Everything but the Baby (Harlequin Superromance) by Kathleen O`Brien Page B

happily ever after with two-point-five kids and a picket fence.”
    He grimaced. “Not in this lifetime.”
    She pulled out the last of her clothes, a light blue cotton sundress. This was what she’d planned to wear when she met Lincoln, but when she held it up against her chest and looked at it in the closet mirror, it suddenly looked too tame.
    â€œWhy not? If you work quickly, we could have adouble wedding. I could be godmother to your firstborn daughter, and I’d give you a great discount at Lullabies.”
    â€œSorry. You’re trying to sell that fantasy to the wrong guy.”
    She could see him in the mirror. He was still smiling, but his voice sounded edgy, and she wondered if she might somehow have offended him.
    â€œAnd maybe we should talk reality anyhow,” he said, sounding more normal. “When do you plan to make contact with Lincoln? Have you decided what you’re going to say?”
    She leaned against the closet door, letting the dress drape over her arm.
    â€œI’ve been thinking about that a lot,” she said. “I’ve decided that the only way is to be very straightforward. I’ll go to his house, probably tomorrow, and talk to him. I’ll have to tell him I still love him, and I understand why he didn’t show up at the church.”
    â€œWhich is?”
    â€œBecause I hurt him when I insisted on the prenup. I made him feel that I didn’t trust him. I’ll tell him that I’m going to prove that I do trust him. I even brought the prenup with me. I’m going to start by tearing it up.”
    â€œNice touch.”
    â€œI thought so. I’m bringing a present, too. You gave me the idea when you told me how he stole your sister’s brooch.”
    Mark smiled. “You have a tacky peacock in your family, too?”
    â€œNo, but it’s a rather nice gold signet ring. Expensive as hell. I’m going to tell him it’s a family piece, though actually I picked it up at Tiffany’s last week. And then I’ll tell him how much I love him, how empty my life is without him.”
    Mark whistled softly. “That’s a pretty big piece of humble pie. You sure you’re going to be able to choke it down?”
    She nodded. “Without blinking.”
    He rested his temple against his knuckles and gazed at her appraisingly. “Well, you sound ready. And the jewelry is a nice touch—it might even provide a chance to see where he puts it for safekeeping. Maybe it’ll turn out to be the same place he keeps the peacock.”
    â€œMaybe,” she said. “But remember, it’s a long shot.”
    â€œThis whole thing is a long shot,” he said. “Have you decided exactly how far you’re actually willing to go to pull it off?”
    â€œAll the way.” She lifted the blue dress and started to hang it back in the closet. It would have to do for that first meeting with Lincoln. She wasn’t going to try to compete with a knockout on looks alone. She had her own knockout punch—her checkbook.
    Mark was still watching her. “You’re sure about that?”
    â€œAbsolutely sure. I’ll kneel at his feet. I’ll tell him he is the Sun God and the Moon King rolled into one. I’ll produce my bank balance and open up a credit line for him at Saks. I mean it. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
    â€œWill you go to bed with him?”
    She stopped, the hanger frozen an inch above the rod.
    She stared over her shoulder at Mark, who looked genuinely curious.
    Damn it.
    She was an idiot.
    She really hadn’t thought of that.

CHAPTER FIVE
    D ANIEL O’H ARA HATED the rain. Whenever one of those typical Florida afternoon thunderstorms broke loose, the pro shop at The Mangrove filled up with wet, irritable tourists who seemed outraged to discover that their vacation package hadn’t come with a sunshine guarantee.
    Daniel ordinarily liked this part-time job