Pregnant In Prosperino Read Free Page A

hand through his collar-length hair as if to steady himself.
    â€œEven though the last thing I ever want to do is ranch, and despite the fact that this place holds only terrible memories, I wanted it.” His voice was low, deep with barely suppressed emotion. “I wanted to sell this place and take the money and start my own business. He owed me this, Lana. Damn him, he owed me this.”
    She heard the pain beneath the anger, and her heart ached for him. “Then take it,” she said with the bravado that was uncharacteristic. “Marry me and claim the ranch. Fix it up and sell it. Give me a baby, then ride off into the sunset with everyone happy.”
    He sat down once again and eyed her incredulously. “You’re serious about this.”
    â€œI’ve never been more serious in my life,” she said truthfully. From the instant she’d heard about Chance’s dilemma with his father’s will, she’d felt as if a bargain between them was predestined.
    â€œBut you understand if you want a baby, that means we’d have to—we would be…” He allowed his voice to trail off.
    â€œChance, I know how babies are made,” she said as a surge of heat suffused her cheeks.
    â€œAnd that doesn’t bother you—the idea of, uh, sleeping with me?”
    â€œOf course not,” she replied briskly, not quite meeting his gaze.
    â€œLana, I respect your parents. It wouldn’t be right to them.”
    She offered him a small smile. “I’m not asking you to sleep with them.” Her smile fell away, and she eyed him levelly. “My parents will respect my choice, my decision.”
    He sighed and frowned thoughtfully. “I could pay you. If we decide to do this, I could give you some of the money from the sale of this place.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t want your money.” She forced herself to look at him once again. “That wouldn’t feel right. Besides, I don’t need your money. All I want is a child. You give me a baby and I’ll consider us even.”
    His forehead wrinkled with thought. “It would take a lot of work to get this place ready to put on the market.” His frown deepened. “I’d want to fix it upto get top market value. According to Walt Bishop, I’ve got five days to fulfill the terms of the will. That means we’d have to get married within the next five days.”
    A shiver of apprehension swept through Lana as she realized he was actually considering her proposal. “All we need is a license and a justice of the peace,” she replied.
    â€œOkay,” he said. “You need a baby and I need a temporary wife. How about we tie the knot in two days?”
    Again a tinge of anxiety whispered through her. Was this what she wanted? She thought of baby Marissa cooing to her, tiny fingers grasping around hers, and her heart constricted with deep yearning.
    If she waited for nature to take its course, waited for love to find her and a traditional wedding to occur, she might wait forever.
    â€œTwo days sound fine,” she said, shoving any lingering doubts to the farthest reaches of her mind.
    They agreed to meet for the marriage license first thing in the morning, and moments later Lana was on her way back to her apartment.
    As she drove through the September night from the Reilly ranch to her place, her head spun with what she’d just agreed to do. In two days’ time she was going to become Mrs. Chance Reilly.
    â€œAnd that doesn’t bother you—the idea of sleeping with me?”
    Chance’s words played again in her head. She tightened her hands on the steering wheel.
    Bother her? Yes, it bothered her. The idea of sleeping with Chance quickened her heartbeat, weakened her knees and filled her with a fiery heat. How many women got the opportunity, as adults, to fulfill what had been a forbidden adolescent fantasy?
    But it wasn’t quite her