Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Boxed Set (84 page)

"I don't know, T. But she has no real way to support herself after she has the baby, and she can't finish school if she's taking care of him all day. What kind of a jerk would I be if I didn't help her out?"

"What brought all this on?"

"Guilt." He let out a humorless laugh. "Fine. I kissed her."

"Well, no wonder she's not speaking to you."

"Very funny, T." He stopped pacing and jammed his hands in his pockets. He looked plaintively at his cousin. "I want my son, Tanya. I don't want to lose him because I messed up and pushed myself on her."

She put out her hand and grasped his arm. "I'm certain Rini won't keep you from seeing him once he's born."

"How can you be so damned sure?"

"Your parental rights."

"Yeah, okay. But I want to see her now."

Tanya's brow lifted. "Why?"

He scowled. "Hell if I know."

"Does this mean you're giving her another chance?"

"Another chance for what?" His stomach clenched involuntarily. "To run off and abandon me again?"

"She hardly abandoned you at the powwow, Cole. You'd barely met." His cousin jetted out a breath. "It always comes back to that same old fear, doesn't it?"

He tried to shake off the familiar, automatic physical reaction snaking its way around his guts. "Yes, it does," he said belligerently. "And for a damn good reason."

"You know, not all women are like your ex-wife Lindsay, and your biological mother. Maybe Rini's different."

He shook his head. "She's already proved she isn't."

"And probably regrets it. Give her a chance, Cole."

He let his worst fears percolate to the surface of his mind. "That's the whole point. If I give her another chance, and even if she agrees, how long will it take before she regrets taking it? A week? A month? A year?"

"Surely, she wouldn't. She knows the baby needs a father—"

He threw his hands up. "And what if she decides she doesn't want
me
as the father? She could go back to that David character. After all, she was with him for ages. I was only worth a single night—"

"Oh, for crying out loud, Cole—"

"What would happen to my parental rights then, eh?"

Tanya let out an exasperated breath. "How the hell should I know? You're the frikkin' lawyer!"

"Bullshit. You run that Center, and you know very well what would happen." He scowled, playing out the scenario. "Some rich white guy...even if he didn't have a leg to stand on, he could make it impossible for me to see my son."

"Oh, boy, you really are going off the deep end now. The woman has already acknowledged you're the baby's father! What more do you need?"

Crossing to the window, he looked out, leaning his hands on the cold wooden frame. Outside, the bleak January sky threatened rain. His lawn needed the rain, he thought absently. Too bad it wasn't as simple to figure out what Colton Lonetree needed.

First and foremost, he needed to know that access to his baby son was safe and secure. Permanently.

But what about his heart? What would he do with this blinding need for a woman of whom he was so uncertain? This burning, passionate need for a lover who had already shown herself fully capable of leaving him without a goodbye or a second thought.

Tonight at the childbirth class they had felt so good together. Were Tanya and Renegade both right? Did Rini deserve another chance? Was it possible they could make it work?

So, why wouldn't she take his calls?

Lord spare him from women who were as fickle as a California winter.

Turning, he looked at his cousin, who was watching his inner struggle from across the room. "What more do I need? I need to be sure,
nuyukssum
."

"That's not always possible, my cousin."

He swallowed, making up his mind. He'd undoubtedly regret it—and curse the day the idea had ever come to him. "There is one way."

"And what would that be?"

"A prenuptial agreement."

Tanya snorted. "Don't be silly. A prenuptial agreement implies nuptials."

Cole straightened. "Yeah. I guess it does."

Tanya jumped up, her eyes like teacups. "Cole! Are you serious?" Letting out a whoop, she ran to him and grabbed his hands, swinging him around in a circle. "I knew it! I
knew
you were meant for each other! But what happened to Doubting Cole?" She held up both her hands. "No, don't answer. I don't want to know. You won't regret this decision, you'll see."

He grinned reluctantly, her exuberance contagious. "Trust me, I'm already regretting it."

But the truth was, for the first time in nearly eight months, he looked forward to facing his future.

Now if he could just convince Rini to share it.

* * *

Cole stared morosely at the telephone on his desk. Marriage proposal by proxy was not exactly his idea of romance, but Rini didn't leave him much choice.

He'd phoned. He'd tried repeatedly to see her. But Alexa and Brad had screened her calls, and had seen to it that he never got past the front door.

Flowers hadn't worked, either. He'd sent a huge bouquet of yellow roses. He'd tried a single white bud the next day, and old damask and baby's breath the day after that. Each time, the card was left unopened in the empty box and sent back with the delivery person. Every day for over a week he'd sent flowers and a card with the simple inscription, "Marry me." She still hadn't opened one.

Well, at least she'd kept the flowers. That gave him some small reason to hope. But how the hell was he supposed to propose to the damned woman if he could never get her attention? Scowling, he picked up the phone. After dialing Henderson's number, he heard Pam's voice announcing he'd reached the offices of Linder, Adams, and Henderson.

Cole hung up.
No.
They'd already had a rocky start, and this would only make things worse. Surely, there must be a way he could get her alone for two minutes to pop the question in person.

He'd have to catch her when she was away from the house.

He thought for a moment, then picked up the phone again and dialed.

* * *

Taking a seat under the window, Cole patted his jacket pocket, checking the small square box for the hundredth time in less than an hour. In his fist he clutched the stem of a lone fragrant gardenia—a last-minute inspiration.

