Having Her Boss's Baby
Susan Mallery
“I’M PREGNANT!” When Noelle Stevenson saw the positive results of her pregnancy test, she didn’t know what to do. The baby’s father was gone, killed serving his country in Iraq. And nineteen-year-old Noelle was barely making ends meet putting herselfthrough college and working part-time.So when her take-charge boss, Devlin Hunter, offered to marry her—in a purely temporary business arrangement—how could she possibly refuse? Dev wanted to do the right thing for a woman in need. But he didn’t anticipate that his beautiful bride, wed in a marriage of convenience, would stir his hardened heart. This platonic partnership was rapidly headed down the road to romance….
Don’t miss this fan favorite from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery!
The last thing Devlin Hunter expects is to find himself in a marriage of convenience. But he just wants to do the right thing for Noelle Hunter, a young woman who has just lost everything at the worst possible time. He certainly didn’t anticipate that his beautiful bride would be the one to capture his heart…
Previously published in 2006.
SUSAN MALLERY is the bestselling and award-winning author of over fifty books for Mills & Boon and Silhouette Books. She makes her home in the Los Angeles area with her handsome prince of a husband and her two adorable-but-not-bright cats.
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Having Her Boss’s Baby
Susan Mallery
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-05645-8
HAVING HER BOSS’S BABY
© 2006 Susan Macias Redmond
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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“To your birthday, a few days late. And to us.”
Noelle swayed slightly on her feet. Dev grabbed her arm.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Exhaustion darkened her eyes.
“You want to go lie down?”
“What about the dinner? You went to so much trouble.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
She raised herself on tiptoe, whispered, “Thank you” and kissed him on the cheek.
Her lips lingered for half a second and in that moment he was stunned to find himself wanting to turn so that his mouth brushed hers. Only he wanted more than just a simple kiss. She walked into the bedroom and shut the door.
He stood alone in the center of the living room, with an open bottle of champagne and a romantic dinner for two.
Hell of a way to spend a wedding night, he thought.
CONTENTS
Cover (#u926dcdc6-4801-56b9-b8af-9f5bc70484e2)
Back Cover Text (#ued84c770-80f0-5e9f-9dfb-1b2921c99e9a)
About the Author (#u9f14a4a7-69ab-5a13-a142-2c7e6c4d767e)
Booklist (#ucfde5e14-a827-5e7b-a3bf-09c775c59a3d)
Title Page (#u07d3b037-6bf5-5559-adf4-88afb5d7cecd)
Copyright (#u2d54ef8b-94d6-5355-b1f7-2d8f19156f99)
Contents (#u26d7b3c3-15b5-583f-9246-ddafcc848a01)
CHAPTER ONE (#u3179d7fa-e8de-5c8b-b3b5-5b64eaa9b8a7)
CHAPTER TWO (#u0d292005-07ce-5b7c-b68c-780e962f7dfe)
CHAPTER THREE (#uc9c31818-5aa1-57b0-b01d-f1422d2bbf77)
CHAPTER FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EPILOGUE (#litres_trial_promo)
Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u26d7b3c3-15b5-583f-9246-ddafcc848a01)
Until Noelle Stevenson actually saw the word “pregnant” on the plastic stick, she’d allowed herself to believe everything was going to be all right. After all, it had been her first time. Wasn’t she supposed to have a grace period? Like when a light bill was due? Those extra couple of days until disaster struck?
Apparently not, she thought, barely able to breathe as she turned the plastic over in her hands. Pregnant. Her.
She couldn’t imagine what her parents were going to say. Not that they would kill her. Anger seemed pretty manageable. Instead they would get quiet, look at each other in that way of silently communicating that had always driven her and her sisters crazy, then ask her what she wanted to do. After all, she’d created the situation, now she would have to deal with the consequences. They were going to be disappointed and that was always the worst.
Noelle looked in the mirror and saw the fear in her eyes. She wouldn’t be twenty for another two weeks. She was supposed to be starting her second year at community college in the fall. There couldn’t be a baby. This wasn’t really happening.
The sound of footsteps on a hardwood floor got her attention. It was barely after six in the morning. The office should have been deserted. Who had picked this particular morning to come in early, too?
Not waiting to find out, Noelle stuffed the stick back into the box and shoved the box into her coat pocket. She quickly glanced around the private bathroom of her employer to make sure she hadn’t left anything behind, then hurried through his office, hoping to make an escape before anyone caught her.
She raced across the large space and dashed into the hall, only to slam into the one person she would most like to have avoided.
“What’s the rush?” Devlin Hunter asked as he reached out to steady her.
Noelle cleared her throat, then forced herself to smile as she stepped back and wondered what on earth she was going to say. The truth was impossible. She could imagine the look on his face if she blurted out, “Gee, Mr. Hunter, I needed to come in extra early so I could have some privacy in the bathroom. At home, I share with my three sisters. What with me thinking I might be pregnant with your late brother’s child, I really didn’t want to let my family in on my little secret. You, either, for that matter.”
“Um, no rush,” Noelle said, knowing she sounded impossibly stupid. “I, ah, needed to get some work done, so I came in to get a jump start on it.”
Mr. Hunter glanced at his watch, then at her. “It’s barely after six.”
“I actually know that.”
“I didn’t know Katherine was such an exacting boss,” he said, a faint smile tugging on the corners of his mouth.
Technically, Noelle didn’t work for Mr. Hunter. She worked for his assistant. Secretary to an assistant—it was a little like being the dog’s pet. Still, she adored Katherine, who always let her schedule her hours around her college classes.
“She’s not,” Noelle said. “I just wanted to, you know, be diligent.”
“Admirable.”
He studied her as if he didn’t quite believe her. Noelle knew she was a lousy liar and wondered what, exactly, he could read in her eyes.
Mr. Hunter was tall—taller than Jimmy had been. They both had dark hair, but Mr. Hunter had green eyes, while Jimmy’s had been brown. That wasn’t the only other difference, either. Jimmy had been a lot younger and not nearly as responsible. Not until he’d gone into the army.
She didn’t want to think about Jimmy being gone or her being pregnant. So she smiled and started to move around Mr. Hunter.
“I’ll just get to my desk,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t ask why she’d been in his office.
“All right.”
She moved to the left and he moved to the right. As they were facing each other, that meant they bumped. He excused himself and lifted his briefcase so she could get by. The corner of the case nudged her pocket and something fell to the floor. Mr. Hunter bent down and picked it up.
Her heart froze in her chest. One second there was beating and the next…nothing. She closed her eyes and willed herself to disappear. Or at the very least, grow wings and fly away. Flying would be excellent.
Instead there was only the sound of their breathing and a long, lingering silence.
“Did I interrupt you before or after you took the test?” he asked quietly.
She kept her eyes shut. Humiliation burned both inside and out. “After.”
“And?”
She opened her eyes and looked up at him. “I’m pregnant.”
Dev had figured the worst part of his day would be arguing with one of his suppliers. He’d been wrong.
“Then I guess we should talk,” he said and led the way into his office.
* * *
Pregnant.
Devlin swore silently. Jimmy had just been a kid, he thought grimly. Noelle Stevenson was even younger. He set the pregnancy-test kit box on his desk.
She sat across from him, all wide-eyed and scared. He doubted she could look more embarrassed or uncomfortable and guessed she wanted to be anywhere but here, which was exactly how he felt. But despite the awkward situation, he wasn’t going to walk away from his responsibilities.
He’d always been the one to take care of his brother when they’d been younger and clean up Jimmy’s messes when they were older. But a baby…
“You were dating my brother,” he said.
She nodded without looking at him. “We’d been going out a couple of months when he joined the army. He said I should see other people after he went away, but I didn’t want to, so when he came home on leave, he said…” She swallowed. “We talked about getting married.”
Dev remembered being twenty and interested in a girl, and he knew his brother. If discussing marriage was what it took to get her into bed, then that’s what Jimmy would have done.
“I thought…” She toyed with the buttons on her jacket. “He was really sweet and fun and he was going to a dangerous part of the world. He said he might not come back.”
Dev held in a groan. Not just for the overused line, but with the realization that not only had his brother gotten a girl pregnant, that she might have been a virgin.
“Your first time?” he asked bluntly.
Noelle hunched over so her long, pale blond hair covered her face, but he saw her nod. Disbelief blended with anger. If his brother had been alive, Dev would have beaten the crap out of him. But Jimmy was gone. One way or another Jimmy had always managed to make his problems Dev’s problems. This time, under circumstances that were still filled with grief. Pain warred with guilt but neither won. And there was still Noelle to deal with.
