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She was on her feet in a flash and spun round to stare down at him in horror. He couldn't be serious. No. She was jumping to conclusions. Remember, she reprimanded herself sternly, you're a mature adult, a mother, a businesswoman.
'Who is getting married?' she asked, and answered her own question. 'Of course—you and Dulcie.' Suddenly it was very clear, and Penny's temper took off again. 'If you think for one second I would let that woman anywhere near my child, forget it. You can have access rights but that is all.'
'Not Dulcie. You and I, Penny,' Raul corrected her coolly. 'It is obvious the boy needs a father's protection. I've decided marriage is the best solution all round.'
He had decided! Never mind that he already had a fiancée! Raul the magnificent had decided. The master's voice... Penny thought bitterly. 'Not in my lifetime,' she said bluntly.
'You have not given it any thought, Penny. Consider all I can give the boy. Remember years ago you asked me to marry you. Nothing has changed except now I agree.'
'No,' she reiterated, hating to be reminded of her last humiliation at this man's hands. She would never take the risk of that happening again.
'Don't be so damned selfish.' Raul grabbed her wrist and pulled her down beside him on the sofa once again.
'Let go of me.'
'Not until you listen. I am trying to be fair to you, Penny, because you have suffered a terrible experience,' he said earnestly. 'I am trying to keep my temper. But
I have not forgotten that you never once mentioned you were pregnant when you asked me to marry you. If you had I would have agreed and none of the trauma of the past couple of days need ever have happened. The chemistry is still there between us; we can have a good marriage and our son a good family life.'
Penny looked at him long and hard. There was no doubting that he was absolutely serious, and for a second she actually considered what it would be like married to Raul. Sexually he was perfect—every woman's fantasy lover rolled into one. Her heart stopped momentarily and Raul's dark eyes gleamed triumphantly into hers, as if he was reading her mind.
'You know I'm right, Penny.'
It was the superb self-confidence in his tone that infuriated her, and she remembered the rest—his domineering personality, his orders on what to wear and where to go, his workaholic lifestyle, flitting around the world at a moment's notice. He was certainly not cut out to be a father and family man. In fact James would probably see more of his father if Raul had to make an appointment to meet the boy than he ever would living with his dad. And then there was Dulcie!
Suddenly his suggestion struck Penny as ludicrous. 'You're kidding, of course. You, who vowed you would never be trapped into marriage, have the gall to sit in my home and propose marriage to get my child.' A humourless laugh escaped her. 'Sorry, no.'
'Think again, Penny.'
'I don't need to; the answer is no.'
'I could fight you in court for custody.' He said the words casually, with no more inflection than a weatherman reading the forecast.
Penny looked at him in disbelief. He was lounging back on the sofa, apparently at ease. 'You would do that?' she said tightly.
Raul gave her a chilling smile. 'It's an option,' he said, giving nothing away.
His dark eyes blandly met her furious blue but she was too angry to bother trying to hide her hatred and disgust. In fact, she realised, she was not even surprised. From the minute Raul had said 'our son' she had been waiting for something like this. 'You would never win. Not in an English court. Especially after the recent publicity.'
'But can you take that chance, Penny?' he asked brutally. 'I have the time, the wealth and the best lawyers at my disposal, whereas you have very little money or time to fight me.'
True to character. To Raul wealth was everything, Penny thought bitterly, but he was no
t getting her son. 'Try it,' she challenged him. 'But know I will fight you to the death to keep my son.'
A loud shout of 'mamma' from James stopped whatever acid comment Raul had been about to make.
Penny immediately leapt to her feet, and didn't notice the menacing intent in Raul's expression. 'He's awake.' She stated the obvious to give herself time to think. She knew that she would have to make sure she acted cool and in control around Raul. It was the only way to get through to a man like him, and now was a good time to start. She took a few steps and then turned back to him. He had not moved; it was as if the sound of the child's voice had frozen him on the spot.
'My son—' she emphasised the 'my', '—can wait a minute; he has plenty of toys in his cot. But the situation between us cannot.'
Her decision made, she proceeded coldly. 'Do you remember your final words to me years ago? “Send me a bill, honey, and I'll think about paying.” Penny saw his facial muscles tauten, his mouth twisting in a grim line, and she knew that he did not appreciate being reminded of what a swine he was. But she didn't care; she was fighting for her baby, her life.
'I hate to disillusion you, Raul, but all your power and all your wealth cannot pay the bill. You see, the price of rearing a child, a family, is love—lots and lots of love. The one commodity you cannot make or deal or buy. The one thing you do not possess and never will.'
She watched him in silence for a second. His face was like carved granite, his eyes hard, but she had the weirdest sensation that she had cut him to the quick, then quickly dismissed the thought. Nothing hurt Raul.
'You can hire your fancy lawyers, throw your money around, but you will not win. As I said before, I will allow you access, but on my terms and conditions. Take it or leave it.'
