He glanced over at her, a grim expression tightening his face. “I’m taking you home.”

“Over my dead body,” she snarled. She crossed her arms over her belly and pressed her lips firmly together.

“You’re going,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “You need someone to take care of you since you refuse to do it yourself. Do you want to risk the baby’s health? Or yours? Give me a solution, Kelly. Prove to me that I can leave here knowing you’ll be okay.”

She stared woodenly at him. “Don’t you understand that I want nothing to do with you?”

“Oh yes, you made that clear to me when you slept with my brother. But the fact is you’re likely carrying my child—or my niece or nephew, and either way I’m not going to disappear until I know you’re both safe. You’re coming to New York with me if I have to carry you on the plane.”

“It’s not your child,” she said fiercely.

His gaze raked over her. “Whose is it then?”

“None of your business.”

There was a long silence before he finally said, “You’re going with me. I’m not just doing this for a child that may or may not be mine.”

“Why are you doing it then?” she shot back.

He ignored her and stared out the windshield, his fingers curled tight around the steering wheel.

When they arrived at her apartment, she got out of the car before he could come around for her and she hurried up the stairs. She could hear him behind her and when she tried to shut the door, he put up his hand and pushed his way inside.

“We have to talk, Kelly.”

She whirled around. “Yes, we do. You said we’d talk about the check. You were certainly willing to throw it at me when you called me a whore. I want it now and I don’t give a damn what you think about the fact I’m taking it.”

“I’m no longer offering it.”

“Oh, nice,” she said sarcastically.

“I want you to come back to New York with me.”

Her mouth fell open. “You’re insane. Why would I go anywhere with you?”

“Because you need me.”

Pain speared through her chest, robbing her of breath. “I needed you before.”

She turned away before he could respond. She framed her belly with her palms and tried not to panic.

Behind her Ryan was silent. Disturbingly so. Then when he spoke there was an odd, strained tone to his voice.

“I’m going out to have your prescriptions filled. I’ll pick us up something to eat. When I get back, I want you to be packed.”

His footsteps were heavy on the floor and then the door shut quietly behind him.

She sank onto the tattered recliner and massaged her forehead. Two days ago she had a plan. A good plan. She had everything mapped out. Today she had no job, her health was suspect and her ex-fiancé was pressuring her to go back to New York with him.