Pondering the direction her thoughts took, her gaze met Lucky’s. Indeed, there was more to this than he let on. No man in his right mind would agree to pretend to be the father of a baby that wasn’t his with a woman he didn’t love.
The nurse left after giving her a placid smile.
“What do you want from me?” she asked him in a no-nonsense tone.
His eyebrows rose innocently, but Lana wasn’t fooled.
“I know you’re not doing this out of the kindness of your heart.”
He took a step toward her and then another. “You’re right. I do want something.”
Lana found her hands were trembling. Her voice refused to work when she opened her mouth to tell him to get out. Only a squeak left her lips.
Lucky sat next to her on the bed and took her hand. He looked confident and the determined gleam in his eyes told her there would be no compromise or negotiation. She swallowed.
“What do you want, Lucky?”
“I want you.”
She swallowed again. “I don’t understand.”
“It means, Lana…You’re going to have to marry me.”
Chapter Six
Without a word, she carefully got out of the car, heedless of Lucky’s orders to stay put. When he tried to put his arms around her, she shooed his hands away with a swipe and a warning glare.
“Stop overreacting and let me help you,” Lucky ordered.
“Stop talking to me. Go home and never come back.” Lana climbed the first steps and halted when he followed her. “Did you hear me?”
“Yeah, I heard you. But I don’t take orders from a hormone-crazed woman. You stop talking and let me help.”
“You heard the doctor, it’s just ligament pain. I’m fine.”
“You can never be too careful, even with a pulled muscle.”
Lana shot him another cold look and jerked away from his grasp again. “If you don’t leave, I’m going to…”
Lucky’s eyebrows lifted while he waited. Then a slow, mocking grin spread across his face and his dimples winked at her. She hated the fact that her first thought when she saw that smile was how handsome he was. She couldn’t see a single remnant of Fat Jack in his features except his eyes.
“You gonna call the cops? Oh wait, I am the cops.”
“I hate you.”
At her words, he threw back his head and let out a loud bark of laughter.
“Sweetheart, you don’t hate me. In fact,” he whispered, leaning into her. The warmth of his breath sent chills down her spine. “The idea of being in my bed every night makes you-”
Lana reared back and slapped him as hard as she could. She could tell by his stunned expression he hadn’t expected it. And the last thing she expected was for him to grab her roughly by the shoulders and haul her against him.
“You’ll pay for that, Lana,” he promised with a glint in his eye just before his lips descended on hers.
She tried to fight him, tried to turn her head and push at him, but he was as solid as a wall. His hands held her steady and his lips maneuvered over hers, the pressure forcing her to open for him. Lana grunted and twisted her head, trying to deny the very thing she yearned for, but he followed her.
“Stop fighting it, Lana. Give in to me,” he whispered and lowered his head again.
But this time, his lips settled on hers softly and the fight melted out of her. Lucky’s hands framed her face and his lips worked over hers. She felt his warm tongue lining her lips and she sighed. Taking full advantage, he swept inside her mouth.
Lucky’s masculine groan did funny things to her stomach, and instead of rebelling, she pulled him closer. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, her body molded to his. The hands were gentle on her hips, sliding softly down to her cheeks to hold her against him.
It was the thought of his large hands that brought up the memory of James. Once, long ago, his hands had been gentle on her body, too, just before they had turned harsh.
Gathering up her courage, she shoved him as hard as she could. “Please don’t do that again.”
“Because you like it too much?”
She looked at his charmingly tousled hair and his swollen lips that curved into a slow smile.
“I did like it, Lucky. A lot.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I liked it when James did that, too.”
He nodded slowly and shoved his fists into his jean pockets. “I see.”
“I don’t think you do.” Lana took a step back and stumbled. Lucky was suddenly there to catch her.
Looking up into his eyes, she saw something she hadn’t seen yet.
Tenderness.
“Don’t pity me, Sheriff.”
“I don’t. I mean, I feel bad you had to go through such a rotten time with him, but against my better judgment I still feel the need to prove myself to you.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.” The last thing she wanted was for Lucky to be on his best behavior. He was hard enough to resist when he was a jerk.
“Look,” he said quietly, licking his lips and shuffling his feet. “I think we need to think about this like two adults. Let’s put all of our feelings aside about each other and just think rationally.”
Lana moved to the porch swing and sat down. After a moment of hesitation, Lucky joined her.
“You said the only way to protect your baby is to let the people of this town think we had an affair, right?”
Lana nodded and pushed a strand of hair out of her face when a breeze blew it across her lips. Lucky draped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into the comfort of his warmth. He pressed his lips into her temple and then laid his cheek against the top of her head.
“I didn’t think things through. Despite what they think, it won’t change things.”
“But I agree with you. What better cover story to have than you fell into the arms of the local sheriff during a difficult time when you came home?”
“Makes me sound pretty pathetic if you ask me.”
“Lots of people have rebound relationships.”
“I don’t.”
