Page 10 of The Billionaire's Baby
"Wouldn’t you?"
"Of course, not." He draws himself up to his full height. "I’d be a bloody good father."
"Of course, you would," I say in a soothing voice. "In this instance, though, I would have sole custody of the child, since this is all my idea. You’d sign away your rights to the child after conception, so your only role would be limited to that of—"
"The sperm donor."
"Exactly." I nod, "You only have to show up, uh, do the deed during the time we are together. Then we part, and hopefully, by then, I am pregnant."
"With my child," he snaps in a low voice. "My.Child."
The hair on the back of my neck rises. Okay, this isn’t going as I’d intended. I’d broached the conversation because I really didn’t want to miss the opportunity when my eggs are ripe for fertilizing, and I had thought he wouldn’t have a problem with it. After all, I am still offering him what he wanted in the bargain—the chance to sleep with me. Only it isn’t completely without strings— Okay so maybe it is a bit of a surprise to spring on the man, but still, come on. Surely it isn’t a big deal to him. Is it?
"Well, technically," I venture, "it would be my child once you sign the rights over."
He frowns.
"See? There'd be no responsibility, no ties to bind you. You’d have fun in the creation process and then you’d walk away."
He moves the unlit cigarette to the other corner of his mouth.
"Just how you like it, right?" I tilt my head, "You can continue to play the field, continue with your merry lifestyle, piloting this yacht around the world, whenever you want, wherever you want, at the drop of a hat."
He growls low in his throat, and the sound chafes across my skin. All of my nerve endings seem to fire at once.
"Do I, uh, take that as a yes?"
"Yes." He pulls out the cigarette, pops it back inside the cigarette pack, then replaces it in the drawer of the bedstand. He straightens, folds his hands over his chest, then glares at me. "On one condition."
"What’s that?" I frown. "What other condition could you possibly have for this situation?"
"Marry me."
Arpad
"What?" She gapes. "Marry you? Why the hell would I do that?"
"Hold on," I protest. "Marrying me wouldn’t be as bad as you’re making it out to be."
"It would be worse," she mumbles under her breath. "And why would I do that, anyway?"
"Ah, why wouldn’t you do that?" I stare at her.What’s wrong with this woman?"There are many women out there who would have loved to hear that proposal from me, I’ll have you know."
"Well, then marry them."
"I want to marry you," I insist.
Her cheeks flush. "No way." She shakes her head. "This is not happening."
"Relax, it would be a fake marriage," I assure her. "We’d just pretend to be married for the time it takes to meet my family."
"Meet your family?" Her gaze widens. In surprise? Horror? "I’d rather dive off this boat right now."
"Hey," I scowl, "they aren’t that bad." I draw in a breath, "Okay, so they aren’t the easiest either… Hell, what family is? Which is precisely why I need you with me when I go to visit them."
"Why the hell do you need backup?" She looks me up and down. "You seem like you could manage almost anything and anyone on your own."
"You haven’t met my family." I roll my shoulders. "They are, shall we say, quite full-on."
