Marriage for Her Baby

by Raye Morgan

  Her heart fell. He could counter every attack and push her back so easily. “Interesting,” she said sadly. “So you’re saying you can afford to fight for something you really want.”

  “Exactly.”

  She took a deep, trembling breath and fought back tears. “You’ve got me beat there. I don’t have any nice special pile of money.”

  “Sara...” He reached out and touched her cheek. “I’m sorry. What can I say?”

  She shook her head, biting her lower lip and about to retreat. And then her sister, who had obviously been eavesdropping, came into the room like a chill wind.

  “Okay, now I’ve had it,” she said, standing before them both with her hands on her hips. “The two of you need to get beyond this stuff. The train is coming down the track. The whistle is blowing and the light is coming around the bend. There’s no more time for nonsense. It’s obvious what you need to do. Get real.”

  They both stared at her in surprise and she glared right back.

  “You’ve both got great claims to this beautiful child—pending the DNA results, of course. But it looks pretty clear that you both deserve her. There’s only one real solution.” She shrugged dramatically.

  “I’ll tell you what I think. This is it. This will answer all your problems and make everyone happy. You’ve got to do it.”

  She paused for full effect, then threw out her arms. “You’ve got to get married.”

  It was as though an electric explosion had gone off in the room, almost flattening them both.

  “What?” Jake cried out.

  “Married!” Sara jumped up, shocked. “What are you talking about?” Her mind reeled.

  “Oh, no,” Jake was saying, shaking his head emphatically and brushing the whole concept off with his hand. “I don’t do ‘married.’”

  “Maybe you didn’t do ‘married’ in the past,” Jill said, looking very stern. “But things have changed. You’re not just thinking for yourself now. What Savannah needs is more important than what you may think you need. She needs a mom and a dad. Just like every child. Are you going to deny her that?”

  Sara was shaking her head. “Jill, be serious. We’re not getting married.”

  Jill held up a hand to her sister. It was Jake she was aiming at. “Do you have somebody else you want to marry?” she demanded of him.

  “No!” He looked as though he was about to start tearing his hair out. “Don’t you get it? I never wanted to get married. I never plan to. I’m not going to be tied down to a relationship with someone I might...” His voice faded and he flushed, not sure what he’d been about to say, but sure it really had nothing to do with Sara. Maybe he ought to just shut up for a while.

  “Change your thinking, bud,” Jill snapped at him. “Stop being so selfish. You’ve got to think for two.”

  Sara watched the scene, too stunned to say anything. Where on earth had this idea come from? Had Jill noticed how she was beginning to respond to Jake in a wholly inappropriate way? Was that behind all this talk?

  It was a strange sort of love and hate blend that she felt for the man. That didn’t do well in a marriage, she wouldn’t think. But what did she know? She’d never been married before and Jill was on her second try.

  She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. “Jill,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “Go. Please just go.”

  Her sister watched her uncertainly for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. But don’t forget what I’ve said. Take it seriously.”

  “Go.”

  “Okay. Bye.” And she left the room.

  Jake rose and took Sara’s hands in his. He looked at her with sadness and compassion in his eyes, but she could see that he was immovable.

  “I am truly sorry, Sara,” he said softly. “But it’s a no go. She’s my child. I need to be the one who takes care of her.”

  Sara nodded. For a moment, she couldn’t speak. “Where will you go?” she asked when she could manage to control her voice.

  “I don’t know yet. I’ll have to figure out where will be best for us.”

  She nodded, staring at the top button on his shirt. “Will you let me come see her?”

  He squeezed her hands. “Of course.”

  She looked up into his eyes. Her own were swimming in tears. Was there anything left to say?

  “I’ve got to go,” he told her. “I’ve got some...meetings planned. I’m already late.”

  She looked at the clock. She was torn. A part of her wanted him gone so that she could go to her room and cry until she had it back under control. Another part just wanted him to stay. “It’s almost dinnertime.”

  He gave her a crooked grin. “I ate enough at the party to last me for three days. I really need to go. I’ve got to prepare for tomorrow.”

  Her heart sank. She knew exactly what he meant.

  “Okay. You’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Of course.”

  For just a moment, she thought he was going to bend down and kiss her. But he hesitated and then dropped her hands and turned away. “Goodbye,” he said at the door, turning back to nod at her. “And, Sara, I really am sorry.”

  She watched him go and then she cried.

  * * *

  Hours later, she was still in agony but her tears were dry. She helped her sister prepare a light dinner, though she couldn’t eat a thing. She played with Savannah, but her heart was pounding and her mind was reeling. She couldn’t relax and she couldn’t stop thinking about finding ways to keep her baby.

  Jill could sense the turmoil she was in and was afraid she would have a stroke.

  “Will you stop pacing and sit down? Take a bath. Watch a movie. Calm down. You’re going to end up in the hospital.”

  Sara shook her head. “I can’t stop thinking. I have to find a way to convince him....”

  “You won’t.” Jill winced at her own words, knowing they were hurtful. “Oh, Sara, you won’t. His mind is made up.”

