With Courage and Commitment

by Charlotte Maclay

  “I told Edgar yesterday that I wasn’t interested in marrying him or anyone else.” The doorbell rang again. “He didn’t take the news real well. Dad isn’t here and I’m afraid—”

  Relief propelled him past Stephanie. “I’ll get the door.”

  “Danny, I don’t want you to start anything. I can handle—”

  He yanked open the door. The man standing there was everything Danny wasn’t—smooth, sophisticated and, from the cut of his clothes, wealthy. Stephanie turned him down! Danny nearly jumped up and clicked his heels together.

  “Whatever you’re selling, Stephanie doesn’t want any.”

  Edgar narrowed his baby blues at Danny. “Who are you?”

  With amazing agility, given her advanced pregnancy, Stephanie wedged herself between them. “Edgar, this is my neighbor, Danny Sullivan. Edgar Bresse, my former employer.”

  The introduction didn’t appear to please Edgar. “I’d like to speak to you alone, Stephanie.”

  “I think I made myself clear last night. I have no interest in marrying you. If you’ll wait a moment, I’ll get the ring—” She slipped back into the living room.

  Grinning foolishly, Danny leaned against the door-jamb, his arms folded across his chest. You blew it, rich boy. You could have had—

  Edgar caught him off guard and brushed past him. “I don’t believe you fully understand the situation, Stephanie.”

  She held out a small box to him, the ring, Danny realized. He’d bet it was a doozy and still she didn’t want it—or Edgar. Good girl!

  Without taking the box, Edgar continued. “It’s not going to be easy for you to raise the baby as a single mother with limited resources.”

  “If you’ve decided to provide financial support, I appreciate the offer but I don’t need your help.”

  Danny wanted to tell him there were others around who would be happy to take care of her if that’s what she needed. Which she didn’t. She’d do fine on her own.

  “That’s not the point. As you’re aware, my parents are extraordinarily proud of the Bresse name and our family’s history, being a part of the gold rush, helping to turn California into a thriving state.”

  “Your ancestors lined their pockets with the hard-earned gold the miners had sweated to dig out of the ground,” she said mildly. “Then they cheated land owners who’d been burned out in the big fire.”

  His flawless forehead furrowed into a frown. “In any event, they always regretted they couldn’t have more than one child. For four generations, the Bresse line has been a powerful force in California. Naturally they feel they have a vested interest in the upbringing of the fifth generation—our child.”

  Visibly paling, Stephanie sat down in the nearest chair.

  Danny hurried to her side, resting his hand on her slender shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded but didn’t take her eyes off Edgar. “What are you trying to say?”

  “If you’re not willing to marry me, my mother suggests we’d be doing you a favor if, when the time comes, we take the baby off your hands.”

  “Take the baby—”

  “Now wait a minute,” Danny interjected. “You can’t come waltzing in here—”

  “Stay out of this while Stephanie hears me out. This is the most reasonable course of action for both you and our baby. Look around you.” He aimed a particularly disdainful look at Danny. “The Bresse family has a hundred—no, a thousand times the financial resources you can offer the child. He’d have private schools, trips abroad, the best college—”

  “It’s a girl. If you’re looking for another Edgar for your family tree, you won’t find him here.”

  Edgar hesitated for a fractional beat. “All right, a girl, who would have all those same advantages. Social position. Admission to the best clubs. Welcomed in influential circles by the very best people.”

  “I think you’d better leave,” Danny said tautly.

  “You have no interest at all in my baby, do you?” Stephanie said. “You were planning all along to hand her over to your mother to raise—over my objections, if necessary.”

  “If you want the truth, no, I don’t have any desire for a baby cluttering up my life. But I do need continued access to my trust fund, which my mother controls. The advertising business isn’t lucrative enough to support my tastes.”

  “You’re doing this for money?” Stephanie gasped.

  He shrugged indulgently. “The baby would benefit by this arrangement, too. She’d have everything she needs. The best clothes. Dancing lessons. You name it—”

  “What about love? Do you really think that coldblooded fish of a mother of yours is capable of love? Look what she did to you.”

