32. Mel

"Are you alright?" Lindsey asks, cocking her head to the side as she pushes the remains of her dinner around her bowl. "You've been awfully quiet tonight."

Tugging my silk robe more firmly around my costume, I nod.

"Kitty mentioned something about an engagement?" she presses, letting her spoon clink against the rim as she drops it. And she clearly must have no clue what she's talking about because I detect a hint of envy in her tone. "So, you'll be moving out of the house, then?" she teases to mask the emotion.

"I suppose. Eventually," I state, anxiety gripping my stomach as I recall Kieri's words from last night. What I would prefer is to find a way out of the mess I got myself into. But as of right now, I've had no luck deciding my best path.

"Well, congratulations. That's very exciting for you."

Again, with the edge of bitterness. I wonder if she would feel the same way if she knew who I got engaged to. I take a big bite of my burger to avoid continuing the conversation. Because, in truth, I'm about the farthest thing from okay right now. I didn't sleep a wink last night, thinking about what happened—that terrifying fight, how thoroughly I ran Gleb off this time, the promise I made to Mr. Kelly's crazy cousin.

The whole thing puts my stomach in knots.

Lindsey's eyes cast up toward the break room door as it groans open behind me.

"Out," a cold voice commands, and a shiver races down my spine.

Lindsey looks quickly back at me, and her surprised expression shifts to somewhere between nervous and apologetic as I stiffen. But she does as she's told, scooping up her bowl and slipping from the room a moment later.

Ice floods my veins as soft footsteps approach, and fingers brush softly down the silk shoulder of my robe to my elbow, then across the bare skin of my lower arm. It's just enough weight that the fabric slips down once more, revealing my breasts over my rhinestone corset.

"I've been looking for you," Vinny says, dropping into the chair Lindsey just vacated and leveling me with a cold, blue-eyed stare.

"I'm working," I say pointedly, willing him to recall that he's not supposed to be bothering me at work. Shrugging back into my robe, I try to secure it better without staining it with the grease from my burger.

"You're on break," he counters. "Which means we have a bit of… free time."

Glancing at the clock, I wish my dinner break were closer to over. "Ten minutes," I state. "And I really need to finish eating."

Though I've completely lost my appetite, I take another big, sloppy bite, spilling mustard down my chin as I hope the sight makes him want to leave.

"Mmm," he moans appreciatively instead, his eyes devouring my face. "I can't wait to see that pretty little mouth filled with something of mine."

Leaning forward, he reaches across the space to swipe the spilled mustard off my chin with his thumb. I nearly vomit when he sucks the digit clean and releases another approving sound. Dropping my burger onto its plate, I grab my napkin and wipe my hands and face. I can't eat any more, not with him right here, and I definitely don't want to leave anything else that he might try to eat off me.

Tossing the napkin down, I start to stand. "Sorry, I just realized I have something to do before?—"

"Not so fast, angel," Vinny insists, rising from the table with me and grasping my wrist before I can pick up my plate. "I'm sure you can spare a few moments for your fiancé, eh? Besides, now that we're engaged, I doubt my cousin will make a fuss if he finds you with me."

He pulls me close, wrapping an arm around my waist until our hips are pressed together. I can feel his desire pressing hard against me, reminding me of what he's really here for. Goosebumps erupt across my neck and shoulders, and I swallow hard as I lean back—as far away from him as I can manage.

His cologne smells expensive, and like he put far too much on. The cloying scent leaves me feeling almost lightheaded, and my lips part as I desperately try to suck in fresh air.

It's the first time I've been this close to him—aside from the night he slapped my ass. But that night, Gleb was on top of him so quickly that I hadn't had much time to process Vinny's touch. Now it's agonizingly repulsive, his greedy hands making my heart hammer even though he's almost tame in his molestation this time. Because he doesn't grope my breasts, like his eyes say he wants to, and his hand stays at the small of my back rather than grabbing my ass.

He inhales deeply, his lascivious gaze traveling back up from my cleavage to my throat, my lips, then my eyes once again. "You are just the most delicious little morsel I think I've ever seen. I look forward to our wedding night," he murmurs, leaning closer, seeming oblivious to my repulsion. "We should make it a quick engagement because I'm ready to make you mine in every way," he growls, his erection digging into me harder.

The air leaves my lungs, and I fight to bring in a shaky breath as I press against his chest, carefully extricating myself from his grasp as my mind works a mile a minute. How the hell am I supposed to get out of this one? Can I just tell him I won't go through with it? That I don't want to marry him? I can't imagine he would take that well at all, and right now, I'm alone with him.

"I've been watching, Melody, since the moment I first laid eyes on you, and I knew when you started dancing for me that you feel it too. This attraction. You know just how to drive me wild. God, I want to do dirty things to you."

"But we can't," I insist breathlessly. "Not unless we're married."

"I know, I know," he purrs, his blue eyes glinting. "I don't mind if you like to play hard to get. In fact, I kind of like the chase. It's going to make our first time that much more pleasurable." He steps closer once again, but this time, he doesn't grab me.

Instead, he places a single finger beneath my chin, tilting my face up as if he intends to kiss me.

"Don't you think we're taking things a bit quickly, though?" I ask breathlessly, grasping his finger and removing it as I take a step back toward the door.

He hums, following me. "I like fast," he promises darkly.

Heart shuddering, I keep a slow, steady retreat, like one might make from a snake that's poised to strike. "But shouldn't we take some time to get to know each other? I mean, what if you find you don't like something about me?"

Vinny's eyes rake down my body once again, the message clear as day. "What's not to like?"

"W-Well, I have a daughter," I confess. "And I would like to take it slow for her sake."

His eyebrows arch in surprise, and his footsteps hesitate momentarily. Preemptive relief surges through me. Maybe the realization that I'm a single mother will be enough to deter him.

An unbidden memory of Gleb flashes into my head, the thoughtful look in his eyes when I told him about Gabby last night. "We can take her with us," he said with such confident reassurance. It wasn't even a question in his mind.

"So, you want to wait until marriage, but you're not a virgin?" Vinny asks, his eyes darkening dangerously. "Were you married before?"

"N-No. That's why I want to wait until after…" I say, making it up on the fly as I search for any way I can stall him. "And why I want to take it slow."

"Hmm." His face shifts to contemplative indecision. "That won't be a problem," he states after a long pause.

My stomach plummets as he resumes his pursuit across the room, closing the gap I've put between us.

"Really?" Wait, it's not a problem to take it slow? I feel suddenly thrown off balance by the crazy Irishman. Nothing about him says patience, and I'm pretty confident I saw a glint of disgust in his eye when I mentioned being a mother.

"Of course, love. You're a fit bird. I don't think having a kid has done any permanent damage. And besides, that's what adoption is for."

I think I might be sick. The blood drains from my face so quickly that I feel lightheaded, and I sway as his words hit me like a physical blow. Put Gabby up for adoption? He can't be serious.

"But I?—"

"As my wife," he cuts me off, his strides carrying him closer until my back is pressed against the break room door, "you'll need to focus your energy on pleasing me." Hot breath washes across my face as he leans in close, trapping me between his arms.

Hair prickling across my scalp in warning, my body screams for me to run. And at the same time, I want to lash out and slap him for even suggesting I let someone else raise my little girl.

"You won't have time for a child anyway," he promises, his lips hovering far too close to mine. "I promise I'll keep you plenty busy. And when we're ready—after I've made good use of all your lovely holes—you can have as many of my babies as your pretty little heart desires."

Oh god, I think I'm going to be sick.

"But I won't have some other man's child living under my roof with us."