. There was no TV, no internet and no paparazzi. We could stay here and heal.”

  “You’re lucky you had this place,” he said harshly. “I would have killed for this island when I was a child.”

  “I’m not so sure.” She held her arms close to her body. “Sometimes I felt like my mom used this place to hide from reality. The lack of distractions should have given her some clarity. Instead, it became a cocoon that blocked out all the facts. It gave my dad a chance to hide the worst of his sins. He would beg for forgiveness, swear it was all lies, and we would head back to the mainland until the cycle started all over again.”

  Inez Key wasn’t quite the haven he thought it was for Ashley. It was connected to good memories and bad. It was part of her childhood and the loss of her innocence.

  “And there is no need to escort me off the premises. I’m going.” Ashley announced. She bent down to brush the sand off her jeans.

  “You’ll leave with me and return to Miami.”

  “Our deal is off,” she said as she straightened and dusted off her hands. “From the moment you broke your promise.”

  “Which one?” he muttered.

  She narrowed her eyes. “I’m confused. What are you saying?”

  “About last night...” He took a deep breath. This was going to be difficult but it couldn’t be ignored. “We didn’t use protection.”

  Ashley went pale as she stared at him. She didn’t say a word. He wasn’t sure how she was going to handle the news. From the way she interacted with the young islanders, he knew she liked children. Sebastian could easily imagine that she would be a fierce and protective mother. But that didn’t mean she liked the idea of having his children.

  “I apologize,” Sebastian said as he raked his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what happened. I always remember to use protection.”

  His claim seemed to wake her up. “Of course you do,” she said in a withering tone.

  “I’m serious.” He watched her stalk past him. “I don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

  “I’m sure you believe that,” she said over her shoulder.

  “But you don’t.” He had been careful about protection every time. It hadn’t been easy. He almost forgot on more than one occasion, so caught up in the moment that nothing else seemed to matter. It had never been like that with any other woman.

  But why didn’t she take his word for it? Why was she that determined to see the worst in him? “It doesn’t matter what you believe,” he decided. “It was my responsibility and I failed you.”

  Ashley turned around. “Sebastian, I don’t need you to take care of me. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing that since I can remember.”

  “There’s no chance of you being on the Pill?” he asked hopefully.

  Ashley glared at him. “What do you think? You were my first.” Her voice rose with every word. “I never had a need until I met you and I wasn’t planning a repeat performance.”

  “We’ve been together for weeks and you still haven’t considered protecting yourself from pregnancy. Why is that? You know, there are a lot of women who live well because they had a rich man’s baby.” He didn’t think Ashley was one of those women, but he also knew his judgment was impaired when she was around.

  Ashley rubbed her hands over her face and blew out an exasperated puff of air. “I have no interest in getting pregnant, no interest in having your baby, and I no longer have any interest in this conversation.”

  He ignored the sting from her words. “You have to admit that this is a concern.” He needed to be more careful next time. He needed her to trust him so that there would be a next time.

  She looked away and stared at the water. As if seeing the ocean would calm her and give her a sense of peace. “Is this how you respond whenever you have a pregnancy scare?” she asked.

  He clenched his teeth. “I’ve never had one because I always use protection.”

  She pressed her lips together. “I find it hard to believe that a man with your—” she paused “—legendary sex life has not had any paternity suits, payoffs or baby drama.”

  “Believe it,” he said in a growl.

  “Every time I think I’m wrong about you, I am slapped with the truth. You remind me a lot of my father. He was something of a playboy.” Her lip curled in a sneer when she said the word. “He was supposed to be a tennis legend, but he’s known more for his sexual escapades and paternity suits.”

  “I am not a playboy,” he insisted. He hated the word. It diminished everything that he had achieved. “And I’m nothing like your father.”

  “Right. Right.” She raised her hand to stop him. “Because you’re smarter. You use protection. Sometimes.”

  “Ashley, I give you my word.” He grabbed her arm and held her still, but she looked the other way. “If you become pregnant, I will take care of you and the baby.”

  She whipped her head around and stared at him. “You would? Why?”

  He was offended by her surprise. “You and the child would be my responsibility.”

  She tilted her head as she studied him with open suspicion. “What do you mean by taking care?”

  “I would take care of you financially and I would be involved in the child’s life.” He would want a lot more, but he would wait to discuss it if there was a child. There was no reason to tell Ashley every sacrifice he would make for his family.

  “Really?” She pulled away from his grasp. “You wouldn’t ask for a termination or take legal action against me and swear I’m lying about the paternity?”

