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to their child while it was still growing inside the mother. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that Durango would know, much less care, about such things.
    She pushed her plate back, glad she had eaten everything since it would probably be the last meal she’d be able to consume until this time tomorrow. “I need to think about what you’re suggesting, Durango.”
    At the lift of his brow she decided to clarify. “I’m talking about the marriage of convenience without you having any bedroom rights. If your offer hinges on the opposite then there’s nothing for me to think about. I won’t be sleeping with you, marriage or no marriage.” She then thought of something.
    “And where would we live if I went along with what you’re proposing?” she asked.
    He shrugged broad shoulders. “I prefer here, but if you want I can move to Philly.”
    Savannah knew that Durango was a man of the mountains. Here he was in his element and she couldn’t imagine him living in Philadelphia of all places. “What about your job?”
    “I’ll take a leave.”
    She lifted an eyebrow. “You’d be willing to do that?”
    “For our child, yes.”
    She searched his face and saw the sincerity in his words, and they overwhelmed her as well as frightenedher. He was letting her know up front that although he didn’t want a long-term commitment, he was willing to engage in a short-term one for the sake of her child.
    Their child.
    She stood. “Like I said, I need to think about this, Durango.”
    “And I want you to think about it and think about it good. If you’re dead set against us sharing a bed then that’s fine. My offer of marriage still stands.”
    He stood and came around the table to stand in front of her. “There are bath towels, a robe and whatever else you might need in the private bath adjoining your room. If you need anything else let me know. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”
    “I’ll help you with the dishes and—”
    “No, leave them,” he said quickly, releasing a frustrated breath. There was only so much temptation that he could handle and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, taste her. But he knew that now was not the time. She needed a chance to think about his offer.
    “I’ll take care of the dishes later after checking out a few things around my property,” he added.
    “You sure?”
    “Yes.”
    “All right.”
    Durango watched as Savannah quickly walked off. He couldn’t help but shake his head. Nothing had changed. The attraction between them was still as hot as it got.

Four
    T he next morning Savannah awoke more confused than ever. She had barely gotten any sleep for thinking about Durango’s proposal. In a way it could make their mistake even bigger. On the other hand, he seemed sincere in wanting to help her through her pregnancy, and she wouldn’t deny him the chance to bond with his child, especially when very few men would care to do so.
    Deciding she didn’t want to think about Durango’s proposal any longer, she sat up in bed and glanced out the window. The weather was worse than it had been the day before, which meant she couldn’t leave today unless the conditions miraculously cleared up.
    At least the fireplace was blazing, providing warmth to the room. She settled back in bed, and remembered opening her eyes some point during the night and seeing Durango in front of the fireplace, squatting on his heelsand leaning forward, trying to get the fire going. At the time she had been too tired and sleepy to acknowledge his presence.
    With the aid of the moon’s glow streaming through the window, she had lain there and watched him. A different kind of heat had engulfed her as she watched him working to bring warmth to the room. His shirt had stretched tight to accommodate broad shoulders and the hands that had held the wrought-iron poker had been strong and capable…just as they’d been the night he had used them on her. And later, when he