  Based on the red splotches on his face, Edgar’s blood pressure had topped three hundred. “Be careful what you say, Miss Gray. The Bresse family has access to thousands of attorneys, high-priced attorneys who could prove you an unfit mother with no more than a snap of their fingers.”

  “You wouldn’t!” she gasped.

  “That’s it!” Taking Edgar by the arm, Danny manhandled him toward the door. For all his fancy duds, he had as much muscle power as an empty fire hose.

  “You’re not being reasonable, either of you,” he said over his shoulder.

  Her face flushed, Stephanie awkwardly levered herself to her feet. “Don’t come back, Edgar. I’ll get a restraining order if I have to. The mighty Bresse name doesn’t carry any clout in Paseo del Real.” She tossed the ring box toward him.

  He caught it in midair. “I’ll leave—for now. But I have rights, too,” he warned from the porch. “You can’t keep me away from that baby. I’m its father.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “What am I going to do?” Panic and her false bravado stole the strength from Stephanie’s knees. She sank back onto the chair as Edgar’s parting threat pealed like the voice of doom in her head. “He’s going to take my baby.”

  “No, he’s not.” Kneeling, Danny wrapped his arms around her. “There’s no way I’ll let him take her. I swear it.”

  “You don’t realize how influential the Bresse family is in the Bay area. They have more money than God. I could fight them here in Paseo—people know me, my father—but up north—”

  “Shh, we’ll think of something.”

  “He’ll sue for custody. He’s her father! I won’t be able to stop him. Then he’ll—” She choked on the fear that threatened to strangle her. “He’ll kidnap her.”

  “Easy, sweetheart, you’re getting way ahead of yourself.” Danny stroked her face, wiping away her tears then soothed his hand over her belly. “You don’t want to upset little Vickie over something that might never happen, do you?”

  In spite of herself, her lips quivered with a smile. “Vickie?”

  “Yeah, you said…Is the name okay with your dad?”

  She nodded. “He likes the idea.”

  “There, you see?” He patted her stomach again. “You hear that, Vickie? Now you listen to ol’ Danny here. Nobody, I mean nobody, is going to take you away from your mom. You got that?”

  The baby shifted, pressing against Stephanie’s ribs and her bladder at the same time. Not Victoria or Torrie but Vickie. Stephanie thrilled at the thought Danny had chosen her child’s nickname for her.

  Danny looked at her in wonder. “I felt her move. I think she heard me.”

  “I think so, too.” Danny’s was the masculine voice Vickie heard most often. His gentle baritone. His laughter. Little wonder the baby responded when he spoke to her so intimately with such love in his voice. Stephanie never failed to respond with the same depth of feeling. “But I don’t see how I can protect her.”

  “We’ll find a way.” He sat back on his haunches, his hand still resting, warm and reassuring, on her belly. “I’ve got a friend who’s an attorney. He used to be with the department but got himself hurt on the job. He’ll be able to figure out something, I’m sure of it.”

  Stephanie wished she were as co
nfident as Danny. “There isn’t much time before—”

  “Hey, Vickie isn’t due to make an appearance for what, another ten days? I’ll go see Jackson this morning, see what he says. There’ll be plenty of time to file a restraining order or do whatever it takes to keep ol’ Edgar away from you—and Vickie.”

  “I don’t know…”

  He silenced her with a kiss that took her breath away. He claimed her mouth and her soul as though with a single kiss he intended to show her that all the promises he made would come true. Her fear dissolved and love rose to replace it, filling her more completely that she had thought possible. And giving her hope.

  “Trust me,” he whispered.

  “I do.” With her heart and with her baby’s future.

  He gave her a cocky grin as he stood. “I promised your dad I’d be your coach, and I’m not going to let some rich playboy run either of us off the field.”

  With a quick grin, he jogged out of the house.

  I promised your dad. Stephanie felt a crack form in her heart and begin to widen.

  After all these weeks, Danny was still helping her out of a false sense of obligation to her father.

