The Texan's Contract Marriage - By Sara Orwig Page 0,21
way and I still think this is the best solution. I’ll have some control. We’ll have Noah with us far more. She’ll be in Budapest this fall. If I don’t do something, she’ll take him to Budapest and we won’t even see him all the time they’re gone. I don’t want to lose him. Or even be merely a tiny part of his life. He’s too important to me. I think he is to you, too.”
“He is, but so are you,” she said, frowning. “I don’t want you hurt.”
“Ginny, stop worrying. I’ve gotten myself into this. If it doesn’t work, I’ll get myself out. This is an ambitious, busy woman who doesn’t have time for a private life. She sings at the Metropolitan in New York next spring. Her career is rising, and she’ll need help with Noah.”
“She has help. Her sister is her nanny.” Ginny sat staring at him, rubbing her forehead. She shook her head. “I pray you’re right and you know what you’re doing. She’s trying to carve out a career for herself and she’s been somewhat successful so far. What happens if you fall in love with her? You’ll get hurt. She isn’t going to settle down and give up that career.”
“I would never ask her to, and I’m not going to fall in love.”
“You’re still suffering over your loss, but eventually you’ll heal and move on. You’ll hurt yourself. She will let you see Noah some without you marrying her. Please don’t do this.”
“I want more than brief visits with him several times a year.”
“Since when did you want to become a dad?”
“You know how I love your girls.”
“Yes, but you’re their uncle, not their dad, which is much more demanding. It’s a demanding, full-time job and you’ll love that baby like you can’t believe. Then, if you and Camille split, you’ll really be torn. Have you thought about that?”
“Yes, but life is fraught with hazards and you just have to take some risks when you love someone whether it’s a child or an adult.”
She turned away to watch her girls. “You don’t know what love is until a child comes into your life. Frank’s life and mine revolve around the girls. You take that baby to raise part of the time and you’ll love him more than you can possibly imagine. Maybe you already love him just because he’s Kern’s.”
“Ginny, stop worrying. I want to take the chance. I want him in our lives.”
Silence stretched while they studied each other. He waited patiently, certain of what he planned.
“Okay, Marek, I’ll try to stop worrying and I’ll stop arguing with you,” she said finally. “I’m going on record though. I think you’re making an enormous mistake.”
“If this were turned around and Kern was in the spot I’m in and it was my baby, I think Kern would want me to do the best thing for Noah. I’ve mulled it over, and this seems the best solution to keep Noah in our lives.”
“You might be right. When will she give you an answer?”
“Tuesday night we’ll get together again. I think I’ll know then, and I’ll call you as soon as I do. She’s talking to her sisters now.”
“I can’t imagine you doing this. I can’t imagine her doing it, either. Both of you have switched off your common sense. Maybe her sisters will talk her out of it.”
“Stephanie will try. I’ll call you Wednesday morning.”
“You call me Tuesday night. I’ll be a wreck. In the meantime, I’ll try to think up another plan.”
He smiled. “Thanks, Ginny. Tuesday night we’ll know whether I’ll marry Camille or not.”
*
Tuesday night, he had butterflies in his stomach. He had made multimillion-dollar deals without a qualm, but tonight he suffered uncustomary nerves. For once in his life he didn’t have a backup plan. This was it, and he could only pray she accepted. Stepping into the entrance of her condo, he experienced the same reaction as the first day he had met her, an awareness of how striking she was and the sense of energy surrounding her even as she stood still. Her hair was a midnight cascade, falling below her shoulders. Her sleeveless black dress with a scooped neckline revealed lush curves. A thin gold chain with a diamond pendant circled her throat.
“Hi,” she said, smiling at him. “Come in.”
“You look gorgeous,” he said.
Marek could not discern any indication of her decision from her expression. He realized she was an actress as well as a singer and she hid her