  “What kind of man do you think I am? No, don’t answer that.” He was already feeling volatile and he knew he wasn’t going to like what Ashley had to say.

  “It’s what my father did,” she said with disgust. “It’s what most men do.”

  “You don’t know much about men. Or me.” Sebastian took a step forward until they were almost touching. He noticed Ashley didn’t back down. Most people would. “I take care of my family. That would include you and the baby.”

  She frowned and studied his face. “This doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Let me make it clear to you,” he said through gritted teeth. “If you are pregnant with my child, I will give him my last name. I will let everyone know
that he is mine and that I take care of what is mine. I will protect and provide for him.”

  She stared at him as if in a daze.

  “And if I need to marry his mother,” he forced the words out, “I will do so.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Are you serious?”

  “But don’t take that as a marriage proposal,” he warned. “The only reason I would marry any woman is if she was carrying my child.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “COME ON, ASHLEY, we’ll discuss this later. We need to leave,” Sebastian said as he stuffed his hands in his hoodie pocket. He was never comfortable with the topic of marriage. The idea of sacrificing his freedom usually made him break into a cold sweat. Right now, he felt the hope and longing swirl inside him as he imagined Ashley’s belly swollen with his child.

  “Already?” she said with a sigh.

  He heard the longing in her voice and hated how it affected him. Sebastian wanted to make her happy. He wanted to give her everything she wanted and be the reason there was a smile on her face. He glanced at his watch. “You can show me around the island before we leave.”

  Ashley’s eyes lit up, but she gave him a suspicious look. “Really?” she asked uncertainly. As if she knew he was trying to make up for the argument they’d just had.

  “Show me everything about Inez Key,” he said. He knew a lot about this island, but he wanted to see it through her eyes.

  Ashley grabbed his hand. “First, I’ll show where the best place is to scuba dive. Oh, and surf. Did I tell you about the time I got stung by an eagle ray? It was an extremely painful experience, but not as much as when I broke my ankle when I fell from climbing a palm tree. I’ll have to show you which ones are best to climb.”

  “I can’t wait,” Sebastian said with a small smile. He was curious to know what Ashley was like as a child and wanted to hear every story and anecdote.

  They had explored the island for an hour, hand in hand, as Ashley pointed out her favorite spots. Some were connected to happy memories while others were breathtaking views.

  “Do you know how the island got the name Inez Key?” Sebastian asked as he walked beside Ashley.

  “It’s called a key because it’s a small island on coral,” she explained.

  “And Inez?”

  “I assume the first settler on this island named it after a loved one.” She stared at the main house as she slowed her pace. Her tour was almost done and then she would have to leave Inez Key.

  “Assume?” he asked sharply.

  “Okay, I’m not an expert on everything about this island. You should ask Clea. Her family has been on this island for generations,” Ashley said as her smile dipped. Once she thought her descendants would live here for generations. She had imagined having a big family and the island being their safe haven. “Now that you mention it, I’m surprised my father didn’t change the name. Make it Jones Key or something like that. Are you going to change the name?”

  “Never.”

  His gruff response surprised her. “Why not? The name doesn’t have any meaning to you.”

  Sebastian’s hand flexed against hers. “How long have you lived here?” he asked.

  “This wasn’t our primary residence,” she replied as she focused her attention on the main house. “I spent my summers on this island. My mother brought me here when she needed a getaway.”

  “So it wasn’t used very often,” he murmured. “It was almost forgotten.”

  “I’m sure it wasn’t always like that. It’s been in my family’s care since before I was born. My father got it—”

  “Got it?”

  Ashley bit her tongue. Funny how he caught her choice of words. The man noticed everything. She had to be more careful. “My father’s story about this island changed constantly,” she admitted.

  “What did you hear?” he asked as he slipped his hand away from hers.

  She felt the tension emanating from Sebastian and hesitated. She didn’t like revealing her family history. It offered people a chance to question her heritage and judge her. “It’s difficult to extract the truth from the legend. Some say my father won it in a poker game. Others suggested it was a gift from a woman. I once heard a politician bought it for him in exchange for silence.”

  “What do you think happened?”

  I think he stole it. She didn’t know how her father had got the island, but she knew what kind of man he was. He cheated on and off the tennis court, but that wasn’t her only clue. She remembered the sly look in his eyes when he spoke of Inez Key. She knew something bad happened and she had been too hesitant to dig deeper.

  Ashley forced herself to give a casual shrug as she marched to the main house. “It’s hard to say.”

