The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 184

"How long have you been awake?" Rayna asked, her eyes narrowed suspiciously after the door clicked shut behind the others who had conveniently come up with various excuses to leave them alone. "I, uh... woke up when everyone came in," Ethan lied, unable to meet her gaze. There was no way he was admitting he'd been awake long enough to witness her... less-than-graceful moment earlier.

He didn't think there was any reason to embarrass her or himself by telling her he had woken up long enough to hear her fart or perceive it.

"Really?" She folded her arms, unconvinced but hoping that was the truth since she didn't want to imagine he had been awake before she went to the restroom. He nodded slowly. "Really."

She stared I at him for a

"I was...

a beat, clearly weighing his honesty. Finally, she exhaled. "Why did you pretend to be still unconscious?" embarrassed, he he admitted, his voice softer. "I didn't exactly plan to end up here. It's not the most heroic look."

Rayna's lips parted in disbelief. "Heroic?" Rayna dropped her hands and glared at him. "It was stupid. What were you even thinking?"

"Maybe I wasn't thinking much. What was I supposed to do?" he shot back, his frustration surfacing. "I saw the car coming straight for you. I couldn't just-stand there." "You could've done anything but throw yourself into harm's way like that. You could've shouted at me to move!" She exclaimed.

"You

"You saw the car and didn't move, Rayna"" he countered, his voice firm but not angry. "At that moment, all I could think about was saving you. That's it. Nothing else mattered." could have died," she pointed out with a frown.

You could

"That would be much better than watching you die," he said with a shrug, trying not to wince as he adjusted his broken arm.

Her heart skipped a beat at his words, but she refused to let it show. "You'd rather die than watch someone you despise die?"

"I don't despise you, Rayna" he said softly, causing butterflies to flutter in her belly at his use of her name, and before he could say more, she shook her head.

She didn't want to feel this way about him again. "Well, thanks for saving me even though you didn't have to. Since you are awake now, I will head out," she said, and Ethan frowned. "Wait. Don't I go."

Rayna's brow furrowed. "Why not?"

"We should talk, he said, and she shook her head.

"There's nothing left to say. And if you're awake and feeling chatty,

you clearly don't need me hovering over you. I'll be going home to freshen up and get some rest."

There's plenty

to say," he argued, sitting up a little straighter despite the pain that shot through his body.

up when Derek and the others came in, then I'm sure you heard everything I said to Melvin," she said, and

"Yeah. I

"Good. And that's

you didn't. And now

insist that there is nothing

wanted to

know I took things a

Do you think if any of those women you went on dates with had been what you wanted, you'd be saying this now? I don't think so." Her Her words stung more than

but we both know it's the truth." Her

I don't even remember a word that any of

"No, it's not.

them," he said, and Rayna shook her head. "You told me to move on, and I am. So, just... focus on getting better. I'm done," she said as she moved closer to the bed

as she stopped him. "Are you crazy? Do you want to hurt yourself more?" She carefully pushed his hand back onto the bed, glaring

he said dryly. "What's

hissed, pulling her hand free

us to

to you," she snapped,

resolute. "Well, I do," he said stubbornly. "And the least you can do is stick around and help me until

"I'm j

got t hurt because of you," Ethan pressed, his voice

help

fact that I'm here because of you. I can't

stuck with me until my arm is

hire a nurse to

nurse. I want you," he

or take me to yours.

doing this? Why were you there last night in the first place when you

was supposed to be our

the time for this. And I'm not staying under the same roof with someone as insufferable as you," she said, and Ethan

that cereal was yours and not for Sarah," she said, and Ethan

start over? You messed up; I messed up. Let's forgive

exhaled slowly, her resolve crumbling slightly. "I'm going home to freshen up and rest," she said, heading for the door. Before she

doing

than it

her a pitiful look. "I

curling into

"I've been

of responsibility. He did get hurt saving her,