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He bristled and let out an irritated growl. “I am not crazy.”
“You’re serious!”
She stared at him with a mixture of stupefaction and horror.
His breath escaped in a long sound of exasperation.
Her mouth fell open. “For the love of God. You think I’d marry you?”
“There’s no reason to sound so appalled.”
“Appalled,” she muttered. “That about covers my reaction. Look, Piers. I need your help. Your support. But I don’t need marriage. Not to you. Never to you.”
“Well if you want my support, you’re damn well going to have to marry me for it,” he growled.
“Get out,” she bit off. She held a trembling hand up to point to the door, but Piers caught it and curled his fingers around hers. He brought it to the edge of the bed and gently stroked the inside of her wrist.
“I shouldn’t have said that. You made me angry. If you’re pregnant with my child, of course you’ll have my support, Jewel. I’ll do everything I can to provide for you and our daughter.”
Astounded by his abrupt turnaround, she could only stare at him, her tongue flapping to try and come up with something, anything to say. How could he still affect her this way after all he’d done?
“Then you’ll say no more about marriage?”
His lips tightened. “I didn’t promise that. I have every intention of marrying you as quickly as possible and definitely before this surgery.”
“But—”
He held up his hand, and to her utter annoyance, her mouth shut, cutting off her protest.
“You are having a dangerous surgery. You have no family, no one to be with you, to make decisions if the worst should happen.”
A cold trickle of dread swept down her spine. How did he know anything about her family? Had he had her investigated? Her stomach rolled as nausea welled. She couldn’t bear for anyone to know of her past. As far as she was concerned it didn’t exist. She didn’t exist.
“There has to be another way,” she said faintly. Already the strain of him being here, of standing up against this hard man, was wearing on her.
It must have been obvious, because his expression softened noticeably. “I’m not here to fight with you. We have a lot to work out and not much time. I need to speak with your doctor and have you transferred to a better facility. I’ll want a specialist to take over your care. He can give us a second opinion on whether this surgery is the best solution with you pregnant. I’ll see to the arrangements for our wedding.”
“Stop right there,” she said as fury worked its way up her spine until her neck was stiff and locked. “You won’t come barging in here, taking over my life and making decisions for me. I’m not some brainless idiot who needs you to rush in and save the day. I’ve spoken to the doctors. I’m well aware of what needs to be done, and I will make the decision as to what is best for me and my daughter. If that bothers you, then you can take yourself right back to your island and leave me the hell alone.”
He held up a placating hand. “Don’t upset yourself, Jewel. I’m sorry if I’ve offended you. Taking over is what I do. You asked for my help, and I’m here to offer it, and yet now you don’t seem to want it.”
“I want your help without conditions.”
For a long moment they stared at each other, neither backing down as the challenge was laid.
“And I’m afraid that I’m unwilling to just sit back and not have a say.”
“You’re not even convinced this is your child,” she threw out.
He nodded. “That’s true. I’d be a fool to blindly accept your word. We hardly know each other. How do I know you didn’t set the entire thing up? Regardless, I’m willing to help. I have much to make up for. For now I’m willing to go with the assumption that you’re carrying my daughter. I want us to marry before you have any further medical treatment.”
“But that’s just insane,” she protested.
He continued on as if she hadn’t spoken. “I’ll have an agreement drawn up to protect both our interests. If it turns out you’ve lied and the child is not mine, the marriage will immediately be terminated. I’ll provide a settlement for you and your daughter, and we’ll go our separate ways.”
She didn’t miss the way he said “your daughter,” the way he purposely distanced himself from the equation. If she lied. She almost shook her head. She would have had to have jumped directly from his bed into another man’s for the timing to be such that the baby could be someone else’s. What he must think of her. Hardly a basis for marriage.
“And if she is yours?” she asked softly.
“Then we remain married.”
She was already shaking her head. “No. I don’t want to marry you. You can’t want this either.”