He figured it would be insensitive to boot up his computer at that moment so he could get into the personnel files there. Without them, he knew very little about her. She worked for his assistant. She’d been with the company a little less than a year. She’d had minimal office skills when she’d arrived, but she’d worked hard and now Katherine claimed she couldn’t exist without her.
Sometime over the spring, Jimmy had met her and they’d started dating. But who was she and what the hell was he supposed to do now?
“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” Noelle said quietly, still not looking at him. “I thought I loved him, but I wasn’t sure. And he was so sweet…But I knew I should wait. Only then he was killed and I thought I’d done the right thing. I felt so horrible for him and for you. I know you’re his only family. And then I thought everything would be okay. Except I was late and a couple of days ago I realized I might be…you know.”
She stopped and sucked in a breath. It was then he figured out she was crying.
He stood and walked into the bathroom, where some mystery cleaning person always left a fresh box of tissues. After handing them to her, he perched on the edge of his desk.
“How old are you, Noelle?”
She took the tissues and wiped her face with one, then blew her nose. “I’ll be twenty in a couple of weeks.”
Still a kid herself, he thought. “You go to college?”
“Community college. I’ll start my second year in the fall.” She wrinkled her nose. “I know, I know, I should be at UC Riverside, but early in my senior year of high school I was skiing with the youth group.” She looked up and actually gave him a little smile. “I had a close encounter with a tree. I usually do better than that. Anyway, I broke my leg and messed up some ligaments, which meant surgery and physical therapy and more surgery. My mom homeschooled me and I was able to graduate with my class, but I missed out on a lot of activities and the SATs. I wasn’t even able to apply to a four-year college. So I’m doing it this way, which is good because it saves a lot of money. I mean, there are four of us and it’s not like my parents are rich or anything.”
Too much information, he thought, not sure where to go first. “You still live at home?”
“Yes. I’m one of four girls. The oldest.” The humor in her blue eyes faded. “Talk about setting a bad example.”
“What do your parents do?”
“My dad’s the pastor at our church and my mom works in the office.”
Dear God, Jimmy had slept with a minister’s daughter?
“What do you want to do when you finish college?”
“Go into nursing, specializing in pediatrics.” She held up her hand. “I beg you, do not give me the ‘be a doctor instead’ lecture. When I was in the hospital, the people who made a difference for me were the nurses. That’s what I want to do—take care of kids and help them be less scared while they’re sick.”
“No lectures,” he promised.
Now what? The young woman was pregnant with his brother’s child, and that made her his responsibility. But how to handle things? If Jimmy were still alive, he could insist they get married. He could…
Jimmy wasn’t alive, he reminded himself again and he, Dev, was the reason.
The ever-present guilt coiled around him like a large, deadly snake. He willed himself not to react. The more immediate problem was Noelle’s pregnancy and what to do about it, and her.
* * *
Noelle shifted uncomfortably in the chair. While she appreciated how nice Mr. Hunter was being, she didn’t know what, exactly, he wanted from her. He wasn’t the father of her baby, so this wasn’t his problem. Still, at least he hadn’t questioned her for saying Jimmy was the father and she didn’t think he’d thought anything bad about her.
A baby. She touched her hand to her stomach. It didn’t seem possible that there was a child growing inside of her. Sure, she’d always wanted a family, but not like this and not so soon. Except, with Jimmy dead, the baby was all that was left of him.
She wondered what he would have said if she could have told him. Despite his emotional proposal the last time he’d been home, she wasn’t sure he would have wanted to go through with the marriage. She wasn’t even sure she would have. Everything had happened so quickly. They’d been dating and having fun, then he’d been gone and they’d kept in touch with letters and e-mail and then he’d been back for just a short period of time. She hadn’t been able to think.
“We should get married.”
At first Noelle was sure she hadn’t heard the words correctly. She looked at Mr. Hunter, trying to figure out if he’d really spoken.
“Excuse me?”
His gaze never left her face. “We should get married as quickly as possible. Jimmy was my brother. That makes the baby my responsibility. I’m only doing what he would have done. The difference being, we aren’t involved.”
His responsibility? Technically he was the baby’s uncle, she thought frantically, but in reality he was Mr. Hunter, her boss’s boss and someone she didn’t know at all.
“I’m suggesting a marriage of convenience,” he added calmly. “Something temporary for, say, two years. Long enough for you to get on your feet and get used to being a mother. Then we would divorce. You’d get what Jimmy would have inherited, if he’d lived. I would like to continue to have contact with the child and see him or her raised as a Hunter, but otherwise you would be free to live your life.”
“You’re suggesting marriage and divorce,” she said, amazed she could speak at all. Her brain whirled and twirled until she was so dizzy she couldn’t imagine standing ever again. This was not happening. Mr. Hunter proposing? “You barely know me, Mr. Hunter. I don’t know you at all. We can’t get married.”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not trying to seduce you, Noelle. While we will live in the same house, our lives will be entirely separate. I want to help you. I am Jimmy’s only relative so his child is my responsibility.”
That made sense, but marriage? Why hadn’t he just offered child support? “I don’t want to get married only to get divorced,” she said. “I don’t believe in that. I think marriage is a serious and permanent commitment.”
“Which you can have later,” he said. “With someone else. Someone you meet and fall in love with. I’m going to be blunt, Noelle. You’re going to be twenty when the baby is born. You work part-time and you’re attending college. From what you’ve said, your parents aren’t very well-off. Can they afford to take on another child? Do you want them to? What about your dreams of being a nurse? How are you going to care for a baby, support yourself and the child and attend college? What about paying rent, bills, health insurance, college tuition? Do you really want to take this all on yourself?”
He leaned toward her. “I’m offering a temporary solution that allows you to get on with your life. All your expenses will be taken care of. We can hire a nanny to help out, if you’d like. At the end of the prearranged time, you’ll have enough money to take care of everything. If you live carefully, you won’t need to work if you don’t want to.”
As her brain hadn’t settled down, she didn’t know what to think. “Why?” she asked. “Why would you do this?”
For the first time since he’d invited her into his office, Mr. Hunter wouldn’t look at her. “Jimmy going into the military was my idea,” he said at last. “What happened to him is my fault.”
He spoke calmly, but she heard the pain in his voice and in his words. He blamed himself for his brother’s death.
Her instinct was to go to him and offer comfort. Instead she said, “You didn’t fire the gun, Mr. Hunter. You didn’t kill your brother.”
He returned his attention to her and raised his dark eyebrows. “Under the circumstances don’t you think you should call me Dev?”
“What? Oh. Sure. Dev.” Right now weren’t names the least of their problems? “My point is you’re not responsible for your brother’s death and you’re not responsibles for me being pregnant.” As if Mr. Hunter—Dev—would ever be interested in her that way. She’d seen a couple of the women he’d dated. They were all tall, slinky, exotic beauties. She looked more like a Wisconsin farmgirl—all blond hair and freckles.
“I’m very serious about my proposal,” he said.
Because he felt responsible, she thought. He would. She knew a little about him because of what Jimmy had told her. Dev had been in high school when his mother died. Jimmy had been only six or seven. Their father had disappeared and their paternal grandfather had stepped in to take care of the two boys. Only he had died a few years later and Dev had raised Jimmy.
Her boyfriend had frequently complained about how strict he could be, but Noelle had always admired Dev for taking on the challenging task of raising a teenager. From the little she’d known about him, Jimmy hadn’t made things easy.
But Jimmy was still the only family Dev had and with Jimmy gone, there was only the baby.
“You don’t have to marry me to have a relationship with your brother’s child,” she said. “I would never keep you from him or her. I realize you won’t want to take my word on that, so I’ll sign something if you’d like.”
“Is that what you think this is about?” he asked.
She straightened in the chair and met his gaze. “I’m young, but I’m not an idiot. I’m aware of all the difficulties in raising a child in my situation. This isn’t what I would have chosen for my life path, but it happened and I’ll deal with the consequences.”
A good speech, she thought, hoping he couldn’t tell how much she shook as she gave it. What she hadn’t mentioned was the mind-numbing terror at the thought of actually having to take care of a baby by herself. He’d been right before. How would she pay for things? When would she have time to work and go to school? She was fairly confident her parents wouldn’t toss her out onto the street, but their small house was already jammed full. Where would they put a baby?
