Inherited:OneChild(19)

"Very." He gave it to her straight. "Derek's held endless conversations   with Mrs. Locke and various officials at CPS. Though they haven't come   right out and said I must have a wife, they're extremely concerned that   between my work schedule and Isabella's issues I'm not the best person   to raise her. There's even been some discussion about placing her in a   treatment facility. I won't let that happen, which means I present  them  with an acceptable wife who can give Isabella the attention she  requires  when I'm not available."

Annalise stared at him, stunned. "But … who are you going to marry? Does Isabella know her? Does she even like her?"

"She adores her."

That brought her up short. "Oh. Well … Well, that's good. I don't quite   know what else to say," she added weakly. "Congratulations?"

"She hasn't accepted my offer yet."

Annalise stilled. "Wait a minute. Is this your way of telling me you no   longer need my services?" A look of utter devastation swept across her   face. "Is your wife-assuming she accepts your offer-is she going to  take  care of Isabella full-time?"

"Yes and no. I still need your services." Jack captured an escaped curl,   one that tumbled halfway down Annalise's back, and used it to reel her   in. "Just in a slightly different capacity. I hope you'll consider it a   promotion."

She was quick to put two and two together and come up with the requisite   four. He watched shock etch a path across her elegant features. "You   don't mean … You can't possibly think I-"

"Oh, but I can and I do. Ms. Stefano, I would very much appreciate it if   you'd consider exchanging your position as nanny for one as my wife."

The couch caught her as her knees gave out. "You can't be serious."

"I'm dead serious. You may recall that I once told you that I'd do   whatever it took to retain custody of Isabella. I also seem to remember   you saying something quite similar. I know how serious I was when I  made  that statement. How serious were you?"

Pain burst to life in her eyes, burning with an intensity that seared   straight through to his soul. He accepted it, didn't attempt to defend   against it. He deserved to burn for what he was about to do. And no   doubt he would.                       
       
           



       

"Oh, Jack," she whispered. "How could you?"

He captured Annalise's hands in his and drew her to her feet again. "As   I've informed you more than once, I will do whatever it takes to retain   custody of Isabella. But I will also do whatever you ask, give you   whatever you demand, in exchange for your agreement to my plan. Please,   Annalise. Marry me."

"No." She shook her head, the restlessness of her curls revealing the extent of her distress. "I can't. Anything but that."

"You're not already married?" Surely the PI would have uncovered evidence of a husband.

"No, of course not."

"And you claimed you weren't involved with anyone."

"I'm not."

"Then it's a moral objection."

She gazed at him helplessly. "You don't understand."

He cupped her face, drew her upward so their mouths met, colliding in   soft passion, igniting sparks he didn't dare allow to catch fire. "Then   explain it to me so I will."

It took her a moment to gather her wits enough to reply. "I adore   Isabella, you know that. I'd do anything to ensure her recovery. But it   would be wrong for me to agree to this, wrong on so many levels."

"It would be temporary, Annalise. Once CPS signs off, you're free to   leave whenever you want. I'll make sure you're provided for."

"You mean money," she said bluntly. "You mean, you'll pay me to be your wife."

He'd never been accused of being a charming man, so he didn't bother   trying to act the part. "I believe it's called alimony. But if you'd   prefer to consider it wages-just like you're paid wages as Isabella's   nanny-that's fine with me."

Her chin quivered. "Well, it's not fine with me."

"Because of the money or because you think it's wrong?"

"I don't know." Her voice broke and she covered her face with her hands. "I just don't know."

"Listen to me. I'm not paying you for sex. If you choose to share my   bed, it's because we're attracted to each other physically. Consider   this an old-fashioned, arranged marriage. I'm a man with a child in need   of a wife and mother. You're a woman who has career goals which can   more easily be met as a result of our marriage."

She bowed her head and he waited for endless moments while she weighed   her options. Finally, she spoke, her voice whisper-soft. "My father once   told me that being a single parent was the most difficult job he'd  ever  attempted. He never felt he'd done a proper job. The guilt ate him   alive."

Jack forced himself to use her admission, hating himself even as he said   the words. "I won't have that guilt or those concerns, if you marry   me."

Her hands dropped to her sides and he could see tears welling into her eyes. "How long?" she whispered.

"Figure a couple of years, tops."

Pain ripped through her gaze again. "And then you expect me to simply walk away?"

"You were going to walk away regardless, remember?" he reminded her   softly. "You agreed to a two-year contract while you pursued your   master's, and then you were going to teach."

Her gaze strayed in the direction of Isabella's room and a hint of panic   deepened the intense color of her irises, turning them to amber. "This   job is just temporary." She said it almost as though reminding herself   of that fact. "I know that."

"All I'm suggesting is that you spend those two years as my wife instead of Isabella's nanny."

For once her self-control deserted her, leaving her open and   defenseless. "It won't be easy for her when I leave. We'll have grown   attached."

"I won't cut you off. I lived that existence, remember? I wouldn't do   that to my niece any more than I'd do that to you. We'll make the   transition as slowly and gently as possible. I won't prevent Isabella   from seeing you whenever she wants."

To his concern, her tears escaped, streaking down her cheeks. "I wasn't supposed to become attached."

"We'll work it out. You have my word. But all this will be moot if CPS takes Isabella from me."

For some reason, reminding her of that fact got through as nothing else   had. She bowed her head and scrubbed the heels of her palms across her   cheeks. "She belongs with you," Annalise whispered. "She needs you. I   want to do whatever I can to cement your relationship with her. That was   the whole point in taking this job."                       
       
           



       

"Then marry me. I swear you won't regret it."

"Yes, I will." She looked at him. "I'll probably regret it for the rest of my life. But I don't think I have any choice."

The first time he'd seen her, he'd thought her eyes overflowed with   ancient wisdom and intense vulnerability. Tonight they also reflected a   gut-wrenching devastation. She'd suffered in the past, he sensed, even   more than he had. He found he wanted to know her, to dig down through   all that pain and uncover her most deeply guarded secrets. As though   sensing the direction of his thoughts, shutters snapped closed over her   expression and she took a step backward.

"Very well, Jack. I accept your proposal," she said. "I'll marry you and   do whatever I can to convince CPS to give you full custody of your   niece."

He closed the distance between them, unwilling to allow her to shut him   out. They may have chosen to enter their marriage in a cold-blooded   fashion, but it wouldn't continue that way. He slid his hands around her   waist and tipped her into his arms. She fell against him, all feminine   softness and delicious warmth.

"Don't," she pleaded. "It's too much for me to handle."

"Handle?" He lifted an eyebrow. "Or control?"

"Either. Both."

"Then let go. I'll take care of everything."

He lowered his head and took her mouth. It was a simple kiss, yet one   that created an intense explosion of pleasure. She struggled for a brief   instant, more against herself than him. And then she wrapped her arms   around his neck and sank into the heat.