Hazardous Husband

by Christine Scott

  “Eric—”

  “When I saw you at the wedding, I realized that what I’ve been feeling is a case of delayed guilt.”

  Guilt? Her heart thumped a warning beat against her chest. She started to protest.

  He raised a hand, stopping her. “This isn’t easy for me, Lily. Just hear me out. You’ve always been so traditional about marriage and family that the way you became pregnant has bothered me.”

  “Eric, there’s nothing for you to feel guilty about.” She enunciated each and every word with care. She wanted to be sure he understood her message. “I’m very happy with the way I became pregnant.”

  “Well, I’m not. I saw your reaction at the wedding today.” He shook his head. “All those tears over a marriage that’ll probably last six months. Anyone with that much blind faith in marriage vows should be having a baby as a married woman. Not single and alone.”

  Lily stared at him. Eric sounded so provincial, so unlike himself.

  “Have you considered the repercussions your pregnancy may cause you?” he asked.

  “Don’t be ridiculous, Eric. In this day and age, being a single mother isn’t a stigma. No one cares.”

  “Is that so?” He leaned back in his chair, giving her an assessing glance. “What do you think your clients are going to say when they find out the woman selling them wedding cakes is pregnant and refuses to marry?”

  She opened her mouth, then snapped it shut, realizing she didn’t have a ready answer. There was a possibility that some clients might disapprove when they learned of her choice to become a single mother. But it was a risk she’d have to deal with when the time came.

  “You sell more than wedding cakes, Lily.” His voice gentled. “You sell fairy tales. You believe in romance and happy endings. I know this from experience because you’ve tried to sell me on the idea of marriage too many times to count. If you weren’t so stubborn, you’d admit you’d rather have this baby the usual way. You’d rather be married.”

  “I don’t have to admit anything, Eric. This entire conversation is pointless. I’m already pregnant. It’s too late to change my mind now.”

  “It’s not too late.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “I’m willing to marry you, Lily.”

  “M-marry me?”

  The M word. Alarm bells sounded in her mind. The hairs lifted on the back of her neck. The last man to propose to her was dead. Eric’s proposal felt like a harbinger of misfortune.

  Oblivious to her growing distress, Eric continued, “Of course our relationship doesn’t have to change. Our marriage would be strictly business. I’ve written down a sketchy proposal for you to take a look at.” He handed her the sheet of yellow, legal-size paper.

  Curiosity kept her from grabbing the paper out of his hands and ripping it into tiny shreds. Stiffly she accepted the sheet.

  “Basically, all it says is that your property remains yours and what is mine stays mine. Of course, once you’ve had the baby and the marriage is dissolved, you’ll have full parental custody. But I’m willing to give you a reasonable amount of child support if you decide you need it.”

  His impersonal, businesslike tone snapped her out of her trance. Eric knew how strongly she felt about love and marriage. And yet he’d had the nerve to propose a marriage of convenience. She’d warned him about the curse, her family’s bad luck with marriages. In fact, he was the only person she’d ever trusted enough to confide her guilty secret. But he’d chosen to ignore her warning. A slow flame of anger took the place of fear.

  Lily dropped the paper as though her fingers had been burned. She sat back in her chair, closed her eyes and counted to ten to steady her rising anger. She felt the weight of Eric’s concerned gaze as he watched her. Her eyes snapped open. Counting had done nothing to cool her temper.

  She stood. Grasping the edge of the table with both hands, she leaned toward Eric. “I’m leaving. Now.”

  Not bothering to see whether he followed, she turned and left. On her way out the door, she stopped at the hostess desk and asked her to call a taxi.

  She stepped outside into the night. She shivered despite the warm desert air that bathed her skin. Eric had pushed aside her fears and beliefs in order to soothe his own guilty conscience. The realization left her feeling cold and empty inside.

  She felt betrayed.

