92 Pacific Boulevard - Debbie Macomber [98]
“Who was on the phone?” Mary Jo asked. “My brother?”
“Yeah, it was Linc. He’ll be here in a couple of hours. Probably around eight.”
Mack grinned at the baby, utterly enchanted by her. He couldn’t stand the thought of not having her and Mary Jo in his life anymore. Yes, he could visit them in Seattle, but it wouldn’t be the same.
“Why don’t I take you to an early dinner,” Mack suggested. “You could use a distraction for an hour or so.”
Reluctantly she shook her head. “I couldn’t eat. Thanks, anyway.” She lifted Noelle into her arms and walked toward him. “You go ahead, if you want.” But even as she spoke, she reached for his hand.
He was deeply gratified to know she didn’t mean what she’d said. She wanted him with her.
“I’m not leaving you.” He meant more than she realized he was saying.
“Thank you.” Mary Jo sounded both relieved and embarrassed.
“I’ll stay here with you and we’ll wait for Linc.“
Mary Jo sent him a grateful look. “Thank you,” she repeated.
He held out his arms for Noelle, and Mary Jo handed him the baby who settled instantly in his embrace. He smiled down at her, tickling her chin with his index finger. Outwardly he remained calm, but he was thinking furiously, wondering exactly what he should say to Mary Jo—and how he should say it.
“I should start packing,” she said.
Mack raised one hand, stopping her. “Don’t.“
“But—“
“I have an idea that might work.“
She blinked. “What kind of idea?“
“An idea that’ll let you stay in Cedar Cove.“
Her expression grew hopeful. “What?“
Mack gathered his resolve. “You could marry me.“
The color seemed to drain from her face, and for a few seconds he was afraid she might faint.
“What do you think?” he asked, terrified that she’d reject him outright. His heart felt as if it had shot into his throat and lodged there.
“You don’t mean that.“
“I do.“
Mary Jo leaned against the wall. “That won’t solve anything,” she said.
Mack disagreed. “The next time David comes around, he’ll be dealing with me, your husband. He’ll be speaking to both of us. Trust me, if he does try this trick again, it’ll be the last time.”
“You don’t have to marry me to—“
“It would give me the authority to tell him to stay away from my family.“
“But—“
“I’ll legally adopt Noelle.” He watched as her eyes flared with what he assumed was happiness. Then almost immediately her face fell.
“David won’t let you adopt Noelle, especially if he’s planning to use her to manipulate his father for funds.“
Mack shook his head. “He’ll surrender his rights if we pressure him for child support. We could probably prove without too much trouble that he’s an unfit father.” Mack suspected that as soon as David Rhodes realized he wouldn’t be able to use his daughter as leverage against Mary Jo and his father, he’d be willing to sign over all parental rights.
Mary Jo seemed to consider his proposal. “It’s…very nice of you to offer.“
She was going to reject him. Mack held himself rigid, bracing for her next words.
She must have sensed his disappointment because she quickly added, “I need time to think about this.“
Mack checked his watch. “You have an hour and twenty-five minutes.” He didn’t mean to make this sound like an ultimatum, but there was a practical reason for the time limit.
She obviously understood what it was. “Before Linc arrives?“
Mack nodded. “I’d like to explain all this to him, so he’s comfortable with me as his brother-in-law.“
“And if I say no?“
Mack expelled his breath. He didn’t want to contemplate that possibility. He’d deal with it if he had to and would volunteer his protection and friendship regardless, but…
“I’m hoping you will agree to marry me,” he said.
She turned away from him and her shoulders rose, then fell. “First my brothers and now you! Why do all of you feel you know what’s best for me and Noelle?”
Mack closed his eyes and recognized that he’d gone about this wrong, but he wasn’t sure how to rectify his blunder. “You’re right,” he said in a low voice. “I don