Millionaire Mavericks: The Oilman’s Baby Bargain. Michelle Celmer

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      Of course she did. Their father was a bastard, emotionally, and at times physically, abusive. But if she loved Mitch and Lance, why leave them behind to suffer in her place? Why not take them with her?

      He had no doubt that Lexi was self-centered and spoiled enough to do the same. If she did agree to marry him, he would insist they remain childless. It would be cruel to bring a baby into a loveless shell of a marriage. Sometimes he wished his parents would have spared him the burden of ever being born.

      “There is a catch,” Mitch told him. “Alexis has to willingly accept my proposal.”

      Lance let out a low whistle. “Maybe it was my imagination, but there didn’t seem to be any love lost between the two of you when I broke the engagement.”

      Lance had no idea. “He also warned me that if I hurt her, he’ll crush us.”

      Lance chuckled. “The old goat doesn’t pull any punches, does he?”

      “You’re not concerned?”

      “Why should I be? I have total faith in you.”

      Mitch hoped that faith wasn’t misplaced. He’d already let his brother down once, betraying him by sleeping with his soon-to-be fiancée. Although it wasn’t as if Lance loved Lexi, or thought of the marriage as anything more than a business arrangement. Mitch, on the other hand, had honestly believed there had been a connection between Lexi and him. If he had known that Lance loved Kate the night that he slept with Lexi, he might have asked Lexi to marry him, instead. But she had only been using him.

      Ironic that he would be stuck marrying her regardless.

      “You can still back out,” Lance said.

      No, he couldn’t. This marriage was imperative. “I’ve already made my decision. I’m going to call her right now and set up a meeting.”

      “Suppose you ask, and she says no.”

      A very likely scenario. But every woman had a weakness. He would find hers and use it to his advantage. “I’ll just have to make her an offer she can’t refuse.”

      Though she hadn’t yet sought her father’s approval, Lexi laid out her clothes for the maid to pack. Her plane departed the day after tomorrow and nothing short of the apocalypse would stop her from being on it. The way she figured it, an emotional meltdown during supper and tearful pleading should bend him to her will.

      Her cell phone rang and she checked the display. It was a Houston number that she didn’t recognize. Curious, she answered.

      “Lexi, it’s Mitchell Brody.”

      Her heart plummeted to her toes at the sound of his voice. “Hello, Mr. Brody,” she said in her coolest tone.

      “I was wondering if we can arrange a meeting. This afternoon, if possible.”

      A meeting? What could they possibly have to say to each other?

      Fear slithered down her spine. He couldn’t know about the baby, could he? Only Tara knew, and she swore not to breathe a word to anyone.

      She was being paranoid. Of course he didn’t know. Anything he could possibly have to say to her at this point was irrelevant.

      “I’m afraid I don’t have time,” she told him. “I’m packing for a trip. Perhaps we could schedule a meeting in a few weeks, after I return.” Maybe by then she would know what she planned to do.

      “I’m afraid this can’t wait,” he said. “It’s urgent that I speak with you today. I can be there in twenty minutes.”

      Though he was the last man on earth that she wanted to see right now, her curiosity had been piqued. Maybe he wanted to beg her forgiveness, tell her that calling their night together a mistake had been a gross error in judgment.

      Maybe he was coming to tell her that he loved her. She could at least hear him out, let him grovel a little before she told him to go to hell.

      “Fine,” she said.

      “I’ll see you in twenty minutes.”

      Mitch was at her door in fifteen. When the bell rang, she waved the butler away and answered it herself.

      She’d almost forgotten how beautiful he was, how tall and dark and imposing. How delicious he smelled. Some small part of her ached to be close to him, to touch him again, to vault herself into his arms. Probably thanks to the pregnancy hormones that had been wreaking havoc with her emotions the past few weeks.

      The easy smile Mitch usually wore was absent. His jaw was set and his expression serious. In fact, he looked almost…nervous. She didn’t think men like Mitch ever got nervous.

      “Thank you for agreeing to see me,” he said.

      She folded her arms across her chest. “What was so important that it couldn’t wait?”

      “Is there somewhere we can speak privately?”

      She nodded, and he followed her across the foyer to the study. When they were inside, she shut the door. “Well?”

      “First, I want to apologize again for my brother’s behavior.”

      “Don’t bother. He did me a favor. We would have been miserable together.” She paused, then asked, “How is Lance?”

      “Great. Very happy.”

      “I’m glad. But that isn’t what you came here to talk about.”

      “No, it isn’t,” he said, looking troubled. “As you probably know, Lance and I are still in need of your father’s support.”

      “Good luck with that.” Her father had been furious with the Brody brothers, and still was, as far as she could tell.

      “I had a meeting with him today.”

      Her eyes widened. “He actually agreed to meet with you?”

      “I can be very persuasive.”

      He didn’t have to tell her that. Had he not been so persuasive, she wouldn’t be in her current dilemma.

      “The senator and I have reached an…understanding.”

      Why did she get the feeling that she wasn’t going to like this?

      “What kind of understanding?”

      “Your father has promised his support if you marry me, instead.”

      Marry him? After what had happened with Lance, would her father honestly force her to marry the other Brody brother? And why hadn’t he said anything to her? Why hadn’t he warned her?

      “Another business arrangement?” she asked, and Mitch nodded. “Do I have a choice in the matter?”

      “In fact, you do. The stipulation was that I have to convince you to marry me.”

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