He studied her. “You’re not what I imagined,” he admitted. “Most of Jimmy’s girlfriends have been…”
“Airheads?” she asked lightly.
He grinned. “Exactly.”
“I know. He told me. He said dating me was a sign of his willingness to grow up. I think it was more the whole ‘bad boy, good girl’ thing. Opposites attract and all that.”
“As a good girl, you had a thing for bad boys?”
Noelle hesitated. Something about this topic felt strange. Maybe it was discussing her dating habits with a man who’d just proposed, however businesslike he’d meant it.
“I was always curious,” she admitted. “But I’d never dated one until Jimmy.” She wrinkled her nose. “Everyone in high school knew who my father was, so guys were wary about messing with a pastor’s daughter. The guys who did ask me out were always well-behaved.” And she hadn’t minded. It had made life easy.
“Until Jimmy,” Dev said.
“Right.”
He moved from the desk to the chair next to hers. After pulling it around so it faced her, he sat down and reached for her hand.
“Noelle, I want you to seriously consider my offer. I could simply give you money, but you’re going to need more than that. I have a large house with plenty of room for you and the baby. If you’re married, you won’t have to deal with awkward questions.” He shrugged. “I don’t know what Jimmy told you about me, but I’m not such a bad guy. My vices are all pretty boring and I will take care of you and the baby. In a couple of years, or whenever you’re ready, we’ll divorce. You’ll be financially stable and no longer dealing with a newborn.”
She was as caught up in the fact that he was holding her hand as in what he was saying. His touch was gentle, yet firm. His skin warm. There was nothing sexual or romantic in the contact, but she was still very aware of him sitting so close to her.
She liked his determination. Her father had always said to look for a man who wouldn’t give up. He was—
Wait a minute, she thought. Was she seriously considering his proposal? Was she thinking she would marry a man she barely knew simply to take his name and his money?
“I’m not like that,” she said, pulling her hand free and standing. “I’m not mercenary.”
Dev rose as well. “No one is saying you are. Noelle, if Jimmy were still alive, wouldn’t you expect him to marry you?”
She didn’t want to answer that. In this century, in this society, who really got married because of a baby? But in her heart, she knew she would have expected it. And she would have accepted, despite any misgivings about the future of their relationship.
“But you’re not Jimmy.”
“Think of me as standing in for him. Doing what he would have done.”
Would Jimmy have married her? She honestly wasn’t sure.
“It’s two years,” Dev said. “Trust me, time moves quickly. Did your parents know you were dating Jimmy?”
“What?” The change in subject startled her. “Um, they knew I was seeing someone from work, but that’s all.”
“Then for all they know, it could be me.”
She blinked at him. Of course there had been times when she’d kept the truth from her parents, or squeaked around the actual facts, but to lie like this felt wrong on too many levels. Yet she was tempted.
The baby existed and she would have to deal with that. Dev was offering her a way to minimize the damage with her family, while allowing her to be a single mother and still pursue her dreams. It was almost too good to be true.
“What do you get out of all this?” she asked.
“Jimmy’s child gets the family name. I get to be a part of his or her life.”
“You can have both of those without marrying me.”
“I want to make this right,” he told her. “I can’t take back what was done, but I can do my best to help. You don’t know me, Noelle, but you’re going to have to trust me on that.”
She wasn’t sure much trust would be required. Devlin Hunter was the kind of man to get everything in writing. Which meant there would be paperwork.
“I don’t want what Jimmy would have inherited,” she said. “That’s too much.” Dev’s company, Hunter Manufacturing was a massive, multimillion dollar business. “Maybe some child support and a house.” She winced. Even that sounded too greedy. “Just the child support,” she amended. “Jimmy would have paid that anyway.”
Dev shoved his hands into his slacks pockets and smiled at her. “You’re saying yes.”
“Oh.” She turned the idea over in her mind. “I guess I am.” When had she decided this was what she wanted to do? Did it matter? Dev was right. Accepting his proposal made her life much easier.
She still wasn’t sure what he got out of the deal. Unless it was to be part of a family again, even for a little while. But was that even important to him?
“I don’t know you at all,” she said.
“We’ll change that,” he promised. “Let’s have dinner tonight. We can work out the logistics, set up a timetable and move forward.”
That made it sound as if they were closing a business deal rather than discussing a marriage. And when she thought about it, she realized it was true.
“All right,” she agreed. “Where do you want to meet?”
“My house.” He moved around the desk and grabbed a piece of paper. After writing the address, he handed it to her. “Six-thirty?”
She took the paper and nodded. “Okay. I guess I should, uh, get back to work.”
“You’re not due in for another couple of hours.”
“I know, but I’m already here.” She walked to the door, then glanced back at him. “Thanks for everything.”
“Thank you, Noelle,” he said. “Don’t worry more than you have to. We’ll get this worked out. Everything will be fine.”
She smiled and left. Fine? She was pregnant with her late boyfriend’s child, she had just agreed to temporary marriage with a man she didn’t know, for a bunch of reasons she couldn’t remember, and she had big plans to lie about the whole thing to her family.
Fine didn’t really cover it.
CHAPTER TWO (#u26d7b3c3-15b5-583f-9246-ddafcc848a01)
Noelle left work shortly before noon. She’d already put in more than her usual amount of hours and cleared out her in-basket, which felt good. She’d been efficient, determined and focused. It had been the only way to get through the hours. If she allowed herself to stop moving, she would think about what had happened that morning. She would think about being pregnant and Dev’s impossible proposal and she would lose it. Not something she wanted to do in front of all the women in the office.
So she kept a smile on her face and her mind on her work until she could escape to her car and drive home, where she knew she would find her mother. Funny how at nineteen, all she wanted was to run to her mom and be comforted. Maybe that need never went away. Yet in about eight months, she would have her own child to think about.
“Impossible,” Noelle murmured as she drove out of the Hunter Manufacturing parking lot. “The entire situation is impossible.”
How could she be pregnant? How could she consider marrying Devlin Hunter? While she couldn’t change the former, she could work the latter. She’d been crazy to accept his proposal. Taking the easy way out was never smart, she reminded herself. She’d jumped at what he’d offered because it smoothed things over, but she knew better. And that was why she was so determined to get home. Her mother always left the church office for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. They would sit down and Noelle would confess everything. Then her mother would tell her how to get out of her fake engagement with her boss.
Noelle knew that Dev would probably push back. He was that sort of man. But in time he would come to see that he could still be a part of his brother’s child’s life without going to the extreme of marrying her. While she would welcome child support, she wasn’t going to insist on it. Somehow she would get by.
“Hey, Mom,” she called as she walked in the back door of the two-story house she’d lived in since she was a kid. The place was old and a little run-down but homey and comfortable. She moved from the laundry room into the kitchen, where she found her mother sitting at the table.
“Hi, honey,” the older woman said with a smile that didn’t seem quite right. “I didn’t expect you home for lunch.”
“I got to work really early, so I finished early,” Noelle said as she took a seat and smiled at her mother. It was only then that she noticed the other woman seemed to be brushing away tears. “Mom? Are you all right.”
Her mother sighed. “I’m fine.” She sniffed. “Okay, I’m a little weepy, but it’s no big deal. Your father and I…” She swallowed. “We had a fight. We don’t do it very often, so we’re not good at it. Maybe we should take a class on the twenty-seven best ways to argue.”
Her attempt at humor fell flat. Noelle touched her arm. “We never hear you and Dad fight. You get crabby from time to time, but not real arguments. Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine. I told your father I’m tired of working in the church office. I want to do more. Meet other people. We’re so insulated.”
Noelle didn’t know what to say. Her mother loved working in the church office. At least that’s what she’d always said. For as long as Noelle could remember, her mother had talked about how lucky she was to work with great people and be part of a caring community.
“I thought it was what you wanted,” she said at last.
“Well, it’s not.” Fresh tears filled her mother’s eyes, then spilled down her cheeks. “Oh, I hate getting emotional. I need to do this. It’s important.”
“Why?” Noelle asked.
“Because…Because…” She drew in a breath, then shoved her hand into a pile of envelopes. “Because of these. Your father is so stubborn. He says the Lord will provide, and He does. Sort of. But there is also reality and helping one’s self. I’ve always had to be the practical one in the relationship and I don’t mind that. It’s just when he makes things more difficult…”
Noelle bit her lower lip, but didn’t say anything. Her mother had never talked to her like this before—as if she were an adult.