  She stared at her sister as though she just didn’t understand. “I have to.”

  Jill looked to Connor, appealing for help, but he shrugged and went out to the garage. She turned back to Sara.

  “Well, think about it from his side...” she began.

  “I don’t want to think about it from his side!” Sara cried. “I just care about my side right now. Savannah’s side. The important side.” She shook her head in despair. “Jill, my side is to protect this baby. I have to keep her near me. I have to.”

  “Sara, six months ago we had to talk you into taking her. You didn’t want to adopt. You didn’t think you could handle a baby in your life.”

  Sara met her sister’s gaze with a bit of defiance in her own. “Six months ago I was a different person.”

  “I know. You’re right.” Jill threw her arms around Sara and hugged her. “It was such a brave thing to do. And you are so good with her. You gave up everything to take her and it has worked out so beautifully.”

  Sara closed her eyes. “Until Jake showed up.”

  “Yes.” Jill released her, watching her carefully. “But you know, it’s possible...life can go on....”

  “Really?” Sara turned on her sister fiercely. “You really think my life can go on without my baby?” She started off toward her room. “Then you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE AGENCY CALLED to tell Sara that the DNA test results were in. The caller couldn’t tell her what they were. Someone would be calling about nine the next morning to go over them with her. They just wanted to check that she would be there to receive the call when it came, and she promised she would.

  She hung up trembling and looked at the clock. In fifteen hours her fate would be sealed. She had to talk to Jake. Had they called him, too? Or only her? And what would that mean?

  She called his number. It rang and rang, and she’d almost given up, when a woman answered.

  “Hello,” she said smoothly. “Jake Martin’s residence.”

>   Sara nearly choked with outrage. He had a woman over while she was going through all this alone?

  “Where’s Jake?” she ground out hoarsely.

  “Uh... He’s taking a shower right now. May I take a message?”

  So on top of everything else, he was going to have his women hanging around. Impossible! That was no way to try to raise a little girl.

  “Tell him Sara is coming over,” she said. To heck with their plans. “I’ll be there in half an hour.”

  She freshened up, grabbed a jacket and started the walk down the hill, on her way over to the house next to her own. It took about five minutes. There was no strange car in the driveway, but that didn’t necessarily mean anything. She went to the door and rang.

  Jake opened the door and smiled at her. His hair was still wet from his shower and he wore a nice snug T-shirt and clean, but torn and faded jeans. He stood back and motioned for her to enter. She came in but she looked around suspiciously.

  “Where is she?” she demanded.

  Jake looked around, too, as though totally at sea. “Who?”

  “That woman you had here.”

  He pretended to frown but his eyes were sparkling. “What woman?”

  Her frown was real. “She answered the phone when I called.”

  His face cleared. “Oh. That woman.”

  “Yes.”

  “Her name is...let’s see.” He glanced down at a paper on the counter. “Patty Boudine.” He tapped the paper and looked pleased with himself. “That’s the one.”

  Sara frowned, knowing he was teasing her. “So where is she?”

  “She’s gone.” He grinned again. “Sara, I was interviewing her for a job.”

  That stopped her short. “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” He mocked her tone. “I put out an ad for a nanny. She showed up. End of story.”

  She frowned again. “She said you were taking a shower.”

  “I was. I had to get rid of all that birthday party stickiness I ended up sporting,” he said. “I left her out here filling out the application. Then I asked her a few questions, and she left.” He shrugged. “Hey, I thought you would approve. You know I need help.” Then he got an idea. “Maybe you should help me choose the nanny. You’re the expert, after all. You know what I should be looking for.”

  He was acting as though it was all a done deal. Her heart was so broken. “You can’t even wait a few weeks to see how this takes before you set up a whole support structure around this?”

  He saw her despair and he reached for her, taking her by the shoulders and gently holding her in front of him. “Sara sweet Sara, how many ways do I have to tell you? I’m taking my baby with me. Even if it breaks your heart.”

  She nodded, holding back tears. “It does.”

  “I know.”

  She looked at him and everything in her wanted to melt into his arms and let him protect her—but at the same time, he was the one she had to be protected from. It made no sense. But emotions seldom did. She pulled away before she found herself letting temptation rule.

  “Are your friends gone?” she asked, walking to the kitchen and peeking in, just to make sure he’d had the damage from the other day cleaned up. And he had. The room sparkled like new.

  “They’re gone for now. But they could show up again at any moment.”

  She turned to look at him. “Do they come over every night?” What a nightmare. First these huge, rough men would be hanging around. And then, the women. Despite the one she’d talked to on the phone turning out to be a job applicant, she was pretty sure other women would be showing up. It just fit the scenario. Savannah didn’t belong here!

  “Pretty much.” Suddenly he seemed uncomfortable. “They’re trying to talk me into something. I’m resisting for now.” His smile was less casual. “They’re working on me just like you’re working on me. Everybody wants a piece of me. Maybe everybody ought to just leave me alone.”

