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Folding his arms, he paced three steps. “You are being unreasonable.”
Hallie took a deep breath. “No,” she said steadily. “I’m not. If you want us to live with you...if you want me to be crazy enough to marry you tomorrow, then—” she lifted her chin “—I’m setting some rules.”
He looked at her in disbelief. “You’re setting rules?”
“Yes.” She added coolly, “We’ll even put them into that prenup of yours if you like. Just to make it all official.”
He stared at her, clawing his hand through his dark hair. “Fine,” he said, his eyes glittering. “Tell me these ridiculous rules.”
“First. You will stop being so afraid of the baby.”
“Afraid?” he said incredulously. “I’m not afraid!”
“You will learn to be a father to Jack,” she continued, ignoring him. “You will learn how to hold him, change him, give him a bottle and bath and rock him to sleep.”
His expression darkened. For a second she thought he would refuse. Then he said tightly, “Continue.”
“Second. We will spend time as a family. You will join us for at least one meal every day—no matter how busy you are with your company.”
“I don’t intend to neglect you and Jack,” he ground out. “Why would you want that in the prenup?”
Hallie looked at him evenly. “I don’t intend to divorce you and steal half your fortune. But, strangely, you still want that written up in a contract.”
His jaw looked so tight she wondered if he was hurting his teeth. “Fine.”
“I prefer dinner, but if you have to work late, breakfast or lunch is all right, too.”
“Anything else?”
Hallie glanced down at her tiny baby son, who had already fallen asleep in her arms. She thought of all her hopes, all her dreams. Only one really mattered.
“Third,” she whispered. “You will love him and protect him with your life. As I do.”
He stared down at her in the shadowy quiet of the guest bedroom.
“I accept your terms,” he bit out. Going to his briefcase, he removed a legal document ten pages long. After turning to the last page, he scribbled something. He handed her the papers.
“Read,” he said. “Then sign.”
Hallie skimmed the document swiftly, elated to see he’d written all three of her rules exactly as she’d wanted, squeezing them in above the signature lines. As she read through the rest of the pages, the tiny font and legal jargon started to swim before her eyes.
Read your prenup carefully.
The memory of Lola’s voice floated back to her, and Hallie wondered if she should get a lawyer to explain the details to her. But she didn’t know any lawyers, and it all seemed like too much trouble when she just wanted to snuggle her sleeping baby and maybe take a nap herself, right here in the chair.
Besides, what was the point of getting married if she couldn’t even trust Cristiano? He’d admitted his mistake. He intended to rectify it. She could forgive him. She wanted them to be a family. She wanted security for her son, and a home. Why else would she agree to a loveless marriage?
He’d agreed to her own rules. If he followed them, why would they ever divorce?
But, as she started to sign her name, she heard the echo of T
ess’s voice.
It’s love that brought you together. Pure, perfect love. That’s the only reason anyone would marry.
She hesitated, then gripped the pen. Her hand shook a little as she signed her name. She gave him back the document.
“Here,” she said a little hoarsely.
