One Special Moment - Brenda Jackson [80]
He took a deep, shaky breath upon suddenly realizing that with Colby he wanted that other kind of love; the kind he had avoided for so long.
“What have you done to me, Colby?” he whispered quietly. But soon after he’d asked the question of himself, he immediately knew the answer. He knew at that very moment, beyond a shadow of a doubt, whether he wanted to or not, he had fallen in love with her.
“Ah, hell, this wasn’t supposed to happen,” he muttered to himself, tightening his hands into fists. He was never supposed to fall in love. He was supposed to spend the rest of his life without any emotional attachment to a woman. But in her own way, Colby had broken down his resolve and had bombarded him with all kinds of emotions. They were emotions he had never felt before, and more importantly, they were emotions he couldn’t deny any longer.
Colby had snuggled her way into his heart.
“James, please be reasonable. It’s like you haven’t listened to anything I’ve said. You’re refusing to listen. I’ve told you I have no intention of honoring that contract.”
“But Hamilton doesn’t know that, Colby. He thinks you’ll be out of his life within twelve months after his child is born. And no matter what you want, he’ll get his way because he has your signature on a legal document to make sure he does.”
“But things can change before then. I’m hoping he’ll want to keep me here with him and our child.”
James pulled his sister in his arms. “Oh, Colby, I hope that will happen, too, but that may not be the case. You know of Hamilton’s reputation. And although he wants a baby, I doubt he’s ready to change his lifestyle and permanently become a married man. Right now all you are to him is a means to an end.”
“No, that’s not true. We had a wonderful time together in Barbados. He likes having me around, James. I just know it. One day he’s going to realize that both he and the baby will need me.”
“Don’t get your hopes up on that, honey. Just because a man enjoys sleeping with a woman doesn’t mean he’s ready for a permanent relationship with her. Sterling’s name has always been connected with numerous women and that may not change although he’s married to you now. You may need to prepare yourself for that.”
Colby stiffened. “How can you say such a thing?”
“Because from what you’ve just told me, you and Hamilton don’t have a real marriage. At least not in the real sense of what the institution of marriage is supposed to represent. The only thing binding between the two of you is a contract—a contract he expects you to abide by. The only thing the two of you share is a business deal.”
All it took was a look at the expression on Colby’s face to let James know his words had hurt her. He reached out and pulled her to him. “I’ve sheltered you from so much, Colby, and maybe that’s where I made my mistake. It’s time you see things as they really are. Let me help you get out of this before it’s too late. Once you get pregnant from him, Hamilton will demand his child. We need to consult my attorneys right away. Hopefully they’ll be able to come up with some—”
Colby pushed herself away from James. “No. I won’t leave him. Please try and understand that I have to do this, and not just for Wingate Cosmetics. I have to do this for me and for Sterling. He needs me, James. I know you think that sounds crazy, but deep in my heart I believe that. There’s never been a woman in Sterling’s life to