  Stephanie wept for the loss of hope she’d so recently harbored of dreams coming true.

  DANNY’S FRIEND, LeRoy Jackson, had made the situation pretty clear. There was only one possible way for Stephanie to protect the baby from Edgar’s grasp if the Bresse family wanted to press the issue. Her best hope.

  Standing outside Stephanie’s house, Danny jammed his hands into his pockets. He’d only been gone a couple of hours but everything was about to change. Now the big question was, would Stephanie go for the idea or take her chances fighting Edgar on her own?

  Hell, she deserved better than the only choice he had to offer. Him. She’d likely turn him down flat. For Vickie’s sake, he wasn’t going to let her.

  The front door opened. “What are you doing out there standing on the sidewalk like you’re lost?” Stephanie called to him.

  Trying to build up more courage than it takes to go into a burning building when there’s no water in the hose.

  Slowly he walked toward the porch. Sweat edged down his spine and pooled under his arms. Man, he couldn’t remember ever going into her house via the front door. Somehow, this time, it seemed appropriate.

  “I talked to the attorney.”

  “And?” She looked hopeful.

  His mouth felt dry. “He came up with a possible solution to your problem.” Though Danny wasn’t sure she’d be pleased with the prospect.

  “Come in. Please.” She opened the door wider. “Tell me what he said.”

  Danny had been in this house a thousand times. Maybe more. He’d always felt at home. But not now. Everything looked unfamiliar, as though his world had shifted onto a new axis. Or was about to.

  “Well?” she prodded.

  “Uh, paternity rights are well accepted now, so Edgar’s position is pretty strong.”

  “I know that. So what does your friend say I have to do?”

  He hesitated, swallowing hard. “He says there’s a presumption in law that a baby belongs to a woman’s husband unless he disputes the issue.” Danny wouldn’t ever dispute that. He already loved Vickie, and no matter what happened, that wouldn’t change.

  “Edgar’s not my husband but he is—”

  “You need to marry someone else before the baby is born.”

  She gaped at him. “I what?”

  “I figured you and me—” He gestured vaguely. “We could get married.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  Damn, it hurt that she’d rejected the notion so out of hand. She could have at least given him a chance to plead his case. But he wasn’t about to give up easily, not when it came to Stephanie or the baby.

  “I see it this way. We can take a run down to the county courthouse this afternoon, get the license and the three-day waiting period will be over on Sunday. We can get married after the triathlon.”

  It looked as if she’d had a sudden onset of lockjaw, her mouth was hanging so far open. It took several full heartbeats before she got her mouth working again, every moment a painful wait for Danny.

  “I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said.

  “My friend Jackson says it’s your best shot at keeping Edgar and his old lady out of your hair. You put my name down as Vickie’s father on the birth certificate and with us married, it’ll be tough for him to get a judge to order any blood tests without your permission.”

  Visibly stunned and looking pale, she shook her head. “I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel as a woman to have had two proposals in the past two days from men who have no real interest in marrying me.”

  “Stephanie,” he said quietly, feeling like a jerk and knowing he was making a mess of things. Hell, he’d never proposed to anyone before and knew darn well he was no great shakes as a husband prospect. But he’d give his right arm to make it all right for her and the baby.

  “Look at it this way. You’ll be keeping your options open. You have to attack a fire from all directions, you can appreciate that. We’ll start with this and maybe somebody else will come up with a better idea later. We’ll consult another attorney. Meanwhile, if we go ahead and get the license, you’ll have me as a backup position.”

  “You’re only doing this because you feel obligated to my father.”

  “Hey, that’s not why. I mean, we’re already friends, aren’t we? That’s more than some couples can say.”

  She bristled like a cat threatening to attack. “How thoughtful of you—another in my growing list of truly romantic reasons to get married.”

  “Give me a break, huh? I’m trying to do the right thing here.” Danny backpedaled. He’d said something that had upset her but he wasn’t sure what. He knew darn well, under normal circumstances, she wouldn’t be jumping up and down to marry him—a guy who couldn’t promise commitment. He’d never even come close. But she didn’t have to be quite so ticked off about his proposal.