“There’s not enough money,” her mother said flatly. “There are too many bills. Your college hasn’t been very much and when you transfer to UC Riverside, we’ll be able to spring that, but Lily’s going to that private Christian university. Of course we’re delighted she was accepted and they will provide some financial aid, but still…Then there was her graduation car.”
A family tradition, Noelle thought, suddenly feeling guilty about the car she’d received the previous June when she’d graduated from high school.
“It adds up,” her mother said quietly.
Noelle looked at the stack of bills. The corner of one caught her eye. “Is this from the hospital?” she asked as she pulled that envelope from the pile. “From my accident?”
Her mother took the bill and tucked it under the others. “Don’t worry about it.”
Noelle stared at her. “But we have insurance.”
“It doesn’t cover everything. I’m making payments. Believe me, that’s the least of our financial problems.”
Noelle wasn’t so sure. “What about the physical therapy place? Are you still paying them?”
Her mother stood and crossed to the refrigerator. “What do you want for lunch? There’s some lunch meat. We could make sandwiches.”
Noelle felt her stomach tighten. She’d had no idea her parents were still paying for an accident that had happened nearly two years ago. How much had those bills been?
“Are you leaving your job in the church office to get a better-paying one?” she asked.
Her mother leaned against the counter. Jane had married at nineteen, given birth to her first daughter at twenty and had just turned forty the previous March. She looked much younger and strangers frequently expressed surprise that she could really have a daughter in college.
“The regular business not only pays more, the benefits will supplement the insurance we already have. I’ve been asking around and I have a couple of really good offers. I’m deciding which one to take. Unfortunately, your father sees this as some kind of defection.”
Noelle wasn’t so sure. “Maybe he’s just sad he can’t provide for his family the way he’d like.”
“That, too,” her mother admitted. “The male ego is a fragile organ.” She frowned. “But it’s not really an organ, is it? An instrument? An entity?” She gave a wry smile. “I don’t even know what the male ego is and yet it is currently dominating my life.”
“Daddy loves you. He wants you to be happy.”
“I am happy,” her mother said. “He’s the most wonderful man. I wouldn’t want to hurt him for anything. But we need to get a handle on the bills. Sometimes I think if there’s one more unexpected expense, I’m going to run screaming into the night.” She paused. “Is this too much, Noelle? I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t be sharing this with you. It’s just lately you seem so grown-up and responsible. I feel as much like your friend as your mother.”
Noelle stood and crossed to her mother. “It’s fine,” she said. “I’m glad you can talk to me. Everyone needs to be able to talk to someone.”
They embraced. As her mother hugged her, Noelle fought tears of her own. Her secrets pressed upon her but she couldn’t say anything now. Her mom didn’t need one more thing to worry about.
“So—sandwiches?” her mother asked as she stepped back.
“Sounds great.”
They worked side by side, then sat down to have lunch. Noelle chatted about work and her friends and was careful not to say anything about being pregnant or the deal she’d made with Dev. Now that she understood the financial situation at home, there was no way she could add a baby to the mix. Not with Lily going off to college this fall and Summer graduating from high school next year. Her parents couldn’t possibly afford a baby and if Noelle tried to handle things on her own, they would only insist on helping.
She might not be happy about the deal Dev had offered, but right now it seemed the only way out.
* * *
“Thanks for meeting me on such short notice,” Dev said as he walked into the office of Andrew Hart, his attorney for the past ten years. Andrew had been Dev’s grandfather’s attorney for several years before that, ever since the elder Hart had passed away. A Hart lawyer had handled Hunter business since the company began, shortly after the end of the Second World War.
Andrew motioned to a leather sofa against the wall and walked to a wet bar in the corner. “What can I get you?” he asked.
“Nothing for me.”
“All right.” Andrew took the club chair across from the sofa. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m getting married.”
Dev said the words aloud, but he had trouble believing them. Married. This time yesterday the biggest social event on his agenda had been thinking it was time to start dating again. He’d been between women for a few months and was feeling a definite itch. But any scratching was about to go on a very long hold, he thought grimly. Everything in his life would change as soon as he married Noelle.
“Congratulations,” Andrew said, sounding a little surprised. “I didn’t know you were seeing anyone seriously. I assume you want a prenuptial agreement.”
Andrew was several years older than Dev, but still a friend. Dev wasn’t about to keep the truth from him.
“Actually I want the opposite,” Dev said. “We’re only going to be married a couple of years. When we divorce, I want her to have an excellent settlement.”
Dev paused, then laughed when he saw Andrew’s shocked expression.
“I’m not crazy,” Dev added. “Nor am I marrying for the usual reasons.”
He explained about Noelle dating Jimmy and the subsequent pregnancy.
“No offense, but you are crazy,” his lawyer told him. “Give her some money. Set up a trust fund for the kid. You don’t have to marry the girl.”
“I want Jimmy’s son or daughter to have the family name,” Dev said stubbornly. “I want to make sure Noelle is taken care of. She’s not even twenty yet and her father’s a minister. It was her first time and Jimmy talked her into bed by claiming he wanted to marry her.”
“That was Jimmy, not you. As your attorney, I have to insist that you—”
Dev shook his head. “Talk to me as a friend, not an attorney.”
“Then I still think you’re crazy,” Andrew said with a sigh. “But I’m not even surprised you want to do this.”
“I’m doing what Jimmy would have done when he found out Noelle was pregnant.”
“As your friend,” Andrew said, “I doubt Jimmy would have been willing to go through with a quickie wedding.”
Dev agreed with Andrew, but Jimmy wasn’t here to prove either of them right or wrong. And Jimmy not being here was Dev’s fault.
Dev had tried to do the right thing where his brother was concerned. Had tried and obviously failed. The baby gave him a second chance.
“I would have insisted,” Dev said. “He would have married her. But he can’t, so I will. Besides, I need to be sure Noelle is capable of being a good mother and that she’s willing to take on the task. What better way to find that out than to observe her myself?”
“That’s what private detectives are for.” Andrew held up both hands. “I know I can’t talk you out of this, so I’ll draw up some paperwork.”
“The plan is for us to be married for two years, then divorce. I want her to have what Jimmy would have had.”
Andrew paled. “Half of everything? You’re giving her half of the business? It’s been in your family nearly sixty years. She’s not entitled to half of the company. Community property laws are clear on that.”
“Not ownership, but an income from the company. I also want a trust fund set up for the child. I’ll fund it now and let it grow. Child support, a house equivalent to mine, plus a monthly allowance for upkeep.”
Andrew swore. “Generous. I don’t usually have clients trying to give money away at the end of a marriage.”
“I do my best not to be ordinary.”
“You’re never that. I can have a draft ready in two days.”
“That’s fine. I don’t know when the wedding will be, but I’ll keep you informed.”
Andrew hesitated, then said, “Dev, are you sure? You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to. Jimmy’s child deserves this.” So did Jimmy, but his brother was no longer around. All Dev could do was wait for the baby to be born and hope things turned out differently. That this time he wouldn’t screw up.
* * *
Riverside had started out as a rural community. It was only in the past few years that it had become yet another bedroom community for the ever-growing Los Angeles and Orange counties. But even fifty years ago, there had been those with money and they had built several beautiful neighborhoods with elegant houses situated on massive lots.
Noelle found herself driving through one of those neighborhoods on her way to Dev’s house. She’d never really been in this part of town before and she wasn’t used to seeing houses with gates and servants quarters and such incredible landscaping. If not for the directions she’d gotten off the computer, she would have been totally lost.
Five minutes before their appointed meeting, she turned into a long driveway, past open wrought-iron gates toward a sprawling one-story house.
The lawn was the kind of green that only comes when one doesn’t have to sweat the water bill. There were large, mature trees offering shady spots, and several pieces of sculpture for decoration. She saw a life-size casting of a boy and girl stretched out on a bench, each reading a book, and a young boy flying a bronze kite. In her neighborhood, lawn art tended toward pink flamingos, although a lot of people did put out seasonal wreaths or flags.
She parked, then stepped out of her car. The sweet scent of honeysuckle filled the air. The early evening was still and warm and quiet. This was a great place for kids, she thought, knowing she and her sisters would have loved the open spaces, although the elegant artwork would have been in danger of bodily harm.
She turned her attention to the one-story house and was grateful it didn’t rise above her in chateaulike splendor. It might go on for miles and miles inside, but with only one level she knew it couldn’t be too scary.
