Kelsey leaned back in her desk chair, an expression of disgust on her face. “They all make my heart flutter, but I haven’t run across one that I felt the need to marry.”
“You’re not a tender romantic?” he asked, knowing her answer. He felt his mind clicking along at the speed of light. This was his strong point, though, the ability to take any problem thrown at him and find a good solution in the heat of the moment.
How could he use this? How could he make the most of such an unexpected development? He certainly hadn’t envisioned anything like this when he nudged Amy to bring things to a head with Doug.
“I’m as romantic as the next girl,” Kelsey said impatiently, “I just don’t fool myself that relationships last forever. Look around you. How many married couples do you personally know that actually enjoy each other after the first five years?”
“A few,” he murmured, a picture popped into his mind of his parents laughing together after thirty-five years of marriage. This, of course, wasn’t the moment to debate the issue of love with her.
If she was going to marry anyone, it had to be him, he decided instantly. He knew marrying Kelsey at this point meant the possibility of a second divorce, something he’d promised himself would never again happen in his life. But he was a gambler at heart and, in this instance, was relying on his ability to win her over.
“Just look at the statistics on infidelity and divorce.” She shook her head. “Marriage is for when you’re ready to have kids. After that, you just hope it stays together long enough to get them raised.”
Jared suddenly regretted not pumping Doug for more information on Kelsey and Amy’s family background. All he could remember was that their parents divorced early.
Maybe Kelsey had enjoyed Doug’s attentions because the people who were supposed to have been there for her weren’t. Doug was always there, she’d said.
“So you haven’t married because you’re not ready for children?”
“Not yet,” she said, her eyes going distant. “Someday, but not yet.”
Jared catalogued that piece of info. She wanted kids in a big way, but hadn’t found the right guy to have them with. He was the one, he knew. He wanted children, too. Wanted a family of girls with brunette hair and blue eyes. But he’d have to catch Kelsey’s heart first.
“If you don’t believe in relationships lasting,” Jared said, knowing he was toying with his own future, “why don’t you tell Amy to give up on Doug? Move on to someone else?”
Her gaze dropped and she paused before answering. “Amy really cares about Doug. Loves him. She thinks he’s terrific. Maybe I’m wrong about love not lasting. I mean, maybe they’d hit the lottery and it would work for them. I think my sister deserves a chance anyway. After all these years of hanging around waiting for Doug to get real about me, she deserves a chance at finding love with him.”
“You don't think it’ll last, but you want to give your sister a shot at—“
“Being…loved for a while,” she said, her lashes dark against her skin as she looked down at the pencil in her hands.
“I’ll marry you,” Jared said, taking the plunge, excitement and adrenaline pumping through his veins. He knew it was risky, but risk frequently brought reward.
Maybe it was the biggest gamble he’d ever taken, marrying Kelsey before she’d come to terms with her refusal to love. But he couldn’t let her marry some other guy.
Kelsey looked up at him, her expression shocked and startled. “W-what? You’re kidding!”
Jared leaned forward, his arms propped on her desk, meeting her gaze at point-blank range. “I said, I’ll marry you and I’m completely serious.”
She seemed to gulp for air, her berry red mouth open. “I-I didn’t mean for you to think…. It really isn’t your problem.”
“I know. I like Doug and Amy, but they have nothing to do with my offer.” He watched her face intently, trying to gauge the emotions that flowed over her face.
“Then why would you want to marry me?”
He was ready for this one, had actually been working on it for several minutes now. “For the sex. If you end up marrying some other guy, just to help Amy, you won’t have sex with me.”
Kelsey’s jaw dropped further.
“I haven’t had sex with you,” she said. “I mean we haven’t had sex.”
“Not yet. But I want to and I think you do, too.”
“I, uh,” she stopped and cleared her throat. “I thought marriages of convenience were usually…celibate.”