Lucky let out a long-suffering sigh and turned her face with the nudge of a finger against her chin. When his eyes held her captive, his hands fell down to rest against her slightly swollen stomach and cradled it.
“Your baby is something special, Lana. Regardless of genetics, I’ll claim the baby if you’ll let me. I’d like for you have some sort of peace. And not only will you have a cover story, I’ll protect you with my life.”
The speech, while touching, left her confused. “But you said before I’d have to marry you. Have you changed your mind?”
He shook his head before she finished speaking. “No. You’ll still have to marry me.”
Lana frowned. “I guess I just don’t understand what’s in it for you.”
Lucky took a long time to answer. It worried Lana, but at the same time she was curious to know his motives for such a selfless act. She wanted to believe that he offered this out of the goodness of his heart, but past experiences with James told her that no one did anything for free.
“I get you if you marry me.”
“I don’t understand, Lucky.”
Heaving a deep breath, he looked past her and fingered with strands of her hair.
“Years ago, back in high school, James told me I’d be stuck with someone as fat and ugly as me. After he found out I asked you to the prom, he didn’t even bother to laugh. He told me I was pathetic because someone like you would never want someone like me.”
“That’s not true,” she argued, but then snapped her mouth closed. Technically, she didn’t want him, but she did need him. There had to be another way than by committing her life to another man.
His gaze returned to her and he gave her a sad smile.
“We both know there was no way you would have ever said yes back then.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have.”
Seemingly satisfied with her
answer, his gaze sharpened. “Not only would I win, so to speak, but I also have a reputation to uphold. The town expects me to do things traditionally, and if they think I got you pregnant, they would expect me to marry you.”
Every way Lana turned it over in her head, he was right. He would offer her a certain amount of protection plus a way to keep James out of her life for good.
“Let’s say I agreed to this,” she said carefully. “What would you expect from me?”
Lucky gave her a sexy grin. “Do you mean would I expect you to sleep with me?”
“Yes.”
His careless shrug didn’t fool her.
“I didn’t think I could have my cake and eat it too, but if you’re ever in the mood…”
Lana couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t push it, Sheriff.”
“Oh, Lana,” he sighed. “I just see this as an opportunity for us to both get what we want.”
She looked down at his free hand resting in his lap. “Do you want me or do you want revenge?”
A twinkle settled in his eye that she didn’t understand. “Both.”
At least he was honest.
“Would this be long term or just until the gossip died down? I’m not sure I want to do forever again.”
He gave her a charming smile, but there was hesitation in his eyes. “You afraid I’m going to get fat again?”
Lana couldn’t help but giggle, and Lucky’s jaw dropped. “I’m sorry,” she said, grabbing her stomach as laughter overtook her.
“Childhood obesity is a real problem-”
She couldn’t help it, but his indignant expression made her laugh harder. Before she knew it, they were both laughing so hard tears ran down their cheeks and they clutched at their bellies.
When the pad of his thumb brushed against her lips, his smile faded and she sobered. The look on his face was intense and took her breath away.
“Will you do it, Lana? Will you marry me?”
Maybe their situation wasn’t traditional, and when she thought about it, she had no right to think about how romantic his gaze felt or how it felt like a real proposal. When James had proposed, she hadn’t felt the tender tug of emotion in her heart the way she did now.
Lana took a deep breath as Lucky waited for her answer.
Could she marry a man she didn’t love? Of course, the first time, she hadn’t realized she didn’t love James until it was far too late. She would be going into this with her eyes wide open. They would be using each other; no love was involved for either of them.
Lana grinned. “Do you plan on getting fat again?”
He narrowed his eyes. “No.”
She gave him a careless shrug. “You didn’t answer me on how long this would last.”
Lucky’s eyes grew distant. “As long as it takes, Lana. I don’t think we hate each other, and I don’t think we’ll be miserable together. We can just take it a day at a time.”
That satisfied her. She didn’t like the idea of being stuck with him indefinitely. “But when I feel like it’s safe to get a divorce, you won’t offer any objection?”
He cleared his throat. “Of course not. And the same goes for me.”
“Yes.”
They looked at each other for a long moment.
“So…” Lucky said softly.
Lana took one last look at him before telling him her decision. It certainly wouldn’t be a hardship to wake up next to him every morning. He had come a long way since his Fat Jack days. The thought of his sweet suggestion for them to go to the prom together still touched her and caused her to smile. In some strange way, she felt like she owed him for the painful rejection she had given him so many years ago.
“Yes, Lucky. I’ll marry you.”
*****
Lucky surprised himself by being so shocked. It took a moment for her words to register, and when they did, he straightened.
“What?” he asked.
“I said I’d marry you, Lucky.” She offered him a small, hesitant smile.
He smiled back. Did he kiss her? Hug her? He had never expected to propose to a woman he wasn’t head over heels for. Sure, he thought she was beautiful, and the attraction between them was palpable. But that didn’t mean their marriage would be happy or even manageable.
