The Ransomes: Matt, Nick and Katherine

“Matt. Don’t!” Olivia stepped in front of Matt, placing herself between the two angry men. “Stop this! Don’t let me tear apart your family,” she urged. Her heart pounded and she was cold with worry, wondering if Matt even saw her or knew she was in front of him. His blue eyes flashed with fire and his chest heaved.

“Get out of the way, Olivia,” Matt said without taking his gaze from his father.

“No! I won’t let you two destroy this family,” she said.

“If you reject my offer, you’ll regret it all your life,” Duke said, lowering his clenched fists and turning to look at her.

“I’ll never regret turning down your offer,” she declared.

Duke glared at Olivia. “You’re a cool customer, Miss Brennan. If you’re holding out for a better offer, you won’t get it.”

“Sir, I’ve already gotten it,” she said softly, and his jaw tightened. Matt stepped beside her and placed his arm around her shoulders.

“Dad, you apologize to my fiancée or don’t come back to my house or to our wedding.”

Olivia bit back a protest at Matt’s threat because she wanted a united front with him, but his ultimatum to his father hurt. She never intended to rip apart a family.

“You have my apologies,” Duke snarled in a tone that clearly indicated his insincerity. “There—you have your damned apology.” He looked at his son’s arm draped across her shoulders. “I hope both of you know what you’re doing,” Duke said.

“I think we do,” Matt answered.

“You give long and thorough consideration to my offer,” Duke said to her. “It would set you up for life. You know that you can have other babies and you know that we would provide a truly good life for Jeff’s child. There’s not a shred of love between you and Matt.”

Olivia and Duke held each other’s gaze for a tense moment. “I won’t forget your offer. It was interesting to meet you, Mr. Ransome.”

“You watch your step, missy. I’ll do everything I can to talk my son out of marrying you.”

“I think your son probably makes his own decisions.”

Duke nodded. Striding from the room, he slammed the door behind him.

She let out her breath and turned to face Matt. “I hate that you and your dad had such a fight.”

Shaking his head, Matt raised his eyebrows. “Dad didn’t tell me what he was going to do, although I should have guessed. I’m sure he thought he’d made you an offer that you couldn’t possibly refuse.”

“Half a million to give you my baby and get out of your life.”

“I’m a little amazed you could so quickly and easily turn down that amount.”

“None of you get it—you can’t hang a dollar sign on a child. I’m not giving up my baby.”

“I didn’t ask you to with my offer. I wanted you to let us share Jeff’s child’s life.”

“I won’t give up my baby for any amount. I didn’t have to think about my answer.”

Matt studied her and put his hand on her shoulder. “Dad doesn’t know you at all and he thinks everyone can be bought.”

She ran her hand across her brow and Matt placed his finger beneath her jaw and tilted her face up. “Upset?” he asked.

“This past hour hasn’t been the easiest time in my life,” she said, trying to lighten the moment, but she felt weak in the knees and anger still smoldered inside. As much as she wanted to ignore Duke Ransome and forget his hurtful words, his “tramp” accusation rang in her ears and it hurt.

“I doubt if your father will attend our wedding.”

“Oh, yes, he will. I know my dad. Did it ever occur to you that you could be getting into a union that you’ll hate?” Matt asked in a quiet voice while reaching out to trace his fingers along her cheek. “Soon I’ll be the legal father and have as much say as you in our child’s life.”

Our child. The words slipped across her raw nerves, reminding her of all the changes that were soon coming because of her decisions. “I’m willing to take the chance. I think we’ll work out an arrangement we can both accept,” she said, hoping she sounded cool and Matt didn’t have an inkling of the butterflies she had over the thought of her future shared with him and his family.

“If I ever worry about you holding your own with my family or anyone else, remind me to forget my concern,” Matt said. “I’ve seen some tough men that couldn’t cope with my dad. You won that round with the old man,” Matt added. “There are a lot of people who’ve had tough times, and they would’ve taken the money and never looked back. I think Dad lumped you in with that group.” Matt studied her, his gaze going slowly over her features and making her pulse drum.

“Thanks for standing up for me.”

Matt shrugged. “You gave him your answer. He should’ve accepted it and his remarks were way out of line, but he’s accustomed to getting his way and doing whatever he has to do to succeed. I misjudged you a hell of a lot more than a country mile,” Matt admitted. He leaned forward to brush a light kiss on her forehead before glancing at his watch. “We need to go to town to the attorney’s office. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.”

