Page 14 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

“You have an agenda that evidently you don’t think can include marriage and a husband.”

“I think it’ll work better without a husband. Mostly, I know you don’t want to stay married, either.”

“You’re right. That’s almost enough right there to make me fall in love with you—you have an agenda you’ll stick by, a bargain we made that you’ll keep, and I can trust you completely to do as you promised. I can’t say that about any other woman I know. Don’t think you aren’t greatly appreciated.”

“I can be even more appreciated,” she said in a sultry voice, flirting with him. Instantly, she stepped back. “Oh, Marc. I take that last remark back. That’s a line I don’t want to cross. Let’s keep this relationship as much like it has been as possible.”

“I agree, Lara. That’s the sensible thing to do and it’ll be best for both of us in the long run. I have to tell you, though, I’m appreciating you more by the second right now,” he said.

“Then I’ll just say goodnight,” she said. “It was a fun evening and we’re moving along.”

“This is going to be good for both of us. You’ll see. I’m happy with it,” he said, meaning what he was saying. “I’ll see you tomorrow. It was a fun evening, Lara.”

“I had a wonderful time.”

“I feel very fortunate to have you for my secretary and to have the wits to propose to you. You’re perfect for this and you won’t fritter away a lot of the money on clothes and jewelry. And you’ve agreed that we’ll avoid sex, which we easily did this past year.”

“I should hope I wouldn’t have sex with my boss. As for clothes and jewelry, there is enough money coming that I can get some new duds if I want them,” she teased, and he smiled again. Impulsively, he hugged her.

“Wait, let me get a picture to show Mom. I want to tell her about you before I take you to meet her.” He held out his phone and took Lara’s picture. He then stepped beside her, slipping his arm around her waist to take a picture of the two of them.

“There,” he said, showing the pictures to her.

“Will she approve of me?”

“Of course. If I’ve proposed to you, she’ll trust my judgment. We’re close. We’ve always been a close family. I was close with my dad.”

“Do you look like your dad?”

He laughed. “Not at all. He was much shorter and had straight black hair. He had brown eyes, too. That’s about the only similarity. I look a little like my mom, but she’s short. I don’t know where I get this height. My grandfathers aren’t tall.”

“I’m glad you’re close with your family. I look forward to meeting your mother. Tell your mom you didn’t get me pregnant. She’ll think this is your baby and her first grandchild. I don’t want her to be upset when the marriage is over in the fall.”

“I’ll tell her the whole deal. But I’m warning you now. My mom will get attached to your baby. She miscarried several times and she loves babies. No matter what we tell her, she’ll treat this baby like her first grandchild for sure.”

“She’ll always be welcome to come see us. I’ll be in the area.”

“We don’t have to worry about that now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She stepped back and her eyes were wide as she gazed at him. “Dinner was delicious. I had a fun, interesting time and I’ll see you tomorrow evening. Thank you for dinner.”

“We’re off to the best possible start,” he said.

“As long as we aren’t stirring up trouble.”

“No. You have your eye on your agenda and my heart is locked away.”

Her expression changed and she looked solemn. “That’s right, Marc. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She opened her door and stepped inside. “Good night,” she said.

“Night, Lara.” He turned and walked down the steps and headed to his car. In minutes his taillights disappeared around the corner.

* * *

It was early in the evening and Marc drove from Dallas to Downly where his mother still lived and had her successful restaurant that drew people from Dallas daily in spite of the distance.

He turned into the house his mother had built when he was in college. By then, the money problems had vanished and her restaurant was a success; his grandfather was a help and Marc was on a scholarship. The one-story house was set back on a landscaped lawn with flowers still blooming in the warm Texas fall.

He had called her and when he circled the white stucco house to the back, she stood in the doorway waiting for him.

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