“A damn good one when you get over your anger.” He stood to face her, and for the first time, fire flashed in the depths of his green eyes. “This is what’s best for you, our baby and your whole family, and you know it.”
“If you think I’m going to be filled with gratitude, you’re wrong. I’ll never forgive you.”
“Yes, you will,” he replied with that damnable arrogance that increased her fury. He reached down to grasp her shoulders. As she watched him, her heart pounded. The determined gleam in his eyes added to the sparks flying between them. He wrapped his arms around her and lowered his head.
“No!” she exclaimed, her anger growing over his despicable tactics. But his arms tightened, his mouth covered hers, and he kissed her hard.
Standing stiffly in his embrace, she resisted for seconds, but then it was impossible. Demanding and fiery, his kiss conveyed such obvious passion for her that she was shaken. His need stunned her, and the volatile chemistry between them flared.
Overpowered by his kiss, she momentarily forgot her thoughts and arguments. With her heart racing, she wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly, kissing him in return. Never before in her life had she felt that a man wanted her as badly as Ryan did now.
Abruptly, he released her, his arms still wrapped around her waist while he looked down at her. “There! You know what we have is spectacular, and now there’s a baby to consider.”
With a racing pulse, she struggled to gather her wits. When she did, her anger seethed once again. “Sex is sensational, you mean. And for your information, I am considering my baby. You’re a dirty fighter,” she declared.
“I just intend to win,” he answered coolly. “I’ve made a damn good offer.”
She wiggled away and paced across the room to put distance between them. When she turned, he stood with his hands on his hips, his coat pushed open. His whole being conveyed a stubborn determination to get his way. Only the muscle working in his jaw indicated his frayed emotions.
While her fury burned, she felt boxed in, unable to battle him. “I’ll think about it.”
He shook his head. “No, you decide now. This is something you don’t have to think a long time about.”
“That’s even worse!” she snapped, her rage mushrooming. “It’s a monumental, life-changing proposal and you’re demanding that I decide right now?”
“We’ve hashed it over already. We could argue over it for the rest of the year, but we’re not going to,” he said with absolute certainty.
“You’re being ruthless about this!” she protested.
“No, I’m not,” he replied with a maddening calm. “I’m being generous and considerate and practical.”
“You’re no such things! You want this baby and this is your way to get it.”
His eyes darkened and a muscle worked in his jaw. “I want what’s best for all concerned, and you’re not thinking clearly about the matter, so I have to for all three of us.”
They faced each other as the silence intensified. She knew he was waiting. Marriage to Ryan… Yet it would save her family… She hadn’t allowed herself to consider his offer, which was truly fabulous. Her brother could go to college.
Would her family accept Ryan’s charity? She knew they would if he was married into the family. And she knew Ryan could easily afford what he offered.
Rubbing her forehead, she saw there really was no choice. As Ryan stood quietly waiting, she glared at him. “I don’t know what kind of marriage you think this will be, when your bride is furious with you!”
He arched one dark eyebrow and continued looking at her, steely eyed.
“All right, Ryan, I’ll marry you. But it’s not what I want.”
“Good,” he replied quietly. He crossed the room to her and grasped her upper arms firmly. Her heart pounded and she stared at him. Locks of black hair fell over his forehead and his gaze pierced her. “Ashley, when you get rid of your anger, you’ll change. I promise, I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”
“Like you have tonight?” she cried bitterly, thinking he was making a meaningless gesture. “You’re a bully, Ryan.”
“I’ll remind you as many times as I have to. I think that I’m doing what’s best for all of us,” he stated in a tone that was so self-assured she wanted to gnash her teeth. “This is going to help your family tremendously.”
Her pulse jumped at the thought. “I’ll have to admit that your offer, as far as my family is concerned, is overwhelmingly generous and thrills me. That part will be absolutely wonderful.”
“Good,” Ryan replied with obvious satisfaction. His hands slid to her shoulders. “Look on the bright side of things.”
She shook her head. “Ryan, we’ll have an impossible marriage.”
He pursed his lips. “If I thought that, I wouldn’t persist. I think our marriage is going to be fabulous as soon as you calm down and adjust. And you will.”
“You’re incredibly arrogant,” she told him, looking into those contented green eyes.
“You’ll hold your own. I’ll pick you up tomorrow night about six and we’ll start early for dinner. All right?”
“Why do you even bother to ask?” She rolled her eyes while he gazed at her intently.
“I know you’re annoyed with me right now,” he said.
“Annoyed!” she exclaimed, deciding he was the most hardheaded man she had ever known. “I’m furious with you, and my rage won’t be gone tomorrow night.”
“Hopefully, you’re wrong,” he said. “I’ll call one of my lawyers in the morning and get him to start looking into health insurance for your dad. We need to see your family soon to tell them we’re engaged, but first we should plan the wedding. “
“You move fast, Ryan.”
“Why wait? The sooner I help your father, the better off your family will be.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m keeping you up.”
She walked with him to the door while her thoughts seethed. He turned to look down at her and his gaze lowered to her mouth, making her pulse drum faster.
“This is good, Ashley,” he said quietly, with all the conviction possible. His hands went around her waist and he pulled her to him, lowered his head and kissed her, long and thoroughly. Her resistance was fleeting, gone in seconds. She wrapped her arms around her neck and kissed him back.
Ryan pulled her closer, leaning over her, kissing her until she was moaning with pleasure and thrusting her hips against him. Desire was a hot flame, burning their problems away. She wanted him with a need that shocked her. She ran her hands across his shoulders, tugging free his shirt and sliding one palm over his warm, muscled chest.
When he released her, they were