“I’ll get my purse,” she said, gratified by Matt’s remarks and his support.

“Meet you at the back door,” he said and left the room with her, going the opposite direction when they reached the hall. Halfway down the hall, she glanced over her shoulder to find him still standing where she had left him. His hand was on his hip as he watched her. When she looked at him, he turned and disappeared into his office.

Matt went to his desk to get a briefcase that held papers and notes he had made for the prenuptial agreement. Half his thoughts were on the coming appointment. The other half were on Olivia and his father. He was astounded his dad offered her so much money, but by now, he wasn’t surprised that Olivia had turned him down. She wanted marriage and all the commitment that went with it, even if it was going to be a business arrangement. A lot of people would have wilted with his dad and given in to him, but also, by now, Matt knew Olivia better. She was a strong woman who would not be intimidated by his dad or outsmarted by him. If the situation hadn’t involved such high stakes, it would have been amusing because few people refused his dad.

Matt knew he would hear from his father soon to try to persuade him to back out of the approaching marriage.

Matt had no intention of backing out. Each day it looked like a better proposition. They would have an acceptable arrangement for living together; the baby would be his to share—he would become the adoptive father; and he would have sex on a regular basis with Olivia. If the marriage arrangement worked, he could imagine they might drift into loving each other, but in the meantime, he never wanted to go through heartbreak again.

Later, in the car as he drove into town, Olivia shifted on the seat to face Matt. “I guess your father is never going to accept me,” she remarked.

“Once you present Dad with his first grandchild, he’ll accept you so quickly that you’ll be astounded. Believe me, I know my dad. He’s wanted a grandchild, dreamed about one, harassed my sister to get married, harassed me when I was married to give him an heir. No, he’s going to love your baby and you won’t be able to believe that he offered you a fortune to get out of our lives. You’ll see a transformation that will astound you and Dad will act as if nothing disagreeable ever happened.”

“I’ll believe it when it happens,” she said unable to imagine Duke Ransome changing so drastically.

“My dad probably expected you to jump at the chance for a fortune because you didn’t grow up in comfort.”

“Comfort!” She laughed. “There were nights I slept on buses because it was safer and more peaceful than going home. My parents drank and—” she stopped abruptly. “You know all about my background. When I was in high school, I’d just ride the bus at night so I could study. I always felt education was my passport out of that life and it has been.”

“That’s what I mean. Dad and I misjudged you badly.”

“Now I only have to face your brother and your sister.”

“I still haven’t been able to get in touch with Nick or with Katherine, but I’ll keep leaving messages for them.”

“They’ll probably try to talk you out of this wedding, too. They know we’re not in love.” She looked at her ring and wriggled her hand. “I think the rest of the world will be fooled about it.”

“Don’t be surprised if you get some other kind of offer from my dad. He doesn’t give up easily.”

“I’m not worried.”

“No, I suppose you’re not,” Matt said. “You continually surprise me.”

“For one reason or another, most men I’ve met have misjudged me,” she admitted. “That first night you certainly did, and I’ll bet your P.I.’s report about me was not at all what you expected.”

“You’re right. But then, maybe I’ve surprised you. Because of my brother you prejudged me.” Matt smiled at her. “I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but you look like you’re worth a million today. You look gorgeous,” he said. She could see the warmth in his gaze and his compliment pleased her, taking away some of the tension of the past hour.

“You sweet-talkin’ devil. You’ll turn my head,” she teased, momentarily forgetting the raw differences between them, giving him a mocking, coy look that made him grin.

“The more I know you the less I dread this wedding.”

“Just watch out, Matthew Ransome,” she said, leaning across the front seat. “First thing you know, you’ll be in love with your wife,” she said and laughed, straightening up and scooting back into her place.

“You would do that when I’m driving,” he remarked, shooting her a quick glance before his attention returned to the road. “Remind me later what you said. And I’ll tell you again. I’m not falling in love with anyone, Olivia. All women are romantics and sometimes they pay a high price for it.”

“Is that right?” she asked with such sweetness in her voice that he scowled.

“Time will tell, but you’re in for more heartache if you’re going into this contract thinking I’m going to fall in love soon.”

“I think you’ve made it quite clear that you’re a man with no heart. But no matter how much you declare that, Matt, you have a heart and you’ve loved before, so there’s a chance you’ll love again. You won’t if you shut yourself off from everyone, and I hope you don’t do that with this baby because if you want to be a real dad, then you’ll have to open your heart.”

