Baby for the Billionaire(101)

Suspicion glinted in Robert’s green eyes. “For your niece?”

Jack shook his head. “For me. It just took me a while to realize that. Isabella was the excuse I used to bind Annalise to me without admitting why I wanted her.”

Robert’s arms dropped to his sides and he cocked his head to one side in a gesture eerily similar to Annalise’s. “And why is that?”

Jack didn’t bother to pull his punches or hide behind his pride. He put it all out there for the other man to rummage through. “Because I love your daughter.”

Robert eyed him for a long moment, before nodding in satisfaction. “Then what are you doing wasting your time jawing with me?” He stepped aside. “Go tell my daughter how you feel and put her out of her misery.”

“I’ll get right on that.” Jack didn’t hesitate. He passed by the other man and walked toward his future.

“Mason?” Robert waited until Jack turned. “That’s two of mine in your care. I will be watching you.”

Jack nodded. He could accept that. “I’d be doing the exact same thing if I were in your position.” He swung aboard only to have Robert stop him again.

“Oh, and Mason?”

“Yes, sir?”

“You couldn’t have taken me.”

Jack grinned. “I would have enjoyed trying.”

Robert returned the grin. “Yeah. Me, too.”

A cursory glance told Jack that Annalise wasn’t topside. He crossed the deck to the steps leading to the shadowed interior. His wife stood in the small, efficient galley, her back to him. He paused and allowed himself the luxury of watching her graceful movements as she went about the mundane task of putting a meal together.

She’d swept her hair into a casual ponytail, and the ringlets bounced with each dip and sway of her body. She wore a thin cotton tee that hugged her curves and screeched to a halt a scant couple of inches short of a pair of low-slung shorts that bared her endless legs to his view. He was about to announce his presence when she spoke without turning.

“I have your lunch ready, Dad. Grab a beer out of the fridge if you want one.”

“I don’t want a beer, thanks.”

Her spine went rigid and she carefully returned the plate to the counter with hands that trembled. She drew a careful breath before spinning around. “Jack.”

“Annalise.”

One look warned that her control was as tenuous as his own. Unfortunately, he still couldn’t read her as well as he’d hoped. Why had she married him? Was it just for Isabella, or was there more? He’d obsessed over the question ever since his conversation with Mrs. Locke. He wanted to be able to take one look and see the answer in her face. But it wasn’t there, and unadulterated fear threatened to bring him to his knees.

“I’ve been expecting a call from Derek,” she said. “I’m surprised you came, instead.”

Gathering every shred of composure at his command, Jack leaned his hip against the counter and shrugged. “What’s this got to do with Derek? You’re my wife, not his.”

Her chin assumed a combative angle. “For now.”

“Forever,” he stated decisively.

She shook her head. “Forget it, Jack. I won’t live with someone who believes I’m capable of—”

“Stop.” He cut her off with that one, quiet word. Perhaps it was the way he said it—naked pain leaking into the single syllable. Whatever the reason, it worked and she stumbled to a halt. “Please, sweetheart. You’re killing me.”

She gazed at him with a heartbreaking defenselessness that he recognized, mainly because he felt it, too. It was an emotion he’d never experienced before … until now. He’d always been the tough one. He’d always held himself at a safe distance, refusing to allow himself to feel or show the vulnerability she displayed so openly. And what had that gotten him? Money. Success. But what were those in comparison to an empty heart and a cold bed, and a little girl waiting for a mother? He’d had a taste of heaven, and he would do anything and everything to have that back.

Even strip his defenses bare and allow her to cut him to shreds.

Without a word, he opened his arms to her. Time seemed to hold its breath as he waited for her decision. Waited to discover whether he’d know a lifetime of warmth and joy, or be forced to survive in an arctic wasteland. With an inarticulate cry, she flew to him, and he breathed in life. He wrapped her up tight and buried his face against her silken curls and simply inhaled her. The scent of her. The feel of her. The sound of their hearts beating as one.