mesh well with her high-glam lifestyle. No, he could protect his child from that. He had what his father didn’t: money. His child wouldn’t grow up in the projects once its mother got over the urge to play Mommy and wanted her old life back—the life that didn’t have a child in it.
Evie was staring at him wide-eyed and expectant, but there was worry in that stare. Three weeks ago, he wouldn’t have pegged her as a socialite, but then she hadn’t been acting like one. And he didn’t have reason to look beyond the surface.
Not that women like that had much depth, anyway. The fact she was here, more concerned for herself and her reputation, proved that. “So the Dallas debutante can’t face the music at home for her little Vegas-escape weekend.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t ‘poor-little-rich-girl’ me. You don’t know squat about me or my life at home. If it were just about me, I wouldn’t give a flip about what the papers said or what anyone thought. But Will and Gwen will be hurt, disappointed and embarrassed. The consequences of my actions are going to affect more people than just me. My family…” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “I’m just trying to mitigate the damage. To contain the fallout so it doesn’t land all over the people I love. The easiest way to do that is to get married. Preferably to you, since you’re the father of the child I’m carrying.”
Interesting how the baby hadn’t figured anywhere into that speech. Had Evie given any thought to the child? Or him for that matter? He was supposed to jump to attention, relish the opportunity to marry her exalted self? “And if I’m not amenable to getting married?”
The air seemed to rush out of Evie, and she sagged into a chair. “Then I’ll figure something else out. I’m not sure what that will be exactly…” She propped her elbows on her knees and rested her chin on her hands. “Are you saying marriage is totally out of the question? Or are you willing to hear my proposal?”
He crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. Oh, he couldn’t wait to hear this. “I thought ‘I need you to marry me’ was your proposal.”
Evie rolled her eyes. “Want me to get down on one knee?” She shrugged. “So it wasn’t flowers and romance. Think of it as a business arrangement if it helps. We get married—as soon as possible if that works for you—and you only need to stay married to me for a year or so. Sometime after the baby is born, we can file for a simple, amicable, no-fault divorce.” That word slammed into him, driving home his earlier concerns. “I do need you to come to Dallas and make nice with my family and smile for the papers, but otherwise, I won’t interfere with your day-to-day life. I’ll be moving here—”
That nicely addressed one problem, but…“Why?”
“It makes sense. Why wouldn’t I move to be with my husband? And this is far enough away to keep me out of the spotlight at home.” The corner of her mouth curved down briefly.
“And that’s a good thing?” Women like Evie usually thrived on attention—the more the better.
“I’ve spent enough time in the fishbowl. Some anonymity will do me good.” She cleared her throat again. “But, this is the digital age, so for the sake of appearances, it might be better if we lived together—as roommates only, of course—but if that’s out of the question for you, we can figure something else out.”
But which part? The living as roommates or living together at all? She’d put some thought into this. But who on earth got married and then lived as roommates only? Probably the same kind of person who planned their divorce before theyproposed. “That’s it?” he asked sarcastically. “You’re not asking much, are you?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask—and it will cramp your dating style a bit—” her mouth twisted, and he disliked the implication he picked up women in bars as a regular habit “—but all I really ask
Evie was staring at him wide-eyed and expectant, but there was worry in that stare. Three weeks ago, he wouldn’t have pegged her as a socialite, but then she hadn’t been acting like one. And he didn’t have reason to look beyond the surface.
Not that women like that had much depth, anyway. The fact she was here, more concerned for herself and her reputation, proved that. “So the Dallas debutante can’t face the music at home for her little Vegas-escape weekend.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t ‘poor-little-rich-girl’ me. You don’t know squat about me or my life at home. If it were just about me, I wouldn’t give a flip about what the papers said or what anyone thought. But Will and Gwen will be hurt, disappointed and embarrassed. The consequences of my actions are going to affect more people than just me. My family…” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. “I’m just trying to mitigate the damage. To contain the fallout so it doesn’t land all over the people I love. The easiest way to do that is to get married. Preferably to you, since you’re the father of the child I’m carrying.”
Interesting how the baby hadn’t figured anywhere into that speech. Had Evie given any thought to the child? Or him for that matter? He was supposed to jump to attention, relish the opportunity to marry her exalted self? “And if I’m not amenable to getting married?”
The air seemed to rush out of Evie, and she sagged into a chair. “Then I’ll figure something else out. I’m not sure what that will be exactly…” She propped her elbows on her knees and rested her chin on her hands. “Are you saying marriage is totally out of the question? Or are you willing to hear my proposal?”
He crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat. Oh, he couldn’t wait to hear this. “I thought ‘I need you to marry me’ was your proposal.”
Evie rolled her eyes. “Want me to get down on one knee?” She shrugged. “So it wasn’t flowers and romance. Think of it as a business arrangement if it helps. We get married—as soon as possible if that works for you—and you only need to stay married to me for a year or so. Sometime after the baby is born, we can file for a simple, amicable, no-fault divorce.” That word slammed into him, driving home his earlier concerns. “I do need you to come to Dallas and make nice with my family and smile for the papers, but otherwise, I won’t interfere with your day-to-day life. I’ll be moving here—”
That nicely addressed one problem, but…“Why?”
“It makes sense. Why wouldn’t I move to be with my husband? And this is far enough away to keep me out of the spotlight at home.” The corner of her mouth curved down briefly.
“And that’s a good thing?” Women like Evie usually thrived on attention—the more the better.
“I’ve spent enough time in the fishbowl. Some anonymity will do me good.” She cleared her throat again. “But, this is the digital age, so for the sake of appearances, it might be better if we lived together—as roommates only, of course—but if that’s out of the question for you, we can figure something else out.”
But which part? The living as roommates or living together at all? She’d put some thought into this. But who on earth got married and then lived as roommates only? Probably the same kind of person who planned their divorce before theyproposed. “That’s it?” he asked sarcastically. “You’re not asking much, are you?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask—and it will cramp your dating style a bit—” her mouth twisted, and he disliked the implication he picked up women in bars as a regular habit “—but all I really ask
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