The Ransomes: Matt, Nick and Katherine. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ the amount. It’s the long-term commitment I want.”

      “I’ll never love again,” he said. “You better believe me because I do what I say.”

      “I imagine you do,” she replied, looking up at him. “Jeff told me about how your father got lost one time when his small plane crashed in the Rocky Mountains and after the searchers gave up hunting for him, you flew up there, trekked into the mountains on your own and found him and brought him out of there on a stretcher you improvised. Jeff said you do what you say and you don’t give up. Actually, he said you’re stubborn as a mule.”

      “As if he wasn’t. I knew my dad was there and I wasn’t going to leave him. He had broken one leg and he couldn’t get out on his own and no one else survived the crash. My dad is a tough old codger.”

      “I suspect you’re rather tough yourself.”

      “If so, I’ve had to be sometimes,” he replied, fighting an urge to reach out and touch her. In spite of the conflict between them and his anger, he wanted her. Desire was a throbbing, hot flame tormenting him. She was beautiful and he couldn’t stop wanting to hold and kiss her.

      “And stubborn?”

      “I suppose. If it’s stubborn of me to avoid falling in love again, then so be it. I believe you have a streak of that trait yourself,” he said, and she smiled at him. “So you still plan to move on someday?” he asked.

      “We both know marriage will give the baby more,” she said, ignoring his question.

      Every minute with her he had been torn between anger and attraction and that was still true. They were at an impasse, and his desire was escalating. He knew he needed to get distance between them.

      “I’ll sleep on it,” he said. He strode out the door into the hall, closing her door quietly behind him and going to his room.

      Shedding his clothes he moved around his room. Sleep wasn’t going to be part of his night. Would she walk away from all he offered simply to hold out for marriage?

      He absolutely didn’t want to marry again. Not even if the woman was fabulously beautiful and sexy? The question taunted him because he couldn’t extinguish memories of holding her in his arms, of her scalding kisses, or how stunning she had looked tonight. How badly he had wanted to peel her out of that scrap of a dress! Marriage would mean sex with her. She had already agreed to it.

      He groaned, knowing sleep was impossible. He glared at the door that led to her room. She would give up most of the cash if he would marry her, but that didn’t matter because cash was no problem for him.

      Coming from the background of poverty, she had a far smaller regard for money than he would have expected.

      Feeling hemmed in and wishing they had flown home tonight, he paced his room and then moved to the window to stare outside. It was late and traffic had thinned. He wasn’t giving up the baby. Deep down, he still felt that she would disappear if he rejected her proposal. “Dammit!” he swore, knotting his fists, wishing he could walk away. She knew she had what he wanted.

      By morning, after a shave and shower, he continued to toss the choices back and forth in his mind. He went around to knock on her door and stood waiting, wondering how she had slept.

      She opened the door and gazed up at him. Dressed in a white suit and red blouse, once again, she looked stunning. Her hair was looped and pinned on one side of her head, giving her a more sophisticated appearance. No amount of fancy clothes or cosmopolitan hairdos could extinguish her sultry, sexy aura and there was no stopping his body’s immediate response to the sight of her.

      Matt drew a deep breath. “Good morning.”

      “Good morning,” she replied and stepped back. “Won’t you come in?”

      As he entered the room, he inhaled the seductive scent she wore. He wanted to tangle his fingers in her hair and pull it down. At the same time he wanted to send her packing. Never since childhood had he had to battle someone and lose as he was with her. Even when Margo left him, at the end he had been angry, but ready for her to get out of his life. He couldn’t handle Olivia. It was the first time in his life he had been in this position and he didn’t like it.

      Staring at Olivia, he was tempted to tell her to pack and go if she wouldn’t accept his terms, but when he thought about losing the baby, he clamped his jaw closed more tightly.

      This morning she was gorgeous and looked as self-confident as if she already had her law degree. How much easier all this would have been if she had been as plain as a guinea hen. “You’re ready to fly home?”

      “Isn’t that what we’re doing?”

      “I’m not in a rush. I’ll take you to breakfast.” They faced each other in a tense silence. “Have you come to a decision on my offer?” he asked and held his breath.

      “I still want more than money,” she replied nonchalantly as if they were discussing what to order for breakfast, and his insides clenched.

      “Dammit, I don’t think you know what you’re doing!” he snapped, trying to hold back his fury and hating to meet her terms.

      “Indeed, I do,” she replied with the coolness of a card shark. “So do you have an answer for my proposal?”

      He jammed his fist into his pocket. In the night he had made his decision what he would do if she turned down his offer.

      “How can you reject the fortune I’m extending to you? You’re not thinking about your baby.”

      “Oh, yes, I am. I can decline your offer because I think you want my baby in your family to such an extent that sooner or later, you’ll agree to my proposal. If you do, you’ll make a greater commitment than what you’re now suggesting I take.”

      “You’re damn sure of yourself,” he grumbled, thinking he had misjudged her by a country mile when he first saw her. She was smart, self-possessed and quickly shedding any rough edges she had from her poverty-stricken upbringing.

      She merely shrugged. “I’m more sure of you,” she replied softly.

      He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck. “I have to hand it to you. I usually get my way in deals. I’ve bought land, horses, cattle, took over a drilling company for my dad, etc., etc. and you’re the only one who’s held my feet to the fire and given me something I couldn’t cope with.”

      “Do tell,” she said blithely, and he wanted to grind his teeth. At the same time, he had to hand it to her for holding out for the big deal.

      “At least, it’s a relief to know this baby’s going to inherit some brains.”

      “Thank you, I think. Unless you’re referring solely to your brother.”

      “You know I’m not talking about him.”

      They stared at each other while silence once again filled the passing time. She smiled at him and began to move around the room, placing her bag and a sack together in a chair so her things would be ready to go. Finally, she turned to face him. “Still debating? We can go to breakfast while you think it over.”

      Knowing she wasn’t going to change, СКАЧАТЬ