She walked up the stone steps and paused in front of a large, dark intimidating door. She hadn’t known what to wear for her meeting with Dev. She hadn’t wanted to be too casual, but this wasn’t a date. In the end, she’d chosen a simple, light blue dress with tiny flowers and, despite the heat, a white jacket she’d borrowed from Lily. But even wearing more makeup than usual and high-heeled sandals, she still felt she should pop around back and use the servants’ entrance.
Instead she knocked and waited until Dev opened the door.
“Noelle,” he said with a smile. “Thanks for coming.”
He motioned for her to enter the house, which she did, but speaking was out of the question.
She’d been so worried about what she was going to wear that she’d forgotten to think about what he might put on. Instead of the dark, elegant suits she was used to, he’d changed into jeans and a Hawaiian shirt. Okay, it was in muted colors and tucked in to show off his flat stomach, but it was still a Hawaiian shirt. There were flowers on it and lots of colors and he was her boss. Bosses like him didn’t wear flowers!
She did her best to distract herself by turning her attention to the entryway. The walls were cream-colored and the floor was a dark, highly polished hardwood. To her left she saw an elegant formal dining room. To her right, closed French doors leading to an office or study.
There were carved moldings around the ceiling and elegantly framed paintings and photographs on the wall.
“Your home is lovely,” she said, feeling both awkward and out of place.
“Thanks. I’m not taking any credit. My grandfather collected art and passed it on to me. My grandmother is responsible for all the antiques. The most I’ve done is to get a decorator in here to update a few of the rooms. But my idea of high-class is a jukebox and some sports posters.”
She doubted that, but appreciated his effort to make her feel comfortable. Not that she could ever imagine that happening.
He led the way into a family room dominated by a huge old Spanish-style fireplace. There were large overstuffed sofas and comfy looking chairs. A built-in case held plenty of electronics, but she didn’t see a television anywhere. She eyed the big painting over the fireplace and wondered if the TV was one of those expensive wall-mounted types, hiding behind art. If she knew Dev better, she would have asked, but as it was, she gingerly settled on the edge of a sofa cushion and wished she knew what to do with her hands.
“Do you want something to drink?” he asked. “Juice, soda, water?”
“Just water,” she said.
“Okay. Be right back.”
She jumped up to follow him, then sank onto the couch. Her heart pounded in her chest and her throat was so tight, she thought she might choke. If there had been any way out of the situation, she would have bolted for freedom. But all those doors seemed firmly closed, so she was simply going to have to figure out how to get through all this. Maybe in time things would get better.
He returned with a glass and a bottle of water. “Do you like Mexican food?” he asked.
She took everything and set it on the coffee table, then nodded. “Do you cook?”
He chuckled. “I make coffee and pour cereal in a bowl. This is from a great restaurant I’ve been going to for years. I picked up a little bit of everything, so you’ll have a choice.”
“Thank you.”
She couldn’t imagine ever eating again, what with the nerves dancing around in her stomach, but she could probably fake eating if she had to.
Dev sat at the other end of the sofa and faced her. “Noelle, I know this is a difficult situation for both of us. We’re strangers who have agreed to get married for the sake of a child who is probably smaller than a grape right now.”
The grape reference made her smile and some of her tension eased a little. At least he wasn’t acting like all this was normal. She also appreciated that he was willing to take charge. Right now she couldn’t imagine having to make a bunch of decisions about anything significant.
“So we’ll go slowly,” he continued. “We have some details to work out, and we’ll get to them, but maybe we should just talk first and get to know each other.”
“That’s a good idea.” She poured her water, then looked at the glass. “Only I have to tell you something first.”
She risked glancing at him. He was handsome, she thought, which was interesting but not really important to the matter at hand. Still, if she had to look at a stranger over breakfast for the next two years, Dev was a nice-looking one. He was also kind and obviously loved his brother. More good news.
He waited patiently while she gathered her thoughts. She half stood, then sank back onto the sofa.
“I was going to tell you I changed my mind,” she said, forcing herself to meet his dark gaze. “Nothing about this situation feels right to me. We’re not in love. As you just said, we don’t even know each other. While my pregnancy is a complication, it doesn’t seem like a big enough one for us to go through with this. I meant what I said before—that marriage is an important and sacred commitment and one I take very seriously.”
“You think I don’t?” he asked.
“I didn’t mean that, exactly,” she said, desperately wanting to look away but refusing to.
“I do take it seriously,” he told her. “I will honor our wedding vows, Noelle. This isn’t a game to me.”
“I didn’t think it was a game,” she said slowly, feeling that they were offtrack. She’d had a whole speech prepared and—
“It’s not as if I’ll be dating,” he said.
Dating? She hadn’t thought about that. He was a man who was used to being with women. Lots of different women. Maybe not at the same time, but still. She looked down and fought a blush.
“I didn’t think about that,” she admitted. “Your side of it. I…You’ve always had women in your life.” Didn’t he have to have those women for his needs? Weren’t men supposed to have needs? In theory women had needs, too, but based on that single night with Jimmy, she couldn’t imagine why they would want to acknowledge them.
“You’re asking about sex,” he said bluntly.
She swallowed, then nodded.
“I meant what I said,” he told her, using her words. “I’m not doing this to seduce you.”
She totally believed that. She wasn’t his type at all. But if he wasn’t going to sleep with her and he wasn’t going to date, what was he going to do? Two years was a long time. She couldn’t imagine him simply doing without.
But there was no way she could ask and they were completely off topic.
“I appreciate the no dating thing,” she said. “It would be difficult to explain. But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. I wanted to tell you that I’d changed my mind. That I wasn’t willing to go through with this. I went home to talk to my mom and get her to help me figure out how to say all that.”
She glanced at him and saw him watching her. There was no way she could tell what he was thinking, which was probably a good thing.
“What happened?” he asked.
Noelle explained about the job change and the stack of bills. “They’re still paying for my hospital stay and the physical therapy. I feel so horrible about that.”
“It’s not your fault,” he said. “You didn’t run into the tree on purpose.”
“I know, but guilt is such a time-honored tradition. Anyway, I realized I couldn’t burden them with another child. In a couple of years, I’ll be on my feet and they won’t have to worry about me.” She glanced down at her lap, then back at him. “I’m taking the easy way out. I wanted you to know that.”
Noelle spoke with a combination of shame and conviction Dev had never seen before. There had been no reason for her to confess all this to him. He wondered how much of her need to bare all came from her age and how much of it was who she was inside.
“This is me at my worst,” she continued. “If you can handle that, we’ll be fine.”
She couldn’t have found it easy to admit what she saw as her worst fault. How many other people would have been willing to be so honest? How many others would have simply taken what was offered?
Until this moment she’d been little more than the virgin Jimmy had knocked up. Suddenly she was a person, very possibly one he could respect.
“If this is as bad as it gets,” he said gently, “we won’t have any problem. Don’t worry, Noelle, I have more than my share of faults. They’re just not so easy to define.”
Her blue eyes widened slightly. “I’ve just admitted I’m using you. How can that be all right?”
“You’re agreeing to what I offered. There’s a difference. I know exactly what I want and I’m getting it the best way I know how. You’re not using me.”
“But…”
He shook his head. “We’re both going to come out ahead on this deal. You’ll get to spare your family the expense of the baby and the embarrassment of their oldest daughter being pregnant and unmarried. I get to take care of my brother’s child, be a part of his or her life and make sure the baby has the family name. It’s a fair trade.”
“Not for you,” she said stubbornly. “This is costing you a lot.”
“It’s only money.”
She stared at him. “How can you say that? It’s a lot of money.”
He shrugged. “Which I’ve always had. Giving some away isn’t very meaningful because I’ve never done without. I work for a living, but only because I chose to.”
“You say that as if you don’t like what you do and you don’t work hard. I’ve read the reports and you’ve doubled the size and the profits of the company since you took over. That doesn’t happen by chance.”
He was surprised she knew that. “My point is, I’ve never done without so I won’t miss what I give you. Don’t make me out to be a hero, Noelle. I’m getting everything I want at very little cost to me. Don’t forget that.”
* * *
They had dinner in the kitchen. Noelle liked the round table next to the bay window and the view of the side yard, which was probably thirty or forty feet deep.
They shared fajitas, enchiladas, rice, beans and chips. Dev had a beer with the meal, but didn’t offer her one. She wasn’t surprised—not only was she underage, but she was now pregnant.
