Read The Texan's Contract Marriage for Free Online Page B

moment.” She did as he said and soon felt a cold wet cloth being placed gently on the back of her neck. His warm fingers on her nape were disturbing in a far different way than his proposal had been.
    As her head cleared, she sat up.
    “Take a deep breath or two and just relax.”
    “I broke your glass,” she said, glancing at the sparkling shards at her feet.
    “Forget that. Just relax a moment. The proposal is a surprise, and that’s why I want you to think about it. When you feel clear and are ready to hear them, I can give you reasons I came up with this solution.”
    “I suppose I’m ready.”
    He studied her, and she gazed back, trying to calm down enough to listen to him. She wanted to blurt out a refusal now. Why would she have to think it over? How could he have ever expected her to accept?
    “Marriage will give Noah the Rangel name. If we’re married, I think you’ll feel better about leaving him with me. We’ll work out times you can live with. I’ll be a dad for him. I would like to adopt him.”
    “I’ll lose him,” she whispered. “He’ll be your son in every way except one. You’ll have far more claim over him than you will as his uncle.”
    “You won’t lose him—I promise. And we will have a prenuptial agreement, a contract that you will approve. I will work with you on when I can be with him. I will see to it that financially you and Noah are completely taken care of. You’ll have a private plane whenever you want. You’ll have a generous allowance. You’ll be more financially free to pursue your career. I know you’re doing well, but I can help you do better, and I can definitely do a lot for Noah.”
    “I don’t need money.”
    “I know you don’t, but this will make it easier. Definitely better for him.”
    “I want to do well with my career.”
    “I expect you to,” he said. He took her hand again. While his hand held hers, his thumb brushed her knuckles lightly, keeping her aware of his contact. Married to him. Even as the proposal seemed impossible, the prospect made her pulse race.
    “I hope to be part of Noah’s life,” Marek continued. “I want to be an influence in his life, to get to know him. By proposing, I feel I’m doing what Kern would have done if it had been my baby. I loved my brother. I just want to watch Noah grow up. I feel as if it gives me a tie to Kern,” Marek said, his voice deepening.
    Camille’s eyes filled with tears.
    “Camille,” he said quietly. “I don’t want to hurt or worry you. I want you to be happy with whatever we do.”
    “How can I be happy with this? You’ll have Noah, and I won’t be able to do anything about it?” she cried, standing and walking away in embarrassment that she couldn’t control her tears.
    He came up behind her to place his hands on her shoulders and turn her to face him. He framed her face with his hands and wiped away her tears with his thumbs.
    “Stop crying. I promised I wouldn’t hurt you,” he said gently. “Causing you distress is not what I intended. If I were Kern and had just proposed—the two of you were not in love—wouldn’t you consider his proposal?”
    Startled by his question, she gazed up at Marek while silence stretched. What would he do if she refused to marry him? He was far more powerful and had more resources. “I suppose I would give it thought,” she replied.
    “I’m not Kern, but, believe me, I have his interests at heart.”
    Mulling over what he said, she decided she would have given some serious thought to a proposal if it had been from Kern. “You’re a little more serious and forceful than Kern.”
    Marek’s faint smile lifted one corner of his mouth, calming her slightly. “I’ll try to be less ‘forceful.’ All I ask is for you to think about the possibilities. Now, are you ready to hear what I propose in the way of finances?”
    “Another surprise,” she said without thinking. “Finances are really incidental. That’s not the issue here.”
    He