  She looked at him speculatively. She wanted to talk to him, but she didn’t want to be interrupted by his friends.

  “Walk with me,” she suggested. It would soon get dark, but the forecast called for a full moon rising and there ought to be enough light for quite some time. “Let’s walk on the beach. Out to the point.”

  He shrugged. “Why not?”

  And a few minutes later, they started off. The light was fading leaving the ocean a gorgeous midnight-blue. The regular beat of the waves on the sand seemed to echo their steps. A cool ocean breeze caught her hair and sent it out behind her like a banner. She lifted her face to it, breathing it in.

  “Did they call you?” she asked him at last.

  “Who?”

  “The agency.”

  “Yes, they did.” He turned to look at her. “I told them I’d be with you tomorrow for the call.”

  She nodded. That was what she’d thought he would want to do. “You don’t plan to take her, though,” she said, suddenly scared she might have misjudged him. “I mean even if they...”

  “No,” he said quickly. “Don’t worry. All in good time.” He shrugged. “I don’t have all my ducks in a row yet. I need to make preparations.”

  Relief surged through her. She needed more time and so did he.

  He stopped and gazed down at her, his face set and earnest. “I think you know what the verdict is going to be, though. I’m Savannah’s father. There’s no doubt.”

  She took a deep breath and summoned up all her courage.

  “I am going to have to accept that, if the data comes in favoring you,” she said, her voice a bit shaky. “And I can accept that legally, you have full rights to her, if that does happen.” She looked hard into his eyes and said the hard part. “But regardless, I think you should let me keep her.”

  He made a face, as though he couldn’t believe she’d said that.

  “Sara...”

  “I’m serious. Think about it. I’m a single woman. But you’re a single man. You don’t have a clue how to handle this. I’m ready. I’ve learned a lot. And we’ve bonded, she and I, big time.”

  He stared at her for a long moment, and then he began to walk again and she hurried to catch up with him.

  “She’s my baby, Jake,” she said a bit breathlessly, having a hard time with the sand. “She’s been mine for six months. If you take her away, it will be wrenching for her. You don’t want to do that kind of damage to a child.”

  He kept walking. She noticed that his hands were clenched into fists at his side. He was angry, but she’d expected that. This was a gut-wrenching thing they were discussing. Of course he was emotional. So was she.

  “I want her,” he said at last, his voice a harsh growl of a sound. “More than anything in the world. I want my baby.”

  Her heart sank. He really meant it. There was no give in his tone, no hint of even the possibility of compromise. She was going to have to go further and think things through a bit more.

  “I understand that,” she said quickly. “You see, I think I can work out a plan where I can keep her but you won’t have to totally give her up.”

  His grunt signaled disdain, but she didn’t waver.

  “Hear me out, Jake. You owe me that much.”

  He stopped and turned to glare down at her.

  “Is it because of what happened this afternoon with the mint drops?” he asked. “Are you afraid I’m going to hurt her?”

  She was surprised. Funny, but that was the furthest thing from her mind right now.

  “I know you would never hurt her.” She touched him, put a hand flat against his chest, just above the heart. There was only a thin sheet of cotton between her hand and a hard sense of pounding that spoke of life and determination. It almost scared her to feel it.

  “I overreacted. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that.” She tried to smile at him. “And you were the one who saved her.”

  He stared at her and placed his hand over hers, trapping it against his flesh. “So what’s your plan?” he aske
d softly.

  She took a deep breath, trying to focus. It was hard when he was so close, so warm.

  “Listen, Jake,” she said at last. “We could work something out. If...if you just leave her with me, you could go on with your life and not have to give up everything. I would have her here and you could come and go. She would always be here for you and...”

  He was frowning. She knew without being told that he didn’t like the idea. “It all sounds very nice but it just won’t work. What if you get married?”

  She brushed that away. “Oh, don’t worry about that. I won’t. I don’t even want to—ever.”

  He grimaced and shook his head. “You say that now, but there will come a time...”

  “No!”

  He cupped her cheek with his free hand and gazed down into her eyes. “Sara, you’re still so young. You need a man in your life. You know it. You’re going to begin longing for it. You’ll fall in love.”

  “No,” she said, but this time it almost sounded like a whimper.

  His mouth turned up at the corners, but his eyes didn’t warm. “Yes. Deep down, you know it’s true.” His hand caressed the side of her face. “You feel a tug toward me right now. You want human contact. You want me to kiss you.”

  She was breathless now, and all she could do was shake her head. Her heart was beating like a bird in a cage.

  “Don’t try to deny it,” he said so softly she could hardly hear his voice over the sound of the waves. “I’m going to prove it to you.”

  His mouth took hers with ease. She didn’t put up much of a fight. Because he was right. She wanted his kiss. She’d been wanting it from the day she met him.

  The contrast between the cool air and his hot mouth was the first thing that stunned her. And then there was his taste, like buttered honey in the sun, like a sip of red wine in the moonlight, like liquid gold, all wrapped into a racy sensation that sent her senses reeling.