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“What do you mean by that.” He leaned forward and put his hand over her mouth, stopping her from speaking. “No. Don’t answer that.” He wasn’t sure his ego could take it. “Just tell me what you need in order to sign those papers.” He dropped his hand and tapped the contract.
“I need you to marry me,” she said.
“Ma…” His throat closed up and he choked on the word.
CHAPTER 13: Alison
“Having a child out of wedlock would kill my mother.” Alison did her best not to burst out laughing at the look on Harker’s face. Obviously, the baby bargain was off. Now all she had to do was convince him to go forward with the rest of it…or most of the rest of it.
He cleared his throat. “Marry?”
“Yeah. I thought about your offer. I really did and I could use the money, but I can’t do that to my mother.”
“People who aren’t married have kids all the time.”
“And my mom prays for them.” She rolled her eyes. “You should hear her. She talks about them in hushed tones, saying how embarrassing it must be for their poor parents.” She leaned forward, resting her hand on his knee. “She even says things like, thank God Alison isn’t like that. Then she goes on to say that even though I may never marry—she can’t help getting that dig in—at least I won’t humiliate her and my dead father.”
His eyes grew dark as he stared at her hand on his leg. He was going to bolt soon. She needed to hurry and make her pitch. She wanted to be co-owner and she was going to do her best to get it.
“So you understand that I can’t have your child but that doesn’t mean we can’t move forward with the rest of the deal. I deserve to be co-owner and you need more than just me for the work we have now and all the future enhancements to the software. I’d be a great boss. I’m fair and kind. You know I work hard. Merri is always talking about how dedicated I am and—”
“How does she feel about divorce?”
“Who? Merri?”
“Your mother.” He raised his eyes to hers, and his were as black as a night with no stars.
Her instincts sensed something almost primal in his gaze and she leaned away from him, folding her hands on her lap. The one that’d been touching his knee seemed to be warmer than the other as if his heat had branded her. “She…she’s grown used to it. She doesn’t like it, but she can’t really take a stand on that one because almost everyone she knows has a kid who’s been divorced at least once.”
“Then I agree. We’ll get married.” He handed her the papers. “Look these over. The wedding with be soon.” His eyes almost glowed as they raked across her body. “Very soon.”
CHAPTER 14: Harker
“You want to marry me?” Alison looked like she’d just been pushed from an airplane.
“No, but I’ll do it.” Harker had to admit it made him happy to surprise her. She’d thought she had him neatly trapped, but he wasn’t a novice at negotiations. If he wanted something, he’d do whatever it took to get it, and he wanted her.
“Oh. Wow. You…” Her mouth opened and shut but nothing else came out.
He wanted to laugh. This was the first time he’d ever seen her speechless. It wouldn’t last long but he’d enjoy it while he could.
“You will?” Her face paled.
“Yes.” He leaned forward, inhaling her scent. She always smelled fresh and slightly floral. He hadn’t figured out if it were a perfume or body lotion but whatever it was it made him horny as hell. “You should think of what day we’re going to be married because if you don’t decide, I will and that means it’ll be tonight.”
“Tonight?” She almost jumped from her chair.
“Yes.” His gaze dropped to her chest again. He was hard and ready for his wedding night. “We could fly to Vegas and be home by Monday for work.”
“Oh, we can’t tonight. We can’t at all.” Her face was pale now and her intelligent eyes were panicked, scrambling to find a reason why they couldn’t get married.
“Why not?” It was time to push her into that corner and win this game. “I agreed to your terms.”
“We can’t just get married. That’s crazy.” She leaned as far away from him as she could without getting up and leaving the room.
“Why is it crazy? We’ve known each other for a year. We’re both single, available, and we both want what the other is offering.”
“But…that’s so cold.”