  * * *

  Eric tossed a handful of money onto the table and hurried to catch Lily. He found her in the center of the courtyard, studying the water falling from a Spanish-style fountain in a small wishing pool. Her back was stiff. One foot tapped a steady beat on the rugged cobblestone floor. Her hands were planted firmly on her slender hips. It didn’t take a genius to figure out he’d made her angry. Very angry.

  Good, he told himself, that made two of them.

  Didn’t she realize how difficult proposing marriage had been for him? Her blunt rejection had dredged up all the unpleasant memories of his last, failed attempt at marriage. But for some unexplainable reason, Lily’s refusal felt worse.

  Much worse.

  More than his pride had been wounded by Lily’s rejection. Something else, something much more painful, had been involved. He cared for Lily. He truly thought his offer would please her. She’d done more than reject his marriage proposal. She’d rejected him.

  He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. She didn’t acknowledge his presence even as he stood next to her.

  “Let’s try to be reasonable about this,” he began, struggling to keep his voice even.

  Lily swung around to glare at him. “Reasonable? You want me to be reasonable?”

  He took a step back. “What are you getting so upset about? I just asked you to marry me?”

  “Let me tell you something, Eric Mitchell. I’m not in the market for a husband. Not now. Not ever. So you can just forget about your proposition.” She pointed an accusing finger at him. “And even if I were looking for a husband, I wouldn’t accept a proposal as cold and heartless as yours.”

  Eric felt stunned, as though he’d been slapped by the unfairness of her accusation. Heartless? Hadn’t he offered child support? He thought he’d gone out of his way to be fair and considerate.

  His jaw stiffened. “What’s the matter with my proposal?”

  “Property settlement, marriage dissolution, child custody...” She jabbed her finger at his chest as she ticked off each of his offenses. “How could you mention the word contract in the same breath as something as beautiful as a marriage proposal?”

  He threw his hands up in the air in a gesture of defeat. “Forget I asked. I was just trying to do you a favor.”

  “A favor?” A shiver ran down his back as she said the words slowly. “How dare you call that...that proposition a favor?”

  Eric prided himself on the fact that under most circumstances he could keep a cool, even demeanor. A real boon for someone whose patience was tried on a regular basis in a courtroom setting. But Lily had pushed him to his limit. He felt an anger sweep over him as hot and quick as a brush fire over dry kindling.

  “I don’t get it,” he said, his voice edged with his growing anger. “We’re friends, Lily, not lovers. My marriage proposal, albeit more business than personal, shouldn’t have offended you. There has to be some other reason you’re so mad.”

  She took a moment before answering. When she did speak, her voice broke. It was then he realized pain had replaced her anger.

  “How could you have forgotten about the curse, Eric? Your marriage proposal proves you never believed a word I said.”

  A lump of guilt stuck in his throat. The last thing he’d intended was to hurt Lily. But she was right. He had forgotten about her curse because he didn’t believe it. Flames of frustration licked his anger. “That’s what this is all about? Your damned curse?”

  “You don’t have to shout, Eric. I’m the one who’s the injured party here, not you.”

  “Don’t start spouting legal jargon at me, Lily Gerard. I’m the lawyer, rememb
er?”

  “Then start acting like one,” she hollered. “You’ve lost this case, counselor. Admit your defeat with grace.”

  “Not when it comes to something so ridiculous. I’ll never—do you hear me, Lily?—never accept your curse.”

  She raised her chin defiantly. “And I’ll never accept your marriage proposal.”

  A flag of challenge had just been waved in front of him. No one, not even Lily Gerard and ten curses, could stop him from getting his way.

  “You know what I think, Lily?” he asked, his tone low, confiding. He took a step closer. “I think you’re scared.”

  Her eyes widened defensively. “I am not.”

  “Yes, you are. You’re scared to admit I’m right. That you’d rather be married.”

  “To someone like you?” She smiled, looking amused. “Not hardly.”

  He ignored the insult. “There’s no risk, no pain when you don’t allow yourself to feel anything at all. You’re safe when you hide behind that curse of yours, aren’t you?”

  Her smile faded. Her green eyes glinted like beautiful, icy emeralds. “How dare you badger me, when I’ve thought of nothing but your safety?”

