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They knew each other so much better now than they had a mere two weeks earlier, but still not well enough. Or from her perspective, maybe too well. She wanted that man who sent her the stained glass to fall down on his knees and beg her to marry him.
That wasn’t going to happen. Rafe liked her. He wanted her but he didn’t love her.
“Are you asking me because I’m pregnant?” she asked at last.
He rolled off the bed and got to his feet. He put his hands on his lean hips and stood there as if he could will her to change her mind. She wished he’d put a shirt on, because his bare chest was a tempting distraction.
But not enough of one that she’d say yes to this. She knew if she said yes she’d want him to love her. Why? She’d been fine with lust until this moment, and now she wanted professions of deep emotion from him. Emotion she wasn’t prepared to admit she felt for him.
They didn’t love each other. She had never thought she was one of those women who needed it, but in her heart she knew she did. She wasn’t as practical as she’d expected to be when it came to Rafe. He was arguing that they’d be stronger together, and she thought if they loved each other then he might be right. But a couple who married for the sake of a child? That seemed like a steep hill to climb.
Maybe it was because her mother had never compromised and married that Emily felt so strongly about this. But she couldn’t help it. She wasn’t going to marry him for any reason. Unless he fell in love with her and proved it in some way that would convince her. She liked him. She cared about him and she had no intention of isolating him from his child. But marriage?
No. Definitely not.
“Partly. I’m traditional, Red. You know that. I want our baby to have my name. And to know who I am. We can do that so much better together,” he said. He scrubbed one hand over his eyes and then sat down on the edge of the bed with his back toward her. “Every child needs a mom and a dad. Didn’t you miss having a dad?”
“I did,” she said. “But I found my way without one. And Harry’s sort of filled the role for me. It’s all I needed.”
“I don’t want our kid to have a relationship with some future boyfriend of yours,” he said.
“Don’t. Don’t think of any of that. We are going to get to know each other. We will figure this out.”
She crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, leaning her head on his chest to look at him. “Marriage like this isn’t a solution. We’d have to be more businesslike and we aren’t. The way you get to me...it’s all I can do to remind myself every day that you belong on the throne of Alma and I have no place by your side.”
He covered her hands with his and clasped them to his chest. “You might.”
She shook her head and slid around on the bed next to him. He was so serious, this man of hers. “Is that why you are asking me?”
“Yes. I care for you, Emily,” he said. “I want what’s best for you and our child. And if you are my fiancée I can protect you from the media. I can bring the full force of the Montoro name and reputation to bear against these people. I can do it now, but they will just glom onto the fact that I’m not marrying you or taking you to Alma. Being my fiancée will make everything easier.”
She felt the sincerity in his words. Understood that he was willing to tie his life to hers to keep her safe. But for how long? Because she knew that she didn’t want to leave Key West, and there was no way he could rule from here.
“I can’t.”
“Don’t say no. Think about it. Let’s see if I can change your mind,” he said.
She had no doubt that he could. If she spent time with him and fell any deeper for him then she’d say yes. She’d exchange her life for his. And she knew herself well enough to know that she’d be angry with that.
“How?”
“Let’s date and get to know each other. In a few weeks I’ll ask you again,” he said.
“How will we do that? Do I have to fly to Alma?”
“No. I’m in Miami to wrap up a few business deals. So while I’m here let’s date.”
“Okay. But what if the answer is still no. What then?” she asked.
“I’m pretty determined it won’t be,” he said. “And I’ve never lost a challenge.”
“Never?”
“Nope. I’m not afraid to do whatever I have to in order to win you over.”
She believed him but she also knew this decision wasn’t his alone. “What about your family?”
“Leave them to me. I’d like you to come to Miami Beach next week, stay at my place and meet everyone who’s here with me at a dinner. Would you do that?”