A sudden thought struck him. What if she was high maintenance? What if she was a bad cook? What if she looked like Medusa when she woke up in the mornings?
Lana’s tinkling laughter filled him. “What is it?” she asked softly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“No,” he assured her and took her hand in his. “I just realized we’re getting married and I barely know you. Not your typical engagement.”
Her eyes lowered to look at their hands. Her dark lashes fanned against her cheeks. She was still just as beautiful as she had been in high school.
“It’ll take some time for me to get a wedding together.”
“We don’t have a lot of time, Lana. But…” Every woman wanted a nice wedding. He had always thought that perhaps it was to showcase the couple’s love, but maybe he was wrong. “If you want a nice wedding, I’m sure your sister would help us plan something. You won’t be able to hide the baby much longer.”
“If you prefer going to the courthouse, I understand.”
She looked away as the swing gently swayed to his manipulations. A gentle breeze caused her to cross her arms and instinctively he pulled her close. Her sweet smell, simple and lovely, reached his nostrils, and he inhaled deeply.
“We can do whatever you want to do, Lana. Even though this is just an arrangement between us, I still want you be happy.”
As she looked up into his eyes, she was so close she could see the tiny, azure flecks in his blue eyes in the moonlight.
“I want you to be happy, too.”
“Then we will be,” he whispered, brushing his nose against hers. He wanted to kiss her. At least he could give her some happy memory of his proposal instead of the memory of them simply making a business arrangement.
Slowly, giving her time to pull away if it wasn’t what she wanted, he lowered his mouth to hers. His gut squeezed when she angled her head to his and accepted his kiss. Bringing his hand up to touch the smoothness of her skin, her mouth opened on a gasp. He didn’t waste any time taking advantage and pushed his tongue into her mouth. Lana’s hand hooked around his wrist and tentatively, she touched her tongue to his.
It wasn’t the first kiss they’d shared since her return, and he was happy to suspect it wouldn’t be their last. Carefully, he swept inside the sweet recesses of her mouth. She opened to him, and he plunged deeper.
Lana turned her body so that her legs hooked over his lap and settled in for his kiss. He ran his hand up her thigh and wished she didn’t have clothes on. Lucky could only imagine how soft her legs would be.
“Being married might not be such a bad thing,” he whispered, nipping at the skin just below her jaw.
“Why do you say that?”
“You don’t know?” He shifted and brought her hand down to the proof she needed of his attraction to her.
She snatched it away as if she’d touched fire. Before he could register what had happened, Lana stood above him and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
“I can’t sleep with you, Lucky.”
“Technically, we’re engaged, but we can wait until the wedding night if you want to.” Surely, if he was reasonable, they could both enjoy their marriage. He knew he could be pretty persuasive. After all, he was no stranger to women.
“No, I mean I don’t think I can sleep with you at all.”
“You can’t deny we’re attracted to each other.”
“No, I can’t. But I’m just not ready. I barely know you.”
“But that’s a great way for us to get to know each other better.”
Lana grinned.
“I get that you’re a guy and you have a one track mind-”
He held up a finger in consternation. “I do not.”
/>
“Listen, if we’re going to do this, it has to be on my terms, too. You don’t know the things James put me through, and until you do, can you please accept that I just can’t sleep with you?”
“Is this a permanent thing or something that’s negotiable with time?” A man could hope.
“I…I don’t know, Lucky.”
He stood and took her shoulders in his grasp, looking her square in the eye.
“We don’t have to make decisions right now. A day at a time, remember? Let’s just focus on protecting your baby. I don’t want James questioning anything, and the longer we wait, the more suspicious it becomes.”
She nodded solemnly then looked down at their feet. “Let’s just go to the courthouse tomorrow.”
“We can wait until this weekend. Just something small here at your dad’s house. How does that sound?”
Slowly, her gaze rose to meet his. “Perfect.” She smiled, but he could tell it was forced.
“You don’t have to do this, you know. You seem to have reservations, which is understandable, but if you don’t want to, we can try to think of some other way.” All he knew was the uncertainty on her face broke his heart.
“It’s just…” She pulled away and propped her hands on the porch railing, looking over the darkened porch.
“What is it?” Lucky found that he wanted her to trust him. The need was so acute, he held his breath, waiting for her to speak.
Lana sniffed and let out a husky laugh. “I’m just being stupid.”
“Talk to me, Lana,” he practically begged.
She turned to face him and propped her hip against the railing. Her arms crossed over her chest, and he recognized the defense pose.
“I didn’t think I would ever get married again. And if I did, I assumed it would be with someone I loved. James dragged me to a justice of the peace right after our graduation.”
Lucky wasn’t sure he followed her train of thought. “Do you want a nice wedding?”
The carefully composed smile she issued didn’t fool him.
“I just want this over with.” Her hand fell absently to her stomach.
“Lana, just tell me what you want.”
Lucky for Her Page 6