  “My safety?” Chuckling, he took another step toward her, closing the distance between them. He touched a finger to the curve of her mouth. “Tell me, Lily. Do these lips really carry the kiss of death?”

  Her lips trembled. He felt her sharp intake of air against his finger, knowing he’d overstepped the limit of her strained patience. Lily’s temper was about to explode. Angry or not, he just couldn’t seem to stop himself.

  She tossed her head back, forcing him to drop his hand.

  “Whether or not my lips are fatal is something you’ll never know.”

  He’d always been a fool for a challenge.

  “Never say never, Lily,” he growled. Before she could move away, he cupped the back of her neck with one hand, her waist with the other and drew her toward him.

  A shock wave of pleasure ricocheted through him as their lips met. Warm and lush, her mouth felt as though it had been molded just to be kissed by him. He hesitated, then deepened the kiss. He teased her lips with his tongue, tasting the spicy flavor of salsa and a sweetness that could only be Lily.

  She slid her hands between Eric and her, resting them on his shoulders.

  He expected her to push him away.

  She didn’t.

  Instead she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing them closer. He breathed in sharply as her supple curves met and shaped the hard contours of his body. The scent of wildflowers filled the air. Her breasts, soft and full, pressed against his chest. Her stomach nuzzled his hips. He felt his body harden in response.

  The kiss was started as a challenge, an act of pure defiance. But stronger, more basic emotions took its place. Desire raced through him, overriding his common sense. Even more disturbing, in Lily’s arms he felt a contentment so deep, so fulfilling he never wanted it to end. He felt as though he’d finally come home after a long and painful absence.

  He groaned inwardly, fighting for restraint. Then her lips parted. Her tongue met his, silently encouraging him to deepen the kiss. He gave in to desire, crushing her against him.

  A breathy sound escaped her lips as she surrendered fully to the demands of his kiss. Like the voice of reason, the sound whispered in his ear, cooling his passion-heated body, bringing him slowly to his senses.

  Kissing Lily had been unplanned. Enjoying it had been unexpected. But what he felt now went beyond mere enjoyment. His body thrummed with a lusty need.

  Lily was his best friend. He cared more about her than any woman he’d ever known. Caring and lusting were a dangerous combination. Together they could make a man do stupid things—like giving his heart to a woman who obviously wasn’t interested in catching it.

  An unfamiliar sense of panic rose in his chest. For the first time in his life, Eric felt as though he’d lost control.

  * * *

  Somehow, Lily had lost control.

  Feelings that had been carefully suppressed for more than three years came awake with a lightning bolt of awareness. Blood pulsed hot and rapid through her veins. Her body sizzled wherever Eric touched her. The icy chill that had kept a lock on her heart since David’s death vaporized in a haze of sensuous heat.

  Confusion and disappointment broke through the haze as she felt Eric pull back and abruptly end the kiss. He stepped away, his back to the pool, and stared at her with a glazed, shocked look in his eyes.

  The fog lifted. Lily stared at him with an equal amount of disbelief. She’d just kissed her best friend. She didn’t know whether she wanted to smack him or kiss him again.

  She gave a silent moan. She wanted to kiss him.

  “What did you do that for?” she demanded, trying not to think about her own wanton behavior.

  “Me?” He shot her an incredulous glance. “You weren’t exactly fighting me off, Lily.”

  Embarrassed, she pressed her palms to her face. Her skin felt flushed. Her body tingled with a fluid heat. Her pulse was racing. For the first time in years, she felt alive. Fully, passionately alive.

  And Eric, the father of her unborn child, had made her feel this way. The realization hit her hard, like an unexpected dunking with an icy-cold bucket of water. A bitter taste filled her mouth. She felt as though she were going to be sick.

  Eric, on the other hand, seemed to have recovered from his shock—almost.

  He took a step back, a strained smile on his lips. “Nothing happened, Lily.” He raised his hands, palms flat and facing the heavens. “The sky didn’t crash down upon my head. The earth didn’t swallow me up.” His attempt at humor seemed forced. He back-stepped again. “Nothing happened.”