Pregnant—it didn’t seem possible. She didn’t feel any different. But she knew what had happened and her luck wasn’t good enough for the test to be wrong.
“We have a lot of logistics to work out,” he said. “But I think we’ve dealt with enough stress for tonight. Are you willing to put them off for a while?”
She nodded. No doubt his logistics were about things like living arrangements and when they would get married. She could go a long time without dealing with those.
“I don’t have any relatives,” he continued, “but I will have to meet your family.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh.
“You could try to be a little enthused,” he teased. “I don’t eat with my hands.”
She smiled. “I can see you have very nice manners. It’s not that. It’s just…everything. We’re all really close and I don’t know if I can fool them. I mean, they know I’ve been dating someone at work and my mom’s been bugging me to bring him around, but why would they believe you’re interested in me?”
He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
She shrugged, not willing to say out loud that she wasn’t all that special. “You’re different from the other guys I’ve dated.”
“Older, you mean.”
“Well, that, too.” She wondered if her parents could be tricked. “I’ll write up some information on my parents and sisters for you. Just a few notes so you can convince them we’ve been together for a while.”
“Good idea. I’ll do the same about myself. We’re going to have to act as if we’re in love.”
In love. He said the words so easily. She’d never said that to a man. How many times had he whispered the words to someone?
“What were you like growing up?” she asked instead of dealing with the love issue.
“I was a typical kid,” he said. “I liked sports, didn’t like school all that much, hated girls, had lots of friends.” He smiled. “I got over the girl thing.”
She smiled back. “I’ve heard.”
“My mom died when I was sixteen and Jimmy was six. That changed things.” His expression tightened. “My dad couldn’t handle the pressure, so he took off.”
“That’s so sad,” she said, not sure how any parent could abandon his children.
“My grandfather stepped in and he was great. So I did okay, but it was harder for Jimmy. There was the big age difference. We’d still been close until Dad left. Then we grew apart.” He took a drink. “Maybe he resented me taking over and being in charge. I don’t know. The older he got, the less we got along.”
Something about the way he told the story made her feel bad. As if he had regrets and they still hurt him. But before she could think of what to ask, the doorbell rang.
Dev glanced at his watch. “Right on time,” he said as he stood. “Come on. You’ll like this.”
She had no idea what he was talking about but she followed him into the foyer. He opened the door and shook hands with a small, older man carrying a wide briefcase.
“Noelle, this is Frank Gaston. He owns Gaston Jewelry.”
“Mr. Gaston,” she said, shaking hands with him.
Mr. Gaston smiled at her, then turned to Dev. “She’s very pretty. I hope you’ll be happy together.”
Dev smiled at her. “I’m sure we will be.” He led the way into the dining room and indicated that Mr. Gaston should put his case on the table.
“I asked Frank to bring over a selection of engagement rings. I thought this would be easier than going to a store together.” He moved next to her and lowered his voice. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to wear the ring until we’ve figured out how we’re going to tell your family.”
She nodded because speaking was impossible.
He was buying her an engagement ring? She’d only been pregnant since that morning. Okay, since she’d been with Jimmy, but she’d only known about it for fourteen hours. Everything was happening so quickly. She felt as if she were living her life on fast-forward. She wanted to slow things down and let her head stop spinning, but Mr. Gaston was already opening the case and asking her if she knew her ring size.
“Five, I think,” she said, fighting the urge to tuck her hands behind her back. If she didn’t accept a ring, maybe none of this would really happen.
But then Mr. Gaston held out a plain band to her and she found herself slipping it on her finger.
The band made it over her knuckle, but it was a tight fit. “Five and a half,” the older man said. As she watched, he shifted through trays of stunning diamond engagement rings. They sparkled and winked and seemed to all be very large and impressive.
He removed a single tray and set it on the table. “All these are the right size,” he said. “So, young lady. What do you like?”
There was nothing not to like, she thought, wishing she hadn’t tried so hard to eat a little dinner. The fajitas were sitting heavily in her now tense stomach.
Dev stood next to her. “Not your style?” he asked in a low voice.
“They’re lovely,” she whispered back, “but they seem very expensive.”
He chuckled, then kissed the top of her head. There was nothing romantic or sexual about the action, she thought, slightly stunned. It was something one would do to a favorite niece or cousin. Still, she felt comforted.
“Didn’t we already have the money talk?” he asked. “Come here.”
He took her hand and drew her to the table. She was so caught up in the feel of his warm, strong fingers touching hers that she didn’t pull back when he picked up an emerald-cut solitaire and slid it onto her finger.
She’d imagined this moment since she’d been a little girl. The soft lights, the romantic music, the love in her husband-to-be’s eyes as he slid the engagement ring on her finger. She’d never thought she would be in a strange house with a man she barely knew after agreeing to a two-year marriage of convenience while pregnant with another man’s child.
Her life was practically a reality show.
“Not this one,” she said, staring down at the stone. While it was beautiful, it seemed cold.
He took it off, but kept hold of her hand.
She let him, more aware of his touch than the rings. He picked up several different ones and put them back before finally taking a ring with a large center cushion-cut stone flanked by small baguettes.
“I think this one,” he said as he slid it on. “What do you think?”
The ring was amazing. Pretty and big, without being gaudy. It seemed to suit the shape of her hand and her fingers. Which was all good, but it was still the biggest diamond she’d ever seen in her life.
“Will your insurance cover this?” she asked.
He laughed, then touched his free hand to her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
She didn’t know what to say to that. How could anyone not like the ring?
“Can you stand to wear it?” he amended.
“Of course,” she said quickly. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
He cut her off with a shake of his head. “I know what you meant. Is this one okay?”
She nodded without looking at the ring. “You’re being very generous.”
“I know this is difficult,” he said quietly. “Whatever happens, I want you to be happy.”
She would never have imagined him saying something like that to her. For the first time since finding out she was pregnant, some of the fear faded and the future didn’t look quite so bleak.
“I want you to be happy, too,” she said.
“Good. Then we’re agreed.”
She wasn’t sure if he meant the happy thing or the ring. Either way, she had the thought that maybe the next two years weren’t going to be as difficult as she’d first imagined.
CHAPTER THREE (#u26d7b3c3-15b5-583f-9246-ddafcc848a01)
“Why does the yarn always hate me?” Crissy asked as once again her project quickly tangled into a complete mess.
Noelle did her best not to laugh at her friend’s distress. Crissy tried really hard in their knitting class, but it did seem as if she were always making a disaster instead of knitting the current project.
Crissy held up her two needles and the raggedy yarn falling off of one. “What am I doing wrong?” she asked, sounding both frustrated and near laughter.
Rachel leaned over and fingered the uneven stitches. “You’re not even casting on right,” she said. “Give it here. Let’s start over and see if we can get this going.”
Crissy handed over her needles, then winced as Rachel began unraveling everything.
Noelle carefully worked her needles, counting and making sure she kept up with the pattern. This was the first week of their intermediate class. They’d moved from simple squares and a shawl to a vest.
“Now cast on,” Rachel said, leaning over Crissy’s arm. “How many stitches do you want?”
Crissy looked at the pattern. “Twenty-five.”
She worked laboriously, then grinned when she’d finished that first row.
“Much better,” Rachel said.
Crissy beamed.
Noelle watched them, noting how Rachel’s dark hair and Crissy’s auburn curls looked against each other.
With everything else going on in her life, Noelle had almost decided not to take the class, but now that she was here with her friends, she was glad she’d come.
She’d met Crissy and Rachel four months ago, when all three of them had come for their first class. Rachel had learned to knit as a teenager but hadn’t picked up needles in years. Crissy and Noelle had been complete novices and totally uncoordinated. Lucky for them, Rachel had sat at their table and talked them through the first few lessons.
Soon they were meeting after class for a late dinner, as they did tonight. Noelle waited until they were seated in the small restaurant at the other end of the strip mall and had placed their orders before she spoke up.
“I have something to tell you,” she said.
Instantly both Rachel and Crissy looked at her. “You’ve been a little quiet,” Crissy said. “I’d wondered if something was up. Are you all right?”
Noelle nodded. She was close to her mom and her sisters, but sometimes she wanted relationships outside of her family. While she didn’t know how she was going to break the news of her pregnancy and marriage to her parents, telling her friends didn’t seem so scary.
“I’m going to have a baby,” she said.
Her friends stared at her.
