Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [48]
She opened her lips to confess that Randy was not her child but Janine's. She knew he was entitled to know everything, if she was going to solicit his help. Under the circumstances, Janine would surely forgive her for breaking her promise. Suddenly Brenna was beset by doubts. Would Donovan be as eager to help her if he knew the child wasn't hers? He had no affection for Randy. Wouldn't he, like everyone else, think that she should turn Randy over to his natural father? She couldn't take the chance. Randy was too important to her.
Donovan strolled over to the bar and made himself a drink. Pouring her a small whiskey, he returned to hand it to her.
She accepted it, a small smile curving her lips. “This seems to be your day for plying me with liquor,” she said.
“You need it,” he said curtly. “Now suppose you tell me why you think Chadeaux has a chance of gaining custody of Randy. Didn't you say the father wasn't named on the birth certificate?”
Not looking at him, Brenna briefly related Chadeaux's threats. She purposely did not mention Janine, leaving Donovan to assume that it was Chadeaux's intention to hire detectives to find witnesses to their affair that had so terrified her.
“That's all?” Donovan asked, his eyes narrowed on her flushed face. “You're sure he wasn't trying to blackmail you? He didn't offer to leave Randy with you for a consideration?”
Brenna shook her head, relieved that he had mistaken her guilt for distress. She made a face. “He made an offer,” she admitted dryly. “But I couldn't take marriage with Paul Chadeaux even for Randy.”
Donovan looked at his drink. “Marriage,” he said thoughtfully. “The bastard must know you very well. In time, when you'd gotten desperate enough, you might have given in to even that. It's obvious you'd do anything for the child.” He took a long swallow of his drink. “It makes you very vulnerable, Brenna. I can see that I'm going to have to build a fence around you to keep out the predators.”
“A fence?” Brenna asked blankly.
“I'm going to marry you myself,” Donovan said coolly.
She felt her heart lurch, and the blood rush dizzily to her head. “That's not very funny,” she said breathlessly, moistening her lips.
“It wasn't intended to be,” Donovan said calmly. “I've just offered you a solution to your problem. Marriage to me would safeguard your claim to Randy, and protect you from any further harassment from Chadeaux. I know how to take care of my own.”
“He could still locate those witnesses and push his claim to Randy.”
His eyes were totally ruthless. “Not if I claim that I'm Randy's father. I don't relish the idea of casting myself as a seducer of a teenage Lolita, but I imagine my word would be taken over Chadeaux's. I pour a lot of money into the state's economy, and I have a few friends in high places.”
Brenna's eyes were wide with shock. “No one would believe you,” she said. “I didn't even know you three years ago.”
Donovan shrugged. “Who's to know that?” he asked sardonically. “For every witness that Chadeaux produces to testify that you were his mistress, I'll have two to swear you were mine. In case you haven't heard, money talks!”
“You'd pay someone to perjure themselves?” Brenna asked, aghast.
“If necessary,” Donovan said bluntly. “Would you rather lose Randy? There are no guarantees that you'll get justice just because you're right. Sometimes justice has to be manipulated.” He smiled tightly. “However, it may not come to that. Your ex-lover seems to be a little on the shady side. I may be able to put the screws on him in some other way. I'll get my lawyers on it tomorrow.” He drained his glass, and set it down on the coffee table. “It would be best if we were married immediately,” he said simply. “Shall we say, three days? That will take care of the