  She plastered a smile on her face, hiding her growing irritation. If nothing had happened, why did he keep moving away from her?

  Eric’s next step was his last.

  Her smile dissolved. She gasped as his leg hit the edge of the pool and tipped him off-balance. She reached a hand out for him, but it was too late.

  Eric fell backward into the pool.

  She watched in horror as he sputtered and splashed in the shallow water. He struggled to his feet. He stood in knee-deep water, drenched from head to toe.

  Once she saw that he was all right, a bubble of laughter rose in her throat. “Serves you right, Eric.”

  “This isn’t funny, Lily. I could have killed myself.” He scowled, tossing his head back and sending a ribbon of water over his shoulder. “Forget I said that.”

  The laughter died on her lips. Once again reminded of the curse, she felt her spirits sink. “I tried to warn you.” Her smile was bittersweet. “Looks as though I’ve won this round, counselor.”

  A horn honked. Her taxi had arrived. With a saucy swing of her hips, she turned and strode away.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Eric was stunned. “Come back here, Lily. This isn’t finished.”

  Keeping her back to him, she lifted a hand and waved goodbye as she got into the taxi. When Eric was no longer in her sight, her bravado disappeared. Her heart fell like a rock. Alone in the shadows of the taxi’s back seat, she gave in to the tears that threatened.

  “Where to, lady?” the driver asked.

  She choked back the tears long enough to give him her address. She wrapped her arm around her waist and tried to stop the tremors that shook her. She pressed her quivering lips together and felt the lingering touch of Eric’s kiss.

  She’d never forgive Eric.

  He’d given her a taste for something that could never be hers. He’d made her want again. He’d made her feel again.

  * * *

  Eric fumed with anger as he watched Lily escape. He’d kissed her to prove a point—that her curse was nonsense. But the only thing he’d proved was his own stupidity. How was he supposed to know that he’d enjoy the kiss so much?

  A couple leaving the restaurant eyed him curiously. With a flush of embarras
sment, he realized he was still standing in the pool. Waves lapped against the concrete walls as he waded to the side of the pool and stepped out. Water streamed off his body, plastering his clothes to his skin. He walked to his car, leaving a trail behind him.

  Serves you right, Eric. Her words followed him. He gritted his teeth. He needed a dip in the pool to cool his overactive libido. But did Lily always have to be right?

  Eric jerked open the door of his Porsche. He glanced down at his wet clothes, then at the leather seats. He shook his head. His poor car would never be the same. Cringing, he plopped his wet body into the driver’s seat. He inserted the key into the ignition, but didn’t start the engine. He couldn’t stop thinking about Lily.

  Her lips were dangerous, but certainly not lethal. He smiled, recalling their kiss. His body reacted to the memory, making the fit of his water-soaked pants even more uncomfortable. Who’d have thought a pint-size redhead could wallop such a punch? He wondered what it would have been like to tempt fate and make a baby with Lily the old-fashioned way.

  Not that he had a snowball’s chance in hell of finding out. He scowled, recalling her blunt rejection of his proposal. He ground the key in the ignition and threw the shift into reverse. His tires squealed as he drove his car through the lot.

  Self-righteous indignation snaked its way through his mind, rekindling a path of hot anger. He’d tried to do the right thing. He’d proposed. She’d turned him down. If he were smart, he’d accept her refusal.

  Nobody had ever said he was smart when it came to understanding women.

  Kissing Lily had given him a taste of the forbidden fruit. If he accepted her refusal, he might lose more than a chance at paradise. He might lose his best friend. Unease tightened his chest. Life without Lily seemed like a bleak prospect.

  He tromped his foot down on the accelerator. All Lily needed was a little persuasion to see that marrying him was the right thing to do. He’d admit his initial approach may have been a bit cold. He’d have to warm her up to the idea. Fresh encouragement surged through his veins. He knew just the way to win her over.