Page 25 of Claiming Genevieve

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GENEVIEVE

For a moment, I’m sure I haven’t heard him right. “What?” I gasp, staring at him as if he’s grown another head. “This isn’t funny, Rowan?—”

“I’m not joking.”

From his expression, he’s telling the truth. All traces of his joking humor, all of the banter and charming playfulness are gone, and his face is deadly serious. I blink twice, and then again, feeling as if I’m in some alternate reality where nothing makes sense. Alice, fallen down the rabbit hole.

“You’re insane.”

“No, I’m up against a wall.” He runs a hand through his hair, tugging slightly at it before sinking down onto the couch next to me. “I’ve been living in Ireland for the last fourteen years, Genevieve. I’ve been moving around the family estates there, the ones in Dublin, Galway, and in the countryside from time to time. My father called me back because—” He runs his hand through his hair again. “He’s dying.”

I stare at him for a moment, startled. “I’m so sorry,” I manage, and Rowan gives me a lopsided smile.

“Well, my mother always did tell him the cigars would kill him, before she took off. Seems she was right about a couple of things—one being the cigars, the other being that this life in the mafia is pure shite, except for the money, and I suppose she decided she could do without it.” He waves a hand. “The point is,taibhseach, I’ve come back home to take over the family business. Take over for my father, once he passes. There’s been a lot of lectures from him I’ve been hearing, a lot of crash courses in what the family has going on, but his latest edict came down to me just this morning.” Rowan rubs a hand over his mouth. “He wants me to be married before he dies, so that the family line is secure. And seeing as how the doctors all agree that there’s not much more than five or six months remaining to him, that’s not all that long for me to find a bride.”

It takes a moment for that to sink in. “So all this time—you’ve been pursuing me because you wanted tomarryme? Why didn’t you say that when I brought up you having to be married when we talked yesterday?—”

Rowan laughs drily. “Would it have changed anything?”

“No, but?—”

“I thought as much.” He leans his elbows on his knees, drawing in a slow breath. “Anyway, like I said, lass, this was something my father said to me this morning. A request over breakfast—perfectly normal.” Sarcasm drips from his voice. “I didn’t come to your place thinking to propose, either, before you ask,” he adds. “I was worried about you,milseán. That’s all. But now?—”

“So, before—” I blink rapidly. “Before, you just wanted to?—”

“I wanted to take you to bed,” he says bluntly. “No point in beating around it now, I suppose, since I’ve made the proposal. I’d have done all I said to you yesterday too, lass. A place of your own, whatever you liked. I’d have set you up however you pleased, played the part of the patron—whatever it was that you wanted. But it’s clear that’s not enough for you. And we both have something the other needs.”

“What do I need from you?” I snap, instantly defensive again, and Rowan chuckles mirthlessly.

“I don’t like to point it out, Genevieve. I can’t imagine how much you’re hurting right now, how it feels to have lost what you have. But you said it yourself, you have no idea what you’re going to do now.”

“So I should just marry you?” I stare at him in disbelief. “Do you have any idea how insane you sound right now? And besides that, I’m sure there are plenty of women out there who would be easier to convince…”

“I don’t want them,” Rowan says simply. “I want you.”

I stare at him. “Why?”

“Bloody Christ help me, I don’t know,” he says roughly, his voice thick, and I feel the air snap taut between us, a sudden awareness throbbing in that space that sends heat flooding through me. I can hear the need in his voice, theache, and my body responds to it in an instant. I’ve never heard a man speak to me that way before, with such rawwant, and I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry.

“I’ve been to a thousand parties like the one where I met you,taibhseach,” he says softly. “I’ve met so many women I’ve lost track. But there hasn’t been a single one who has ever drawn me in the way you did, who has ever made mefeelthe way you do.” He leans forward, gently touching the uninjured side of my jaw.

“Surely your father won’t be thrilled with you marrying aballerina?—”

“To hell with that,” Rowan snaps. “I know the sort of woman he’d like to set me up with, and I want no part of it. I’ve done all he’s asked so far, and I’ll do this, but I’ll marry a woman I choose. And I’d choose you, Genevieve, if you’d be willing to?—”

“You’re asking me for forever, and I hardly know you! This is insane?—”

“Not forever.” Rowan cuts me off. “Like I said. I have something I want from you,taibhseach.We both have something we need that we can give each other. You marry me—arealmarriage,” he adds, “one where you come to my bed and we enjoy each other—and I’ll give you what you need.”

“And what’s that?” I fire back.

He smiles, his eyes still dark with that same need. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I saw you, Genevieve. If you marry me, I’ll provide for you until my father passes. Once that happens, I’ll give you a divorce and a hefty settlement, so long as everything in the contract is fulfilled. You can start over with everything you need to choose how you want your life to go forward, after what’s happened. You’ll be cared for. You’ll want for nothing. And eventually, you can go your own way, and I’ll go mine.”

I bite my lip. His expression is earnest, sincere, and so full of desire that it shakes me to my core. He’s offering me, as he said, something I need. A solution to my problems. And if it comes with a need to consummate the marriage—a shiver runs through me as I think of going to bed with Rowan Gallagher. I want him, too, but the way he makes me feel scares me. My life has always been about precision, control, discipline; he makes me feel something different, and it’s frightening.

“Arealmarriage?” I clarify, and he chuckles.

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