Page 10 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

“That’s what I like to hear.”

By the time they walked back to his car and drove to her house, the sun was setting in the western sky. When they walked up onto her porch, Marc stepped between her and the door. Surprised, she looked up at him, suddenly feeling caught in the depths of his brown eyes.

“Definitely, I’ve made a good choice here,” he said in husky tones that gave her a tingle.

“And I know I made a good decision in accepting your offer. You’ve solved so many problems in my life. My world will change, thanks to you. The thing we need to remember is you have plans and I have plans. I’ve had my goals since the first six months of my mom’s illness. I don’t intend to give them up. I got engaged and we thought we could work it out, but we didn’t plan on a baby. This baby is part of me and my mom and my family, and I’m not giving it up. Now I’ll be free to get my education. I feel I owe that to my mom.”

“That’s one reason you were such a good choice. You have an agenda. You won’t want to stay married. Even if we get along great, you’ll want to go to med school and I won’t want a wife who is wrapped up in school and becoming a doctor. Besides,you know, Lara, that I still love my wife and I’m not over that loss.”

“I understand that. You know you have to let go, but part of you can’t ever let go when it’s someone you love,” she said solemnly.

He nodded. “How about seven tomorrow night?”

“Excellent. Tonight I’ll have my own little celebration all by myself. Tomorrow night we’ll make wedding plans.”

“Are you taking charge of my life?” he asked, looking amused.

“I wouldn’t dream of it. You’re capable of taking care of yourself.”

“I’m glad to hear you think so,” he said, smiling at her.

“I’m going in and celebrate.”

“Save some celebration for tomorrow night. When I leave here, I’ll go see my mom. I want to tell her and my grandfather about you. My grandfather’s days are really limited. He’s a sick old man.”

Marc caught her lightly beneath her chin, making her heart flutter. “You’re absolutely sure, Lara? You can take tonight to think—”

She stifled his words with a finger to his lips. “I’m absolutely sure I want to marry you on a temporary basis.”

He smiled and she pulled her hand away. “Good. You’ve made me happy, and you’ve solved a big dilemma for me. I want to keep Grandpa happy in his last days. I don’t want him to worry about his family.”

“That’s good, Marc. You’re a good guy.”

“Maybe not quite so good,” he said as he shook his head. “I am going to inherit a lot if I do what he wants.”

“You could get along without all that. You love the ranch because of your grandfather.”

“You keep seeing that halo over my head,” he said.

“There are moments it’s there. Moments,” she said, smiling at him.

He laughed. “That’s what I thought from my very practical secretary. You don’t really see me as such a saint.”

“With what you’re going to do for me, oh, yes, I do see a halo. Now, I think you should let me say good-night and go inside.”

“Of course,” he said, stepping away. “I’ll see you tomorrow, and tomorrow night I’ll take you to dinner and we’ll plan our wedding.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Start believing. I’m really happy, Lara, and I hope you are, too.”

She smiled as she watched him walk toward his car. Only when he pulled away did she go inside.

When she shut the door behind her, she finally let go. Shouting for joy, she spun around her entryway and stopped in front of a mirror that had belonged to her mother. She looked at herself. “Mrs. Marc Medina. Hello, Mrs. Marc Medina,” she said, feeling tingles each time she said her future name. She was going to marry him. She would have enough money for her future, for her education, for her baby. More than enough money. She’d even be able to pay some of her mother’s medical bills. Marc was being incredibly generous. He was a multi-millionaire, but he must be inheriting a lot to be so generous. She waved her arms in the air and spun around again.

“Mrs. Marc Medina,” she repeated, looking at herself again. This time, though, her exuberance was tempered. She told herself she needed to guard her heart well, because Marc would stick with his plan and end their marriage. She knew he was strong-willed and she would be deluding herself if she thought he would fall in love and want to stay married. That wasn’t what she wanted, anyway. She wanted to be a doctor and to pursue a career in medical research.

Meanwhile, Lara intended to enjoy Marc, have a good time with him and keep her heart absolutely locked away. She turned to face the mirror again. “Can you do that when he is handsome, fun, and oh, so sexy?”

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