The Ransomes: Matt, Nick and Katherine. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ value on independence, but it’s important to me. In spite of what you say, I can’t believe there aren’t strings attached to your offer.”

      “Listen. I’m trying to give you the help you need to become completely independent. In exchange, I want to know my brother’s child That’s all there is to it.”

      She glowered and inhaled, and he looked down as her full breasts strained against the fabric. When he glanced up, she frowned.

      “It’s difficult to be convinced that you really want to know this baby—or that your father wants a grandchild badly—when Jeff so totally denied us and was emphatic he didn’t want anything to do with my baby.”

      “None of us knew Jeff’s attitude. My guess is, his reaction was to get out of his responsibility, which was typical of my younger brother.”

      “So what happens later when I want to move on?”

      “We’ll work that out when we come to it. I hope you’ll stick around until you finish your education. Maybe by then you’ll like us and trust us enough to stay close permanently. Do you have long-term plans?”

      “I intend to finish school and get a job. I still say, you could marry again if you want kids so all-fired much.”

      “There is already a baby coming who is a Ransome. I’m not going to turn my back on a child who has Ransome blood. I have to keep reminding you—your baby is my relative.”

      Matt stared at her while she glared at him and the clash of wills was tense, but along with the contention was a sexual undercurrent of desire. Sparks danced between them, and Matt was certain she felt the same attraction he did.

      Instinctively, he knew the appeal was as unwanted to her as it was to him. Trying to control his insistent lust, he made a stronger effort to think only of the future and a baby he wasn’t going to surrender without the fight of his life.

      “If I give you a sum of cash up front and promise to pay your expenses, you won’t feel dependent on me. I’ll repeat—we can sign a contract.”

      “I don’t want to get involved with Jeff’s kin,” she insisted and he wondered if she had a clue how much he was willing to give her to change her grim conditions.

      “Possibly my offer will help with your decision. We’ll set up a trust fund for your baby. I’ll cover your expenses and you’ll have room and board at the ranch. Plus how’s a hundred thousand dollars paid to you, half now, half in six months?”

Two

      Olivia stared in disbelief at Matt Ransome as the princely sum stunned her.

      “For that much money, you want me, body and soul, plus my baby,” she replied curtly as she stood. “Get out!”

      “Sit down,” he ordered in the cold, quiet voice he had used before that sent a chill down her spine, yet made her feel that the last notion on his mind was her body. She sat.

      “I keep telling you that I can have our attorney draw up a contract. If you want, you can meet my family and talk to them.”

      Barely considering his family, Olivia nodded stiffly while the amount of money spun in her thoughts. The sum dazzled her. Unable to stop herself, she speculated about the classes she could take, the freedom she could have, the dreadful job that she could leave. It was more money than she could ever earn at the bar. Her heart pounded, her palms had grown damp and it was an effort to resist accepting his offer blindly and instantly. She realized silence was stretching between them and he was waiting patiently.

      “You’re very different from your brother,” she remarked.

      “I hope to hell I am,” he said.

      She had seen Matt Ransome at the rib place hours before he had spoken to her. She had never met him, but she had seen him once when she was with Jeff and he had told her that Matt was his brother. Matt had none of Jeff’s easy charm or happy-go-lucky ways. He was perhaps a couple of inches shorter, more broad-shouldered, handsome in his own way with the same dark blue eyes and thick lashes. Matt’s hair was black. Jeff’s had been brown.

      That first moment of a close encounter with Matt Ransome had disturbed her. She had to admit that she’d had a physical reaction to him that she’d never had with Jeff or any other man. She didn’t know why, either, because Matt Ransome was too forceful, too determined to get his way to suit her. He was all business, but that first moment of looking directly into his blue eyes while he gazed back at her, had taken her breath, held her totally and had steamed with sexual tension. For a few seconds, she was certain that he had been locked into the same jolting awareness that she was.

      Now here was his proposition that she still found difficult to believe from a man who disturbed her physically in a way no other man ever had. With most men, she had always felt in control. But Matt Ransome demolished that sense of power. She didn’t like to acknowledge it, but she had to admit to herself that she was drawn to Matt in a purely physical way. She couldn’t explain why and she didn’t want to be. She never again wanted to be involved with a Ransome.

      At the same time, Matt’s offer was tempting beyond belief, but she wasn’t rushing into an agreement. She had given her trust to Jeff and he had trampled it.

      She cocked her head to one side to study Matt. “You know for the money you’re offering, you could adopt a child.”

      “Since this baby is a Ransome, I intend to take care of it and I want to get to know him or her. Do you know what you’re having?”

      “It’s too early. I haven’t decided whether I want to know or not.”

      “We’ll say a prayer for a girl. The males in this family haven’t turned out so good.”

      “I’ll think about your offer,” she said coldly, standing. “It’s time for you to go.”

      He stood. “Look, you can mull it over, but you know you need what I’m offering. In the meantime, you should move out of this neighborhood. Come stay at the ranch tonight.”

      “Tonight?” Again, he startled her. “I can’t possibly—”

      “Of course you can,” he persisted. “I’ll bet you don’t have more than two suitcases of stuff. Do you rent this furnished or is this your furniture?”

      “I rented it furnished. Look, if you’re taking charge of my life, then that settles it, I’m not going,” she said, hoping her voice was forceful and trying to keep her gaze from roaming down his long legs or across his broad chest.

      “I’m trying to improve your situation,” he stated patiently. “What’s holding you in this place?”

      Her face grew hot and she glanced away, unable to meet his direct gaze. “Nothing,” she admitted. “Except you’re a stranger.”

      “Not a total stranger. You knew Jeff, so you know a lot about me. You’re not safe here. This isn’t a healthy place for an expectant woman. You don’t need to be alone and you could be a hell of a lot more comfortable. All right?”

      Annoyed, she shook her head. “You’re taking charge. СКАЧАТЬ