The Durango Affair - Brenda Jackson [15]
She frowned. “I wouldn’t want you to do me any favors.”
“It’s not about doing you any favors, Savannah. I intend to always be a part of my child’s life regardless of whether you and I are together. But I think six months afterward should be sufficient, unless you want longer.”
When hell freezes over. For a few moments Savannah didn’t say anything. What could she say when he was right? They had been attracted to each other from the first.
But what happened that night was in the past and she refused to willingly tumble back into bed with him again, and he had another thought coming if he assumed that she would. Evidently he was used to getting what he wanted, but in this case he wouldn’t be so lucky.
She then thought about the other thing he’d said, about wanting to connect to their child while it was still in her womb. She remembered reading in one of her baby books how such a thing was possible and important to the baby’s well-being. Some couples even played music and read books to their child while it was still growing inside the mother. Never in her wildest dreams would she have thought that Durango would know, much less care, about such things.
She pushed her plate back, glad she had eaten everything since it would probably be the last meal she’d be able to consume until this time tomorrow. “I need to think about what you’re suggesting, Durango.”
At the lift of his brow she decided to clarify. “I’m talking about the marriage of convenience without you having any bedroom rights. If your offer hinges on the opposite then there’s nothing for me to think about. I won’t be sleeping with you, marriage or no marriage.” She then thought of something.
“And where would we live if I went along with what you’re proposing?” she asked.
He shrugged broad shoulders. “I prefer here, but if you want I can move to Philly.”
Savannah knew that Durango was a man of the mountains. Here he was in his element and she couldn’t imagine him living in Philadelphia of all places. “What about your job?”
“I’ll take a leave.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You’d be willing to do that?”
“For our child, yes.”
She searched his face and saw the sincerity in his words, and they overwhelmed her as well as frightened her. He was letting her know up front that although he didn’t want a long-term commitment, he was willing to engage in a short-term one for the sake of her child.
Their child.
She stood. “Like I said, I need to think about this, Durango.”
“And I want you to think about it and think about it good. If you’re dead set against us sharing a bed then that’s fine. My offer of marriage still stands.”
He stood and came around the table to stand in front of her. “There are bath towels, a robe and whatever else you might need in the private bath adjoining your room. If you need anything else let me know. Otherwise, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll help you with the dishes and—”
“No, leave them,” he said quickly, releasing a frustrated breath. There was only so much temptation that he could handle and at that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, taste her. But he knew that now was not the time. She needed a chance to think about his offer.
“I’ll take care of the dishes later after checking out a few things around my property,” he added.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“All right.”
Durango watched as Savannah quickly walked off. He couldn’t help but shake his head. Nothing had changed. The attraction between them was still as hot as it got.
Four
T he next morning Savannah awoke more confused than ever. She had barely gotten any sleep for thinking about Durango’s proposal. In a way it could make their mistake even bigger. On the other hand, he seemed sincere in wanting to help her through her pregnancy, and she wouldn’t deny him the chance to bond with his child, especially when very few men would care to do so.
Deciding she didn’t want to think about Durango’s proposal any longer, she sat up in bed and glanced out the window. The weather was worse than it had been the