Willing himself to relax, he leaned his head back against the hard wall of Dr. Morris's examination room and ran his fingers down the smooth silk of his tie, calming himself with its soothing texture. The next fifteen minutes were likely to test him as no jury had ever done. He'd managed to gain the good doctor's help in his scheme by confessing what he planned to do, and by paying an extra hour's worth of her fee for uninterrupted use of the room. Dr. Morris never claimed to be a romantic.

Last minute panic crawled up his spine as he sat contemplating what he was about to do. What the hell was he thinking? This was exactly the situation he had sought to avoid by trying to keep Rini at arm's length throughout this whole ordeal—making himself as vulnerable as a newborn babe. He was as good as inviting her into his heart. Giving her free rein to fill it with her sweet love and caresses, and then abandon it when she got tired of him.

No. That wouldn't happen this time. Couldn't. He'd be careful. Very careful. He'd keep his emotions out of it completely. He'd treat this marriage as strictly a business proposition, tucking his heart so far away she'd never be able to reach it to break. Until he could be absolutely sure she wouldn't—if ever. If it never happened, so be it.

At least he'd have his son. And he'd have the prenuptial agreement to ensure his permanent place in his son's life. That's what was important here. To make sure his family was safe. Not his heart, but his fragile new family.

The soft tread of footsteps sounded outside on the hall carpet, halting at the door. His heart raced. He looked at his watch.
Hell.
Leave it to Rini to be five minutes early.

The door opened and she walked in, catching sight of him immediately. He shot to his feet. Her jaw dropped. The nurse mumbled something about taking their time, and then backed out the door.

Rini looked shaken. "How did you get in here?"

"It was a setup." He shrugged. "What can I say? I needed to see you and you've made it impossible."

"I don't want to see you." She turned and reached for the knob.

"Rini, wait." He sprang in front of her and blockaded the doorway. "Hear me out. Please. Then, if you want me to leave you alone, I will."

She crossed her arms above her belly and gazed resignedly at the door behind him. "It appears I have little choice."

Nervously, he skimmed a hand down his tie. "Why don't you have a seat?"

She gave her head a little shake, looking as though she'd rather be anywhere but here.

Discovering the flower gripped between his fingers, he stared at it for a second, then remembered he was supposed to give it to her. "Uh, this is for you."

She let the blossom hang between them a moment before accepting it. "Thank you." A blush crept into her cheeks and she looked away. "Gardenias are my favorite."

He stepped closer. "I remembered your perfume. I was hoping…" He swallowed and realigned his tie, feeling the buttons of his starched white shirt scrape along the backs of his knuckles. "Anyway, I have something else for you, too. If you'll accept it." Fishing the tiny box out of his pocket, he trailed a finger along the velvet nap, then stuck it out to her.

Her eyes lowered, then narrowed on the box. Her head made a slight waver, and she bit her lower lip. She looked up at him, disbelief in her expression, and shook her head. "No."

"Take it. Please." His voice was raw, his tongue thick in his mouth.

Slowly, she held out a trembling hand and he placed the box in it. Wrestling for a moment with the spring-loaded top, she set aside the flower and was finally able to lift the lid. He watched her eyes fill before she dragged them away from the diamond ring inside and met his.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"Marry me, Rini."

She stared at him, her soulful fire eyes shining from twin pools of sparkling tears. "I don't understand."

He took the ring from the box and held her hand in his, slipping the gold-and-diamond band onto her finger. "Marry me, Rini. I'd like you to be my wife."

She looked for a long time at the ring on her finger. Suddenly, he was afraid she didn't like it. He did, but the style was a little different. Maybe she liked something more traditional. Or bigger. Or—

"Why?"

He was snapped out of his anxiety over the ring by her timorous question. "What?"

"Why?" she repeated, her voice a shade less timid. Her eyes shone big as saucers when she looked up at him. A tear broke loose of its mooring on her lower lashes and trailed down her cheek. She brushed it aside. "Why would you like me to be your wife?"

"Why?" His stomach did a free fall. "Because—" She was going to turn him down. He couldn't believe it. He fought renewed panic.
This was insane
. "Because of the baby, of course. The baby needs a father. He needs two parents. Together."

Cole let her hand go and paced a few steps back and forth. He had to convince her. "And you, you need someone to provide for you so you can look after him. Someone who can take care of him while you're in school." He raised his palms in an appeal, playing his trump card. "So you can get your nursing degree, like you've always dreamed of."

As he spoke, her gaze came to rest on the ring again. If anything, she looked sadder.
What was wrong with her?
Was the thought of marrying him that awful?

"Rini?"

"And what about you? What does Colton Lonetree get out of this?"

He gaped at her, not knowing what to say. "Me?" He had to tell her about the agreement he would insist on. But somehow he knew that was not what she wanted to hear right now. What could he say? The truth? He cleared his throat. "A family. I'd be getting a family. Of my own."

She nodded slowly, her gaze seeming to penetrate his innermost thoughts. Unconsciously crushing the end of his tie, he prayed he didn't look as guilty as he felt.

"What else?" She tilted her head. "What is it you're not saying?"

He pushed out a breath. She could read him like a motion to discover. "I'd like you to sign a prenup saying that if you leave me I get custody of the baby."

"I see." Her gaze shuttered. "But only if
I
leave?"

He nodded.

She closed her eyes and considered for a couple of moments. "What if you...mistreat me?"

"Rini! I'd never—"

She held up a hand. "I know. I know. You'd never hurt me." She didn't sound completely convinced, though. "Joint custody if I leave," she said firmly. "And Henderson writes it up."