“That’s different and I will.”

“Then just take care that if you get your heart functioning again, it doesn’t do things you hoped to avoid.”

“I’ll take care,” he answered with a cynical tone. “You better worry about protecting yourself.”

“You sound defensive. You’re getting angry and you’re a tad beyond the speed limit. I think I see a flashing light behind us,” she said, looking in an outside mirror.

“Oh, hell!” Matt snapped, and she had to bite back laughter because she knew she had goaded Matt into losing some of that iron control he had. She remained silent while he pulled off the road. When the patrolman approached the car, Matt greeted him.

“Hey, Ebby,” Matt said easily, extending his hand and shaking the patrolman’s hand when he leaned down to look into the open window. “Ebby, meet Olivia Brennan, my fiancée.”

“You’re getting married?” the man asked without hiding the surprise in his voice.

“Sure am. You’ll get an invitation to the party soon,” Matt said.

“Howdy, Olivia,” the trooper said in a friendly voice, and she smiled at him.

“Look, my attention was on my fiancée and I just forgot what I was doing,” Matt explained easily. “You know how it is. You and Tamara just got married what—five months ago?”

“That’s right. Five months and one week. Look, just slow down a little and try to think about your driving. I’ll give you a warning this time, Matt.”

“Thanks. I sure will go slower.”

“Nice to meet you,” Ebby said to Olivia and she smiled in return and twisted in the seat to watch him walk to his car and soon pull around them.

“You got yourself out of that one,” she said as Matt drove onto the highway.

“Remind me to put his name on our invitation list.”

“You’re driving quite sedately now,” she observed. “All we both have to do is to hang on to our cool through the prenup agreement.”

She received a crooked grin. “You think I can’t do that, don’t you?”

“I don’t have any idea. I don’t even know what you want in the agreement.”

“You know most of what I want because I’ve discussed it with you before.”

In a downtown building in Fort Worth, she entered the large reception area and in minutes a short, blond man with lively brown eyes approached them and shook hands in greeting with Matt who then introduced her.

“Vic Waterman, this is Olivia. Olivia, meet Vic.”

“Glad to meet you,” he said, shaking Olivia’s hand while he smiled at her. “Both of you come with me and we’ll find a quiet place to work.”

In a paneled conference room they sat at an oval table and Vic Waterman produced papers and a legal pad. While Matt opened his briefcase to take out his papers, she waited quietly.

For the next two hours they went over prenuptial details. At one point Matt said that he wanted it clearly stipulated that if she divorced him, she forfeited any claims on the Ransome money for herself. When he gazed directly at her, she nodded.

“I find that quite acceptable,” she answered easily, watching Vic Waterman write in his tablet.

Finally they worked out an agreement that was to Matt’s satisfaction as well as her own. Trying to contain her excitement, she was thrilled with the contract that would protect her in many ways and provide for her baby.

The closer she came to becoming Matt’s wife, the more anticipation she experienced. She wanted the ceremony over and done, her baby’s future secured. As she glanced at the handsome man she would soon marry, her pulse jumped. How much was she looking forward to the wedding for her baby and how much for herself?

How many times would she remind herself that she was going into a loveless marriage? Was she a hopeless romantic as Matt had declared? Was she dreaming of the impossible, of a man who would fall in love with her? Did she want him to and would she fall in love with him? She knew she was already doing exactly what she had promised herself she would never do—stop guarding against heartbreak.

If something happened tomorrow and she had to walk away from all this, Matt included, she could do it without hurt, she was certain. Would she feel that way in a month? She glanced at him again. Leaning back in his chair, he had pushed his coat open. His self-confidence was obvious. He was handsome, sexy and exciting. If he dreaded their approaching nuptials, he didn’t show it. And she hoped she didn’t show her nervousness either.

She looked into Matt’s blue eyes. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking—whether he hated her for this or if he expected a satisfactory arrangement. She bent her head to skim over all the points they had thoroughly discussed.

Finally they were finished and told Vic goodbye. In the lobby of the building Matt turned her to face him. “You have the appointment this afternoon with the wedding planner. Let’s grab a bite to eat and then we can separate and meet later to go home.”

She nodded and walked two blocks with him to a small restaurant that was busy with a lunch crowd.

“Feel like celebrating? You’re getting what you wanted,” he said as soon as they were alone in their booth.

“Yes, I’ll celebrate. And you protected yourself with the agreement we just signed, so you should be satisfied.”

