Page 13 of Reckless Curves
“Old fashioned all right and completely ridiculous. So many people make marriage a joke because they enter into it for all the wrong reasons. There is only one reason to marry—and that’s for love. Marrying me, just because of Connor is not fair on me, or him, or you. How can a marriage based on a child satisfy any of us?”
More than anything, she wanted love. How could she marry a man, who, until yesterday, barely acknowledged she was alive? Her parent’s marriage was cold and empty, her mother a shell of her former self from simply being another of her father’s possessions. She wondered if the pair had ever loved each other or that it was just too convenient—like a marriage between Tom and Kendra would be now.
“I can offer you and Connor a better life.” He glanced around her tiny apartment; his mouth firming as if to say, ‘look at this shit hole’, and as if she wasn’t doing the best she could. “You can’t enjoy living like this. I’m surprised Marcus hasn’t insisted you move from this part of town.”
Kendra stopped laughing at his comment and she wanted to hit him. He was pissing her off now, just as Connor rushed into the kitchen. He giggled as he clung to one of her jean-clad legs. “Mama, what funny?”
Even though it was clear he was still irritated, Tom couldn’t resist their son, and a smile tugged on the corners of his mouth as he watched Connor laugh too. Connor looked so much like Tom, Kendra thought as the little boy giggled with them, without knowing what was funny. A pang of regret ran through her, quickly chased by guilt. She should have tried harder to tell Tom about Connor.
The other fact hanging over her was she should have told Marcus. He would have sorted everything out, but it would have ruined his chance of winning the drivers’ championship. Tom had only learned about Connor on his return stateside last year after Marcus’s crash. When she’d been so concerned with her brother’s injuries, she’d taken Connor to the hospital. Tom hadn’t even asked who the boy’s father was, and since he hadn’t read the emails, it obviously never occurred to him he was Connor’s dad.
He arched an eyebrow at Kendra as she sobered.
“You’re not laughing,” she said.
“No, I’m not.”
She put a hand on Connor's head. “You’re joking, right? Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m deadly serious,” Tom said. “Connor needs a real home, Kendra. I want to be in his life every day, not just on weekends. We could make this work.”
Sorrow sparked in her gut, but she kept her voice mild. “No. I’m not marrying you, Tom. Having a child together is not the basis of a successful marriage. Love, friendship, mutual respect, those things count. We really don’t know each other at all anymore. We have both grown and changed. If you think I’d marry you just because of Connor...” She took a step back. “No way. Not happening.”
That went about as well as Tom thought it would. But what had he expected? Deep inside he knew Kendra was right. He didn’t want to put his boy through a divorce, because if he did this, if he committed to Kendra, it was for forever.
But they barely knew each other anymore. Except he knew he still wanted her. Just being this close made his body burn.
She was hot. His reputation screamed that he’d thought a lot of women were hot. Marriage meant sleeping with no one but Kendra. Could he handle that?
He ran his gaze over her body and those long legs that he’d love to feel wrapped around him once more and decided it would not be a sacrifice. The night he’d shared with Kendra four years ago, still played like a movie in his head. He’d often woken up hard and needy, jerking off to the memory of her touch, her kisses, her tight…
They could make this work.
He sighed.Pushing wouldn’t accomplish his goal.Just like her brother. Stubborn as hell. But maybe he could coax her. “Kendra, I know that it’s not the perfect situation, but we could make a marriage work. There is no question that we still desire each other. It would solve your financial problems, too. Just think about it.”
Her delicate nostrils flared, reminding him of a spirited horse. She gave a big sigh and hugged Connor. “This is not the time or place for this conversation. I have a piano lesson to give in fifteen minutes—I teach piano, by the way. I think you need to take a day or two to think about what you just said. I’m pretty sure you’ll change your mind. You never struck me as the one-woman kind, and I won’t have a marriage of convenience.”
Tom gave her his best disarming smile, the kind that used to make her blush. “You’re right, we really don’t know each other—yet. Just so you know, I’d never cheat on my wife. I’ll go for now.” He squatted down again in front of Connor. “Hey, little man. I have to go, but I’ll see you real soon, okay?”
Connor cocked his head a little. “You go bye-byes?”
Tom smiled. “Yeah. Me go bye-byes.”
“’Kay.” Connor held his arms out to Tom. “Give hugs.”
Tom had hugged his niece and nephews dozens of times, but enfolding his own son in his embrace for the first time was such a profound experience it brought tears to his eyes. Knowing this solid little life in his arms was his flesh and blood made the floor beneath his feet tilt. His life was crashing and pounding around him, but he’d give his life for this wee boy. Love hit him like a cannon ball in the chest and he could barely breathe.
And he’d missed three years already. He was not about to lose more. Nor was he going to play fair. He played to win. And he wanted his son with him, and that meant Kendra too.
He hugged Connor close for a few moments until Connor squirmed. Tom loosened his hold on the toddler, but took his face in his hands. “You be good for Mommy, okay?”
Connor’s smile was the sweetest thing Tom had ever seen. “’Kay. Bye.”
Tom rode the wave of love as he stared into his son’s eyes, not wanting to leave. He wanted to stay and get to know Connor. He wanted to make up for the time he’d missed. The feeling made him even more determined to marry Kendra so they could finally be a family. It was the perfect opportunity to get what he didn’t deserve with no one pointing that out.
How someone so small could change a determined bachelors mind he really didn’t know, but he knew what he felt and he felt he wanted to be part of this family.
He kissed Connor’s forehead and stood up. “See ya, buddy.” He smiled at Kendra. “I’ll call you later to arrange a time when we can really talk about things.”
