Jake shook his head. “Uh, no, this isn’t the fifties.”
Claire threw her hands up in the air. “Whatever, just let me make my point: ‘Child X, Mommy and Daddy got married because they knew each other for a really long time and lived in the same town!’ I mean, by that logic, you might as well marry Mrs. Jacobs!”
“Fine, how about we get married because you and I made a baby together,” he said, walking toward her, “and we have amazing, hot chemistry, and just standing in the same room as you makes me want to take off each piece of clothing and kiss—”
“We are not telling our child that either!”
“How about because you know it’s what your dad would want?” he said as gently as he could, but it still came out with the impact of a bus barreling through her kitchen. Her dad was his best weapon.
She didn’t say anything for a moment. For a second he thought her veneer was going to crack. “No, my father would not have wanted me to have a one-night-stand with a man and then wind up pregnant and unmarried.”
“Which is why we should get married.”
She stared at him and Jake felt like they were in a stalemate. He stared into her eyes, knowing she deserved the entire truth, but afraid it would hurt her and make her look at him with disgust or pity.
“How do you know what my father would want?”
“I know him quite well. He helped me out at a time in my life that—” He cleared his throat and diverted his eyes from Claire’s surprised ones. She had an intense stare. Something about her always made him feel like she knew exactly when he was keeping something from her. “At a time where I was really struggling with some stuff. And I know enough about the kind of man he is to know he would want to see his grandchild in a happy home.”
“Well he’s in Africa, and he’s not going to be home anytime soon. And don’t fool yourself—just because you may have talked to him once or twice doesn’t mean he’s going to be thrilled about this.”
That gnawing feeling in his gut returned. How the hell was he going to face Reverend Holbrook and tell him that he’d gotten his daughter pregnant? Reverend Holbrook had helped him at a time when he’d been so alone. When even his own brothers had wanted little to do with him. He’d gotten through it. He’d made amends. And he owed his change to Claire’s father. There was no way in hell he was going to leave his daughter like this. He needed to get Claire to agree to marry him, to get his company up and running, and then at least he would be able to make a better case for himself. He was a different man now. “I’m not saying he’s going to be thrilled, but I don’t think he’d want you to be a single mother.”
Claire was blinking rapidly and he saw the tears she was trying to hide. He had to force himself to remain still. He wanted to wrap her in his arms until she felt that connection he knew existed between them. It didn’t have to be love to work.
“Claire,” he said, trying to sound gentle.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it. Yes, my father will be disappointed I’m having a child out of wedlock, but deep down I think he would be more disappointed if I stood in a church and took vows neither of us meant.”
“Sometimes the end justifies the means, and nothing we’ve done has to be something you’re ashamed of,” Jake said, even though he knew if her father had been standing here right now, he’d have a hard time making eye contact with the man.
“You wouldn’t understand,” she said with a dismissive shake of her head.
How could he expect her to believe him? Nothing he had done in his life warranted her trust or her respect. He was not the man she should be marrying. They both knew it.
“You’re right. I don’t understand how you could think your father would be ashamed of you. I don’t. But you’re wrong if you think I don’t understand what it feels like to think you’ve let someone down. Believe me, I know that feeling. I’m feeling it now. So think about this, Claire. I’m the father of your child. I’m here, and I’m not ever planning on leaving.” He took her hand, and she let him. “Even though we didn’t plan this pregnancy, and even though the thought of a baby has floored the both of us, as long as I’m alive that baby will never, ever spend one second of their life thinking they weren’t wanted. They will know how much they are loved, because they will be. I’m not going to let you shut me out of our child’s life. You can hate me all you want, but I’m going to be a real dad to our kid,” he said, straightening himself to his full height. “And I’m not going to sit back and watch you get married to some other guy and lurk in the shadows like Quasimodo hoping for a glimpse of my kid. Not happening. And I’m not leaving here until we come up with some kind of plan that includes me.”