Page 15 of The Texan's Baby Proposal

Pilar Medina was short with thick black hair and brown eyes, and he loved her and appreciated all she had done for him as he grew up. He hurried to the house, and as soon as he stepped inside, he hugged her and kissed her cheek.

“Come in. Have a drink. We can sit and talk and you can tell me what you’re doing.”

“How’s Grandpa today?”

“He had an easier day and the nurses are so good to him.”

“Good. I’ll have a beer and I’ll get it. What can I get for you?”

She waved her hand. “Nothing, thank you. I’ll just listen.”

He smiled, knowing she would do more than just listen.

Out of habit, they sat at the kitchen table and she placed a bowl of pretzels in front of him. She sat and gazed expectantly at Marc.

“I want to do what Grandpa wants. I’ll marry this month.”

“Marc, I don’t know about this pushing you into a marriage. He keeps telling me to stop worrying. He says he knows what he’s doing and he says he knows his grandson and what’s best for you.”

Marc had to laugh as he shook his head. “Sometimes I don’t think he realizes I’m a grown man now.”

She smiled and patted Marc’s hand. “He loves you with all his heart. He’s been a good father to me and a good grandfather to you. And he stepped in when we lost your father.”

“What Grandpa doesn’t know is that when the year is over, I’ll end the marriage. I’ll have papers drawn up that the woman I will marry will sign, agreeing to my terms.”

Pilar rubbed her forehead. “Marc, I still worry. This marriage of convenience—Grandpa should not be forcing you into that.”

“I want to make him happy. I want to do what he wants and I want his last days to be happy, without worries about me and you and, above all, about Grandma and the ranch. He wants me there to run the ranch and he knows I’ll see to it that she’s taken care of and can live in their house where she wants to stay.”

“You’re a good son and a good grandson, but this worries me.”

“Stop worrying. I’ve already worked it out. I’ve proposed to someone, Mom.”

“Aye, aye, aye. Who is she?”

“The perfect person. She’s Lara Seymour, my secretary.” He pulled out his phone. “Here’s her picture. She has a master’s degree and wants to go to medical school. She has no family. The dad walked out years ago. Her sister died when she was young and her mother died just a few years ago and it’s because of her mother she wants to study medicine so she can go into medical research to work toward finding cures. I’ve made her a good offer, enough money to cover her expenses for her education.”

“Ah, Marc, I worry about this and I cannot talk your grandfather out of it. He is determined. He tells me he knows what he is doing. How can he know what he is doing when he interferes in your life and he’s a sick old man in a hospital bed?”

“Leave him alone. He won’t change his mind and I don’t want him worrying.”

Pilar wiped her eyes. “I worry. I worry about Grandpa and Grandma. I worry about you. I know you love them and are good to them. You’re good to me, too.”

He smiled. “I love all of you, Mom. Stop worrying. Let me do the worrying,” he said gently, hugging her lightly and kissing her temple. “You’re worrying for nothing. Lara is going to be perfect for this, and besides, it’s a temporary situation.”

“Once she legally becomes your wife, she may not want to leave.”

“This one will. Lara has been a great secretary. I know she’ll cooperate completely.” He told her how she’d been engaged and how she’d broken the engagement. “She hasn’t told anyone at the office except me, but she’s pregnant with his child.”

His mother frowned at him and her face paled. “No,” she said softly. “Ahh, Marc.”

“It’s all right. The money I’m giving her will take care of her and her baby. She can afford a nanny. I’ll set up a trust so her baby’s education will be paid for. I told her this baby will have my name and that’s fine with me.”

“Marc, this little baby—you won’t be able to dissolve this marriage. You’re going to love that child.”

“This is not a permanent marriage. It’s a marriage of convenience and it will end.”

“It may end and it may not end. You might fall in love.”

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