“Not tonight,” Rachel said. “Because if you are, I need to know. I’m starving and I’ll eat fast.”
Noelle laughed. “Not tonight. In about eight months.”
Crissy’s green eyes widened. “Jimmy’s the father, isn’t he?” She reached across the table and touched Noelle’s arm. “You learned he’d died what, four weeks ago, and now you’re pregnant? Are you all right? Are you terrified? I’d be terrified.”
Under any other circumstances, the three of them would never have met and become friends. Crissy was thirty, the owner of a small chain of gyms for women. Rachel was twenty-six and a kindergarten teacher. Noelle was the baby of the group, but they never made her feel younger or out of place. Right now, with everything going on in her life, Noelle appreciated their support more than she could say.
“I’m still trying to figure out what I feel,” Noelle admitted. “Jimmy being gone sort of changes everything.”
“You have to tell the family,” Rachel said firmly. “They have the right to know a part of Jimmy lives on.”
Crissy wrinkled her nose. “But then they’ll get involved before Noelle knows what she wants to do. What if she wants to give the baby up for adoption? I mean that makes the most sense.” She turned to Noelle. “You’re still in college. There are so many deserving couples out there who would be fabulous parents.”
Rachel shook her head. “She’s not going to do that. Besides, the family has a right to know.” She looked at Noelle. “Didn’t you say Jimmy has a brother?”
“Yes. Devlin Hunter.”
“There you go,” Rachel said. “Maybe he wants to be a part of his late brother’s child’s life.”
“So some guy is going to raise Noelle’s baby?” Crissy asked. “I don’t think so.”
“I never thought of adoption,” Noelle admitted. There hadn’t been time. One second she’d seen the writing on the stick and the next, Dev knew, too. “But it’s not an issue. Jimmy’s brother knows about the baby and he wants us to get married. I wasn’t sure I would agree at first, but now I do. So we’re engaged.”
She thought about the diamond ring tucked in the back of her lingerie draw. Should she have brought it to show them? Should she—
She realized both women were staring at her as if she’d suddenly morphed into a zebra. She’d thought the baby announcement had been shocking enough, but apparently this one was worse. Their eyes were wide, their mouths open.
Crissy recovered first. “Maybe you should start at the beginning,” she said.
Noelle explained about taking the test in Dev’s office and what had happened afterward. She left out the part about her parents being in debt. That wasn’t something she wanted to share.
She talked about how Dev had reacted and his proposal. As she told the story, she still found it difficult to believe this was happening.
“Are you insane?” Crissy asked, then winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that to come out so harshly. But are you insane?”
Rachel shook her head. “In a way, it makes sense. Dev is doing what his brother would have done.” She frowned. “Jimmy would have married you, right?”
“He said he wanted to,” Noelle said, although she wasn’t completely sure he would have come through.
“So it’s just one brother stepping in for the other,” Rachel said. “It could happen.”
“Not in my neighborhood,” Crissy said. “Weren’t you in love with Jimmy? How can you marry his brother?”
“It’s a marriage of convenience,” Rachel said. “All the rules are spelled out. This isn’t about being in love. It’s about doing the right thing. Dev wants to take care of Noelle and the baby. I think that’s great. They’ll always be family and be connected. Family is everything.”
As her friends continued to argue the point, Noelle realized she hadn’t thought of the fact that she and Dev would always be in each other’s lives in one way or another. The baby would bind them together the way children always bound parents together.
Parents. She had trouble thinking of herself that way, although for Dev, it was a familiar role. He’d raised Jimmy for years. Knowing he would know what he was doing made her feel better about marrying him.
He’d been great about everything. Kind and generous and patient. Okay, and gorgeous. Under other circumstances…
She mentally put on the brakes. What was she thinking? Dev wasn’t interested in anything but a business deal. Besides, what about Jimmy?
Had they been in love? She honestly didn’t know. She’d felt more strongly about him than she had about any other guy she’d dated. She’d cried when she’d heard he died and had missed him. But love? What did love feel like? How could anyone be sure?
Crissy smiled at her. “We just want you to be happy. And look at the bright side—no more first dates for a long time. That’s thrilling.”
Rachel nodded her agreement. “Is this what you want?”
Noelle thought about Dev and how he was willing to be there for her and the baby. How she would now be able to protect her parents from more financial burden and still pursue her nursing degree.
“I wouldn’t have chosen to get pregnant,” she admitted. “But if I had to then I’m glad Dev is willing to marry me and give the baby a name.”
“Then ‘yay’ Dev,” Rachel said. “Wouldn’t you know that the youngest of the group is the first to get married.”
Crissy looked at her. “Do you want to be married? You’ve never said anything.”
Rachel shrugged. “I wouldn’t mind a family of my own. I’ve always thought about that. What about you?”
Crissy shook her head. “I don’t get the whole kid thing. And giving birth? Way too many fluids.”
“I agree with the fluids,” Rachel said with a grin. “But what about a man to come home to?”
“That would require dating,” Crissy told her. “I don’t date. Especially first dates. They’re the worst. Besides, I have a cat. He’s more than enough. I have friends and a great life.”
Noelle laughed. “What about a really cute guy?”
“He’s a really cute cat. Seriously, I’m fine being single. I never had that burning need to bond with someone.”
Noelle wondered why. Didn’t everyone have a biological need to connect? She knew she’d always imagined herself getting married and having a family. Funny how now she was doing both, and neither felt especially real.
* * *
“Thanks for agreeing to go from the office,” Noelle said. “I know you offered to go from my house, but I haven’t told my parents about you yet and…”
Her voice trailed off.
Dev glanced at her, then returned his attention to the road as he drove to the restaurant. “We were both at work. It’s fine.”
She was obviously nervous and he was willing to admit the situation was unusual.
“You’re being really nice about everything,” she said. “I’ll get better at this, I promise. I just need a little time.”
“We both need that,” he said, knowing it was true. “That’s why we’re having dinner—so we can work out the logistics. Decide when I’m going to meet your parents and what we’re going to say to them.”
She nodded.
She was sensible, he thought. He’d been watching her in the office and she seemed good at her job. Katherine said she was well-liked. Together, he thought, wondering what she’d seen in his brother.
On the heels of that came guilt. Guilt over what had happened to Jimmy and guilt for taking what his brother had lost—his girl and his baby. Something Jimmy—were he alive—wouldn’t understand. Of course, if Jimmy were alive, none of this would be an issue.
Dev reminded himself he didn’t want Noelle, he was simply doing the right thing. Still, he felt regret and wished Jimmy were here to be the one to marry her.
At the restaurant, he handed the keys to the valet and then walked around the car, put his hand on Noelle’s back and guided her into the restaurant. Once there, he gave his name to the hostess and they were shown to a quiet table in the corner.
“This place is very nice,” Noelle said with a smile as she was seated with her back to the main dining area. “I’ve heard about it, of course, but I’ve never eaten here.” She wrinkled her nose. “We don’t eat out that much and with my friends, we do more lunch kind of stuff.”
She accepted the menu the waiter offered. Dev reached out for his, but realized the young man wasn’t paying attention to him at all. Instead he seemed mesmerized by Noelle. It was only when the server had left that Dev looked at her, really looked, and saw her as others would. As a young woman rather than just the girl who had dated his brother.
She was pretty, he thought with some surprise. Her skin was smooth and pale, her eyes a dark blue. Long blond hair hung well past her shoulders. Her dress hugged full curves although he remembered a narrow waist and hips.
Her body got his attention and his body responded automatically. The sudden arousal and heat stunned him. What the hell? There was no way anything was going to happen between them. She was pregnant and his brother’s girl. What was wrong with him?
He focused on the menu and pushed all other thoughts from his mind, although a lingering heat remained. Noelle was nothing but someone in need. She was going to be like a sister to him. A much younger sister. There could never be anything between them.
Unfortunately his promise to keep his vows popped into his head just then and he mentally groaned at the thought of two years of celibacy. Two very long years. Yet the thought of cheating wasn’t appealing, either.
“Everything looks great,” Noelle said as she read the menu. “Are there any dishes you recommend?”
They talked about the menu until they ordered, then Dev leaned back in his chair. “I have some paperwork I want you to look over,” he told her. “My lawyer wrote up an agreement. It’s very straightforward and there aren’t any surprises. The details are as we discussed. The baby will have Hunter as his or her last name. There will be a trust set up for the child, along with child support and a monthly income for you. When we divorce, you will be able to buy a house. With real estate values going up so much, I didn’t set a specific value. Instead, I’ve specified the type and size.”