“I won’t argue about this, Jewel. You will marry me and you’ll do it immediately. Think about what’s best for your daughter. The longer we spend arguing, the longer you and the baby are at risk.”
“You really are blackmailing me,” she said in disbelief.
“Think what you want,” he offered with a casual shrug.
“She is your child,” she said fiercely. “You get those damn tests done, but she’s yours.”
Piers nodded. “I’m willing to concede that she could be mine. I wouldn’t have offered marriage if I didn’t think the possibility existed.”
“And yet you don’t want to wait for those results before you tie us together?”
“How strangely you put it,” he said with mild amusement. “Our agreement will allow for any possibility. As I’ve said, if it turns out you’ve lied to me, our marriage will end immediately. I’m pr
epared to be generous in spite of the lie, but it will be on my terms. And if, as you said, that she is my daughter, then the best course is for us to be married and provide a stable home for her.”
“With two parents who can barely tolerate one another.”
He raised one eyebrow. “I wouldn’t go that far. I’d say we got on quite well together that night in my hotel room.”
A deep flush worked its way over her cheeks. “Lust is no substitute for love, trust and commitment.”
“And who is to say those things won’t follow?”
She stared at him in astonishment.
“Give it a chance, Jewel. Who is to say what the future holds for us. For now, it isn’t wise to dwell on things that might not even be an issue. We have your surgery to contend with and of course the results of the paternity test.”
“Of course. Silly me to consider the cornerstones of marriage when in fact we’re considering getting married.”
“There is no need to be so sarcastic. Now, if we’re finished, I suggest you get some rest. There are many things to be done, and the sooner I arrange everything, the sooner you can be at ease.”
“I haven’t said I’ll marry you,” she said evenly.
“No, and I’m waiting for your answer.”
Frustration beat at her temples. How infuriating was this man. Arrogant. Convinced of getting his way each and every time. And yet, the jerk was right on all counts. She needed him. Their daughter needed him.
Sadness crept over her, and she lay back, closing her eyes. She felt disgustingly weepy. This was so far removed from the way she’d dreamed things might be one day. In her more sane moments, she’d accepted the fact that she’d probably never marry, never have someone she could absolutely trust. Trust just wasn’t in her makeup. And yet, it hadn’t stopped her fanciful daydreams of a strong, loving man. Someone who wouldn’t abuse her trust. Someone who would love her unconditionally.
“It won’t be as bad as that,” Piers said gently as he took her hand in his once more.
She opened her eyes to see him staring intently at her.
“All right, Piers. I’ll marry you,” she said wearily. “But I’ll have conditions of my own.”
“I’ll provide a lawyer to represent your interests. He can look over my part of the agreement and advise you accordingly.”
How sterile and cold it all sounded. More like a hostile business takeover than a marriage. A delicate shiver skirted up her spine and prickled her nape. There was no doubt that she was making a mistake. Perhaps the biggest mistake of her life. But for her child, she’d do this. She’d do anything. From the moment she discovered she was pregnant, her child became everything to her. She wouldn’t lose her daughter. If she had to marry the devil himself, she’d grit her teeth and bear it.
“How about I choose the lawyer and have him bill you,” she offered sweetly.
To her surprise he chuckled. “Don’t trust me? I suppose you have no reason to. Of course. Choose your lawyer and have him send me the bill.”
Her eyes narrowed. He was positively magnanimous, but then he could afford to be now that he’d won.
“Is there anything you need? Anything you’d like me to bring you?”
She hesitated for a moment. “Food.”
“Food? They don’t feed you here?”
“Really good food,” she said hopefully. “I’m starving.”
He smiled, and she felt the jolt all the way to her toes. Damn the man for looking so disgustingly appealing. She didn’t want to be attracted to him anymore. Her hand smoothed over her belly in another silent apology. She didn’t regret a single thing about their night of passion, but it didn’t mean she wanted to dwell on it forever.
“I will see what I can do about getting you some really good food. Now, get some rest. I’ll be back after a while.”