  Turning away, Stephanie’s shoulders shook as she fought off a sob. Danny couldn’t possibly know how much his words had hurt her. Marriage to him would mean the world to her but not this way. Not when he felt forced into the situation by her own stupidity of getting involved with a man like Edgar, who hadn’t deserved her love.

  She didn’t want Danny to rescue her; she wanted him to love her.

  Danny’s arms slid around her, encompassing her baby, too, and he rested his cheek against her head. His breath blew warm and sweet against her face.

  “Come on, Stephanie. Let’s get the license. What can it hurt?”

  What indeed, she wondered, except that she’d suffer a little more heartache by knowing he never intended for their marriage to be real.

  “You can’t help being bossy, can you?”

  “Nope, it’s part of my nature.”

  In spite of everything, she smiled. That was a part of him she loved, too.

  A MOCK-ADOBE BUILDING housed the county courthouse. Danny parked his SUV in a parking lot shaded by jacaranda trees in full bloom, their purple flowers scattered across the hoods of nearby cars like colorful raindrops from a spring shower.

  He’d taken Stephanie by the hospital first to get the results of both of their recent blood tests, hers when she had preregistered for the baby’s delivery and his when he’d last donated blood, a couple of months ago.

  Now came the all important visit to the license bureau. She’d been so quiet the whole time, he was afraid she would balk and refuse to go inside.

  Hopping out of the truck, he rounded the back and opened her door. “Out you come.” He lifted his arms to help her down.

  She stared at him for the longest time, her expression unreadable. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “Yep. I like the idea of outsmarting pretty-boy Bresse.” Despite the nerves twisting through his gut, Danny strained to sound nonchalant. “Besides, I’ll have plenty of time after the tri
athlon to get married. We can even go out to dinner.”

  Her eyes fluttered closed as though she were experiencing some discomfort. When she opened them again he saw a sheen of tears had dimmed the golden sparks in her hazel eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Danny. For your sake, I wish there were some other choice.” She laid her hands on his shoulders.

  Helping her from the truck, he cursed himself for not being a better man, the right man for Stephanie and the baby. “Come on, Twigs, cheer up. Folks will think I’m forcing you to marry me. Getting a marriage license is supposed to be a happy occasion.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” The absence of a real smile wasn’t encouraging.

  He kept his arm around her waist as they walked into the courthouse. She’d developed a cute little waddle in recent weeks, and her hip bumped up against his. The way the baby preceded her by a full stride, and how Stephanie had to arch her back to keep from toppling on her face, Danny was always afraid she would lose her balance. He sure didn’t want her to fall, not in her condition. He wasn’t prepared to do an emergency delivery on the steps of the courthouse no matter how many childbirth classes he’d taken.

  In the license bureau, a smiling, round-faced clerk perched on a stool behind the counter merrily stamped completed forms for a lovey-dovey couple who couldn’t stop kissing and giggling.

  “See, that’s how we’re supposed to act,” Danny whispered as he picked up forms from a holder near the door.

  Stephanie rolled her eyes. “I haven’t giggled like that since I was fourteen.”

  “We could do the kissing part.” He leaned over and gave her the long, hungry kiss he’d been aching for since he’d proposed—and she’d accepted, however reluctantly. A man needed to seal an agreement like that with something more than a nod of the head.

  By the time he released her mouth, a blush had restored the color to her cheeks. “Danny! Behave yourself.”

  “Is that any way to talk to your masterful groom-to-be?”

  She elbowed him in the ribs, and he felt better that he had revitalized her good humor—for the moment, at least.

  Standing at a counter decorated with hand-drawn hearts laced with the initials of lovers who had preceded them in matrimonial preliminaries, they filled out the forms. Age, date of birth, no prior marriages, no impediments to their coming vows. Except Danny knew Stephanie had never expected to be marrying him and wouldn’t be doing it now if it weren’t for Edgar’s threat.