Her Baby, His Proposal

“There’s no reason to drag this out, Brock.” She smiled to show no hard feelings. “I’m packed and ready to go.”

“Not so fast. You shouldn’t have to go through this pregnancy alone. Tell me more about Tad.”

“Tad and I were best buddies since the fifth grade. My parents were undemonstrative people who should never have had a child. When he was lucky, Tad’s parents flat-out ignored him. When he wasn’t so lucky, he dodged fists and bottles. His dad had a hard time keeping a job, and his mother didn’t even try. They got a divorce so she could claim welfare. It made me sick to hear her call her benefit installment a paycheck. They were the worst kind of parasites, always acting entitled as if the world owed them.

“I should have known Tad would turn out just like them.”

“What about your family?” he asked.

She shook her head, emphatic in her response before he finished his question. “I was nothing more than a duty to my parents. I felt their indifference every day I lived in their home. I won’t subject my child to the lack of emotion I grew up with.” She swept her hair behind her ear. “We’re better off on our own.”

“You need to take it easy for the next six weeks. How are you going to manage that?”

Dread clenched her insides. Lord, she didn’t know.

“The rent is paid for the next three weeks.” She worked hard to keep the uncertainty out of her voice. “There must be some program to help me. I promised myself when things started getting bad, I’d never go on welfare. But my baby is more important than my pride. I’ll do whatever is necessary to protect her.”

“Her?”

Jesse frowned, confused by his question until she realized she’d given her baby a sex. A slip of the tongue there. But she couldn’t deny wanting to give this child everything she hadn’t had as a little girl. She may not have much in the way of creature comforts to offer, but she had overwhelming love. Which personal experience had taught her was the most precious gift a child could receive.

“Jesse, I have a suggestion.” Brock leaned forward in the black chair. “I don’t want you to answer right away. Take tonight, think about it. Tomorrow morning you can give me your answer, but no later, because I only have a few days. Whatever you decide, I want you to know you’ll always be safe with me.”

Dismayed, she met his gaze straight-on. Had he somehow read her negative thoughts? Looking into his clear, steady eyes, she saw his compassion, his honesty and knew she could trust him in ways she’d never been free to trust anyone before.

“You may think me a naive, trusting fool,” she said. How could he not after she had so easily bared her entire awful history to him? “But don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. And I’ll take care of my baby, too.”

He lifted a hand toward her hair, but pulled back before touching her. “I think you’re incredibly courageous and giving. And I don’t think you should have to take care of yourself and the baby alone. I want to help. If you marry me, you’ll have medical care and a place to stay.”

She stared at him unblinking, truly uncomprehending for a full minute. “Marry you?”

“It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds. The Navy provides full benefits. As my wife you’d have access to all of them. An obstetrician for you. A pediatrician for the baby. There’d be other Navy wives to help and advise you. You’d be able to take some classes, aim for a career.”

Jesse blinked. It sounded wonderful.

In fact, it sounded too good to be true.

CHAPTER FOUR

JESSE propped an elbow on her knee and her chin on the heel of her hand. She eyed Brock as if he’d lost a few of his marbles.

“Why is it I’m the one that was dehydrated but you’re the one that’s delusional?”

The corner of his mouth quirked up. “It’s a legitimate proposal. One of my sailors asked me to be his best man today. He decided to get married before he leaves so his wife will have his benefits. The conversation got me to thinking. If we got married, you’d have the medical care you need for yourself and the baby. I’ll be gone, so you can stay here in the condo. I’ve got all the expenses covered on automatic payments.”

She held up a hand to stop him. “Brock, I can’t let you pay for me.” She swallowed hard. “There must be a state program that helps women in my situation.”

He reached for her hand. “I’d have to cover the expenses whether you lived here or not. You can take all the time you need to get back on your feet, then go back to work, go to school, take a trade course, whatever you want.”

Lord, his offer sounded heavenly.

Anyone else and she’d worry about a sexual price tag being attached to the proposition. But this was simply Sullivan helping out in a crunch. It’s what he did. That knowledge didn’t keep her pride from rebelling, but her pragmatic side demanded she see the advantages.

Could she do it? Marry a stranger?

Damn straight, if it meant saving her child.

His offer meant she could take her time recuperating, then find a job with better hours where she wasn’t constantly on her feet. And with no rent to pay maybe she could pursue her education. She’d always dreamed of being a kindergarten teacher and had been saving up to take classes before Tad had cleaned her out.

Tears welled up at the thought of going back to school. It was something she’d wanted for so long.

“Jesse.” Brock squeezed her fingers. “What do you think? Will you marry me?”

Jesse blinked away the tears, bringing his handsome features into focus. Nobody had ever done as much for her as he had, and yet here he was offering to do so much more.

Okay, time for a reality check. Such an important decision deserved more than ten minutes’ deliberation.

She reached out to cup his cheek, felt the bristles from his five-o’clock shadow. She met his blue eyes straight-on. “Thank you so much for that beautiful proposal. You said I could take tonight to think about it?”

“Of course.” He covered her hand with his, his warmth enveloping her. Was it her imagination that he lingered over the caress before releasing her? “You can’t take long though. I leave in five days. I’ll take you home. Or would you like to stay here tonight?”

Because she very much would, she shook her head. “Thank you, but I need to go home.”

He nodded and stood. “Will you be rested enough to go with me to the ceremony tomorrow?”

“I’ve slept the entire day away. And I confess I feel better. The doctor said twenty-four hours. So, yes, I’d like to go with you.”

“Good. You can give me your answer then. And if you agree, we can get married right away.”

Jesse sat on her bed and looked at her watch for the fourth time in two minutes. Another ten minutes before Brock would arrive to pick her up.

And she wouldn’t be coming back.

A half hour after walking through the door last night she’d made up her mind to accept his proposal.

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