AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, it wouldn’t have been. I’ve changed my mind about an affair, Grace. I want to marry you.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “You really will do anything to keep that baby.”
He didn’t deny it, not that she would have listened if he had. She turned her back on him and wrapped her arms around her waist.
“Cara,”He came up behind, his hands dropping to her shoulders. “I know what I’m asking is unfair.”
“Not to mention unreasonable, untenable, and unethical.”
“That, too. But would it be so bad?”
Jerking free of his grasp, she whirled around. “Be honest for once, Luc. Why are you doing this? Do you really want to marry me, or is this whole charade just to protect Toni?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was for you?”
She shook her head, tears filling her eyes. “No,” she whispered. “How could I, after the extremes you’ve gone to, to keep Toni out of the hands of the authorities. You’ve told so many different stories, tried to con so many people, how do I know this isn’t just one more lie to get what you want?”
A muscle leaped in his jaw, and his hands clenched at his sides. “You could try trusting me.”
The words hung between them and Grace shut her eyes, wanting with all her heart to trust him, to believe he loved her, to allow herself to grasp with both hands the joyous possibility they had a future together. But she’d just spent the past year clinging to a dream which would never materialize. She couldn’t do that again. Because this time it wouldn’t just be her hopes crushed, it would be her heart, as well. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye.
“Grace, please. Don’t cry.” He reached out to brush away her tear, but she evaded his touch. “Trust me. It’ll all work out, I promise.”
“You told me that once before and look where it got us.” She searched his face with tear-washed eyes. “I told you I’d have an affair with you. We don’t have to go to such extremes. You don’t have to marry me.” It was almost a plea.
“Yes,” he contradicted, savagely. “I do. We will marry, Grace, even if I have to drag you to the altar.”
“Because of Toni.” It wasn’t a question.
“If that’s the only way to convince you to marry me, then, yes. Because of Toni.”
So, now she had a choice. She could go through with the marriage or she could say no, and it would all be over. She could walk out the door, tell her father the truth and end her involvement with Luc. She’d never have to see him again if she didn’t want to.
Never see him again. Never be touched by him again. Never share another kiss, another laugh. Never be held in his arms or know true love again.
And Toni would be turned over to the authorities.
“Marry me, Grace,” he urged. “I swear you won’t regret it.”
“I already regret it.” She bowed her head, knowing she couldn’t desert Toni, any more than she could explain the true situation to her father. Not when a single yes promised to give her what she wanted most in the world. Luc. “Okay, I’ll marry you,” she said, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand. “But it’s going to be a marriage of convenience. I won’t be your wife in anything but name. I won’t live with you. I won’t work for you. And I won’t share your bed. After a few months we’ll have the marriage annulled.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m very serious,” she flashed back. “I was wrong to agree to Dom’s plan. I admit it. I swear, no one was supposed to get hurt. Well, people did get hurt, and I won’t make that mistake again. I’ll do this one last thing for Toni’s sake.” Honesty compelled her to admit, “And because I’m too much of a coward to tell my father the truth. But once Carina and Brand return, it ends.”
“I’m not going to argue with you. But understand this.” He caught her by the shoulders, refusing to let go. “Today your father will marry us. And there won’t be an annulment. After a few weeks or a month, once you’ve realized that an annulment is out of the question, we’ll marry again in my church.”
She shook her head. “No.”
He ignored her. “I have a couple of errands to run. It won’t take more than an hour. I’ll call Matteo and ask him to be our witness.”
“You’re going to invite your family?”
“Just my brother.Papàalready believes we’re married, and I don’t think you want the rest of the rabble here.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Do you?”
“I guess not.”
“Get dressed, Grace. I won’t be long.” Then he swept her into his arms and kissed her, a gentle, lingering kiss that promised to make everything right again.