  “I’m sure you have a theory.” Sebastian watched her carefully.

  “Not really,” she said in a rush as they stood by the columns in the back of the main house. “Well, that’s it of Inez Key.”

  “Don’t you have more stories to tell?”

  Ashley returned his smile. She had talked endlessly about her childhood adventures on Inez Key, but Sebastian hadn’t seemed bored. He had been genuinely interested. “That’s for another day,” she promised.

  “Thank you for sharing your stories,” he said gently. “And for showing me your island.”

  She suddenly felt shy, as if she had shared a secret part of her. Ashley felt the warmth rush through her. “What’s your favorite part of Inez Key?”

  “The cove,” he said. “It’s the perfect hideout. No wonder the sea turtles nest there.”

  Ashley frowned. She didn’t remember telling him about the nests that are laid during springtime. “How did you know we have sea turtles?”

  Sebastian paused. “Uh, I think Clea said something about it.”

  “We usually get the loggerhead turtle to nest on our island. Two months later, all of these hatchlings find their way to the water. It’s an amazing sight.”

  “I’m sure it is,” he murmured.

  “I think the sea turtles pick this place because there aren’t that many predators. The island is a good hideaway for people, too. The paparazzi never bothers us.” Not even when her father was caught up in one scandal after another. She didn’t know if it was because it was hard to find the remote island or because no journalist found it worthwhile to follow the betrayed mother and child.

  Sebastian saw the shadows in her eyes. Was she recalling a bad memory from her childhood or was she reluctant to leave. “It’s time to go, mi vida.”

  Ashley bit her lip. “Can’t we stay just for the night?”

  “Impossible.” He didn’t want Ashley to stay any longer. It was Cruz property now and the last thing he needed was the previous owner hanging around causing trouble. “I need to be at my mother’s tomorrow morning.”

  “I’m sure she didn’t extend the invitation to me,” she said. “I can stay here until you return.”

  Sebastian hated that idea. He didn’t want to spend another night away from Ashley. He hadn’t been able to sleep and he ached all night to have her in his arms. The idea of finding a replacement hadn’t even occurred to him. He only wanted Ashley.

  “You forget our agreement,” he said silkily. “You are supposed to be with me every day for a month. You missed a few days when you skipped out on me in Jamaica. That’s going to cost you.”

  “Cost me?” Her face paled as she looked around her beloved Inez Key. “What do you mean?”

  “You have not been with me for a consecutive thirty days,” he explained. He smiled as he realized this gave him the chance to keep Ashley at his side for a little bit longer. “I’m adding those missing days at the end of your month.”

  Her lips parted in surprise. “That was not agreed upon.”

  He didn’t care. He had
torn through Miami looking for this woman and he wasn’t ready to give her up. “Would you rather we start over and make this day one?”

  Something hot and wild flared in her eyes. Ashley dipped her head as she dug her foot in the sand. “I thought you’d be bored staying with one woman for a month.”

  Sebastian frowned. That had been true, but not with Ashley. Now he was trying to find ways to keep her in his bed.

  “Wait a second.” Ashley lifted her head and stared at him with something close to horror. “Does this mean I’m meeting your mother? No. No way.”

  “I don’t have much of a choice. Anyway, she’s expecting you.”

  Ashley closed her eyes and slowly shook her head. “Do you usually introduce your mistress to your mother?” she asked huskily.

  “I’ve never had a mistress,” he admitted.

  Ashley opened her eyes and stared at him.

  Sebastian scowled. He hadn’t planned to tell her that, but for some reason it was suddenly important for her to understand that he wasn’t that kind of man. Yet now he felt exposed under her gaze. As if he’d revealed too much of himself. “Don’t think that makes you special.”

  Ashley glared at him. “Why should I? You had pushed me in a corner so efficiently. It was only natural to assume you blackmailed women in your bed on a regular basis.”

  He stepped closer. “You wanted to be in my bed,” he declared. “I only had to give you an extra incentive.”

  She gave a haughty tilt to her chin. “Think that if it makes you feel better.”

  He curled a finger under her chin and brushed his thumb against her wide pink mouth. “You will need to curb your tongue before you meet my family,” he warned her softly.

  She tried to nip his thumb with her teeth, but he had anticipated that response. He removed his hand before she could catch him.

  “I can’t make any promises,” she said and paused. “Did you say I’m meeting your family? I thought it was just your mother.”

  “My sisters will be there. That means their husbands, fiancés and children will also be around.”