“Actually,” he said, glancing at his watch, “what is going to satisfy me is my wedding night with you,” he said in a husky tone that changed the conversation. He reached across the brown wooden table to draw his fingers along her arm and her heartbeat quickened while she drew a deep breath.

“See, that’s what I like. You have an instant response to me.” He leaned closer over the table and lowered his voice. “You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever known.”

“I seriously doubt that one,” she said, suspecting he flirted without giving it thought.

“I’m telling the truth. You’re sexy and you respond to the slightest attention. Right now, you’ve got me aroused and hopefully, I’ve done the same to you.”

“Please remember that we’re out in public.”

“Believe me, I wouldn’t be sitting over here and you over there if I didn’t remember that we’re not alone. But that doesn’t mean I can’t touch you,” he added. He slipped his hand beneath the table and caressed her knee, sliding higher along her thigh.

“Matt!” she exclaimed while heat rose from deep within her and her desire intensified.

“No one can see me. We’re in a booth and it’s dark beneath the table. No one cares what we’re doing. I want you alone with me, in my arms, but more than that, I want the night to come when you’re in my bed and I can make love to you.”

“You stop now,” she said breathlessly, knowing she had the firmness of jelly in her tone. His light strokes along her leg were stirring feelings she didn’t want to have now, making her want to be in his arms and making her want to reach for him in return.

A waiter approached their table. With a mocking smile, Matt straightened and leaned back in his seat. She ordered a salad and listened to Matt order a burger. Then they made plans for the afternoon, but now she was more aware of Matt than their conversation and it was difficult to concentrate or talk about appointments and buying clothes and running errands.

After lunch they separated, agreeing to meet in three hours. She walked a short distance and turned to look in a store window, but instead of seeing the display, she watched Matt striding away. He was tall enough to spot easily in the crowd of people on the street. Wind caught locks of his black hair and he had a long purposeful stride. Saturday night and seduction. She still wondered if she would last until a week from Saturday without trying to seduce him or letting him entice her into sex.

Fishing in her purse, she produced a list of purchases to make. Her engagement ring flashed with brilliant fire in the afternoon sunshine and she was still amazed that Matt would give her such an expensive gift.

She met with the wedding planner, and then shopped and finally went back eagerly to meet Matt, hurrying because she didn’t want to be late and keep him waiting.

That afternoon at the ranch Matt shut himself in his office to take care of business. In her room, she changed to cutoffs while she remembered the last few minutes with Matt. “When your wedding night comes, Matthew Ransome, I’m going to make love to you like you’ve never been loved before,” she said, knowing she wanted this marriage to work. She crossed the room to the mirror to study her image. “Are you falling in love with your fiancé?” she asked her image softly. She looked down at the brilliant diamond he had given her. He was being too good to her, too appealing and his kisses too devastating. Was he seducing her into an illusion of love?

“You knew you were in for heartbreak,” she told her image.

She pursed her lips, remembering kissing him. “But so is he,” she said softly. “The men in this family have had their way far too long.”

She patted her stomach. “I’ve turned down two fortunes for you, so I hope you know how much I already love you,” she said quietly. “Our baby.” Matt wanted her to refer to the baby as our baby. Excitement fluttered in her. She was going to have a family for her baby. A father, grandfather, aunt and uncle.

Staying out of Matt’s way, she explored the house. In the library, she roamed around the room, looking at leather-bound volumes that were shelved along with dog-eared children’s books that must have been Matt’s and his siblings’. She opened cabinets to find more books and then she found a closet with shelves of scrapbooks. She looked at dates on labels on the spines of the books and pulled out some from years earlier to look at pictures of Matt as a child. She enjoyed pictures of his brothers and sister, studying them and able to pick out Jeff’s cocky grin and Matt’s usually solemn expression.

After she had worked her way through a stack she noticed a large gray metal box on a shelf. The box was dusty and looked as if it hadn’t been touched in years. When she tried to open it, she couldn’t.

Curious, she lifted it down carefully because it was heavy. She placed it on the floor and sat beside it to try to get it open, but was unable to until she discovered a tiny brass key taped to the bottom of the box. Puzzled, she stared at the key a moment. Why would someone bother to lock a box and then tape the key where anyone could find it?

She pulled the key away and unlocked the box. A chill ran down her spine and she had a premonition of disaster. Shaking away the feeling as ridiculous, she opened the box.

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.