The waiter arrived with their drinks. Dev picked up his. “Your copy is in the car, along with a list of lawyers who are familiar with this kind of agreement and a letter saying I’ll pay for the consultation.” He leaned forward. “I’m serious about this, Noelle. Don’t take my word for what I’m telling you. Have someone knowledgeable look the document over and give you an opinion.”
The more he insisted on her getting her own legal advice, the more she felt she didn’t need it, Noelle thought. But she would do as he asked. It was smart and he was making it easy.
“I know you’re not trying to cheat me,” she said. “I’m not concerned.”
“You have no reason to trust me.”
That made her smile. “Dev, when you found out I was pregnant with your brother’s child, the first thing you did was propose. You never asked for a test to prove the baby was Jimmy’s, you didn’t accuse me of trying to trap him or you. I appreciate all that. You’re the kind of man who does the right thing. I respect your principles.”
He stiffened and she wondered what she’d said that was wrong. Before she could ask what, he said, “We need to discuss the wedding. I think sooner is better than later.”
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, he was right. It wasn’t as if she were getting any less pregnant by the day.
“Las Vegas is an option,” he continued. “It’s close and easy. Most of the hotels there will be happy to arrange the wedding. We could fly out on a Saturday morning and be back by midday Sunday.”
“That’s fast,” she murmured.
Las Vegas. She had an immediate picture of a tacky chapel and an Elvis impersonator performing the ceremony. A far cry from the large, elegant affair she’d always pictured for herself. She imagined her sisters as her bridesmaids and her father giving her away.
Dev surprised her by reaching across the table and touching her hand. “You’ll have your dream wedding next time,” he said.
How had he known what she was thinking? “Las Vegas is fine. It makes the most sense.”
His dark gaze settled on her face. “I thought we’d wait until we’d been married a few weeks before telling your family about the baby.”
She nodded slowly, liking the warmth of his fingers on hers. “That’s for the best. The wedding will be enough for them to take in at first.”
She didn’t want to think about how everyone would react. Her mother would be hurt to be excluded from such an important event and her father…her father would want to be sure she really loved Dev.
She didn’t know how she was going to get around that question, so she would have to do her best to avoid it.
So much to think about, she thought as their salads arrived. So much change so quickly.
“I thought it would be less complicated to tell your parents after the fact about the wedding,” he said. “When we get back, we can drive over and tell them it’s done. Then you’ll move into the house.”
Noelle put down her fork and stared at him. Of course she’d known that getting married meant living in the same house, but she hadn’t thought through the reality of moving into Dev’s home or moving out of her own.
“There are two guestrooms joined by a bathroom,” he continued. “That should work for you and the baby. I have a cleaning service that comes in once a week.”
She knew people hired them, but she didn’t know anyone who did. “I can clean the house,” she told him.
He smiled. “You don’t have to. The house is big, plus there’s the pool house. Besides, you’ll be busy with college and the baby. Your education is important, Noelle. I know getting pregnant screwed up your plan, but I want to make sure when we get divorced, you’re well on your way to achieving all you want.”
“I find it hard to talk about getting married and divorced in the same conversation,” she admitted. “I saw a couple of my friends yesterday and I’m going to ask you the same question they asked me. Are you crazy?”
“Not that I’m aware of, although I’ve heard the psychiatric patient is always the last to know. What are you worried about?”
She liked that he didn’t dismiss her concerns or try to convince her everything was fine.
“Nothing specific, just this isn’t anything I ever thought I’d do. I don’t know how I feel anymore. The baby isn’t real to me. I haven’t had any symptoms. Just what that stick told me.”
“Do you think the stick is wrong?”
She shook her head. “No, I’m guessing it’s right. We’re talking about getting married and I don’t even know how old you are.”
“Thirty.”
Okay. One question down, four thousand left. “What do you expect from me when we’re married? You have a cleaning service. Do I greet you at the door and ask you about your day? Have dinner ready? Is our marriage going to be more Brady Bunch or Married with Children?”
“How about The Simpsons? I think you’d look great with blue hair.”
She eyed him. The humor surprised her, but in a good way. “You don’t look anything like Homer.”
“I could try.”
“Please don’t.” Dev was handsome and elegant, in a James Bond sort of way.
“Noelle, we’ll make this relationship what we want it to be. I’d like us to be friends first. That’s going to take some time. If you want to cook, I won’t say no. I’m tired of take-out and frozen dinners. If you aren’t interested, that’s fine, too. I don’t have any rules.”
“But I like rules,” she told him. “I like things neatly defined.”
“An unexpected pregnancy has a way of changing the rules.”
She knew he was right. “What about decorating or entertaining?”
“You can change anything in the house except my study. I have the name of the designer I used. You can call her or pick someone else, or do it yourself. As for entertaining…” He hesitated. “Let’s get used to being married, first.”
“Okay.” She drew in a deep breath and tried to relax. “You know, you can change your mind about marrying me.”
He shook his head. “I’m committed to this, Noelle. Are you?”
Sometimes she felt she was doing the right thing and others she felt she was flirting with disaster. But she’d made up her mind and given her word and she was going to keep it.
“This is what I want,” she said.
“Then Marge and Homer Simpson it is.”
* * *
Noelle checked the purchase order against the packing slip, then compared both with the bill from the supplier. Part of her job included random audits on all the departments. The computer would generate a list of purchases or sales every month and she would walk through the entire process to make sure everything was the way it was supposed to be. She then wrote up a report for Katherine, her boss, who passed it along to Dev.
In the past, she’d never much thought about him reading her findings or critiquing them. All her feedback came through Katherine. But now all that was different—at least on her end. Did Dev notice the e-mails that came from her? Did he think of her differently now?
Not that she would ask, she thought humorously. There were already enough awkward conversations without her throwing one more into the mix.
Katherine, a tall blonde in her late fifties, paused by Noelle’s desk. “If you have a minute, could I see you in my office?”
“Sure.” Noelle saved her work on the computer and followed her boss down the hallway.
Katherine’s office was next to Dev’s and while smaller, was still bright and beautifully decorated. The muted colors blended with the dark wood furniture. Had Noelle wanted to stay in business, she thought that Katherine would be the perfect role model. The woman had started out working in shipping and had risen to be second in command to the president of the company. Nothing happened at Hunter Manufacturing without Katherine knowing about it.
Noelle sat on the chair opposite the desk and waited. Katherine smiled at her.
“Dev’s gone this afternoon,” she began. “I’m telling you that so you won’t worry about him interrupting us or hearing our conversation.”
Okay, so they weren’t going to discuss Noelle’s performance. “All right.” Then she realized that Katherine and Dev had been working together for years and it was very likely he’d told her about the impending marriage.
Katherine confirmed her guess when she said, “I understand congratulations are in order.”
Noelle shifted in her seat. What on earth was she supposed to say? “I know it probably seems fast,” she mumbled. What would Katherine think of her?
But her boss’s eyes remained kind. “Life has a way of making things interesting. Still, I can’t tell you how sorry I am to lose you.”
“I’m not excited about quitting, either,” Noelle admitted. “But under the circumstances, it seemed best.” Being Dev’s assistant’s secretary would be more than a little awkward once the marriage took place.
Katherine studied her intently. “I knew you were dating Jimmy. He was an interesting young man. Dev put a lot of effort into his brother.” She paused. “Jimmy was fun, but not necessarily someone you would want to trust with your future. Dev is a good man. I’ve known him since he was a teenager. You can trust him, Noelle. I wanted to wish you the best and tell you that I hope you’ll consider the possibilities.”
Noelle didn’t know what to say. Had Katherine guessed some version of the truth? It sounded like it. Noelle was confident Dev wouldn’t say anything without telling her first.
“I agree Dev is a good man.” That fact made all of this possible.
“He deserves someone to love him. There have been…disappointments in his life.”
Disappointments? More than Jimmy’s death?
It occurred to Noelle that she knew very little about the man she would be marrying. He took responsibility, he was kind, but who was he really?
Katherine smiled. “I think the two of you will be very happy together.”
“Thank you,” Noelle murmured and found herself wishing that were possible.
* * *
Under normal circumstances, Dev would consider himself something of a catch. He had a career, owned a successful business and whoever married him would never want for money. He thought of himself as a good person at heart, although there were plenty of flaws. Still, he’d never had a problem attracting or keeping women around.
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