The Billionaire's Marriage Proposal (Billionaire Bachelors #4)(37)

She struggled with him for a few moments and then her anger quickly turned to passion and they were both clawing all over each other. He lifted her onto the counter and was getting ready to part her robe and sink deep inside her when he heard a noise behind him. He could barely turn his head in his passion filled haze but was grateful he did because Molly was standing in the doorway, with her sleepy eyes on them.

Jennifer hadn’t yet spotted her and was still clinging to him, needing him to finish what he’d started. He backed away from her and she whimpered, feeling cold and empty without him pressed against her. It took a moment, but she finally looked over and spotted her niece and then her face heated with embarrassment. She prayed her innocent niece hadn’t seen too much. She quickly checked both her clothing and Trenton’s, and was relieved to find everything was perfectly covered.

“Good morning, Angel,” she said through a tight throat.

“Morning, auntie, I’m hungry,” Molly replied and sat at the table, acting like it was nothing to find her aunt locked in the arms of a man in the kitchen.

“I’ll make you some pancakes,” she said and quickly got to work on them, glad to have something to do to take her mind off Trenton and the custody situation for a few moments. As her heated skin cooled and her mind had time to think, she began to stress once again, wondering what she was going to do and how she was going to get out of her current predicament.

She finished the pancakes and sat at the table with Molly, drinking in the sight of her. She couldn’t let her go, she was so precious to her and it would break both of their hearts to not be together.

Molly finished her breakfast and went into the living room to watch a movie while she woke up. Jennifer finally turned on Trenton, ready to have it out with him.

“How could you have lied to her? She’ll know you made the whole thing up and then blame me for it. Hell, I’ll be lucky to even get to visit with my niece after all this,” she finished on a tear choked voice.

“I didn’t lie. I heard your conversation with her and found you the best solution. We’ll get married and you can keep your niece,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. She stared incredulously at him.

“I can’t get married to you.”

“Then you’ll lose your niece.” He spoke the words without any emotion, never breaking eye contact. She stood there, letting what he said sink in. Could she marry a man for any other reason than love? She’d have said never, even an hour ago, but she couldn’t lose her niece and if marriage was the solution to keeping her, then what could it really hurt?

She thought back to their conversation weeks ago about arranged marriages and how he was convinced all marriages were about convenience. Marriage to him was nothing more than a contract. He wasn’t offering marriage on an emotional basis, it was purely business to him.

“Why would you do this, you have nothing to gain?” she finally asked.

“In case you haven’t noticed, we’re great in bed together. That’s worth a wedding ring,” he told her and she flinched. He was trading a wedding ring for unlimited sex. Could she really sell herself like that? It wasn’t like sleeping with him was a hardship, but still it seemed so cold. She had to blink away the tears as she thought about it. She turned from him, looking out the window.

“I need to think about all of this.”

“There’s nothing to think about, Jennifer. You either do this for your niece, or not. A wedding takes time to plan and I already told Ms. Ellis we were marrying in a week, so you need to decide now,” he said, still in that cold voice. He was pushing her into a corner and she wanted nothing more than to run away. She looked into the living room, at her niece, who was so content in that moment. She’d opened up so much more in the last months and Jennifer knew if she went into the foster care system she’d quickly retreat again. She’d think her aunt had abandoned her. She couldn’t let that happen.

“Fine,” she said, barely above a whisper. She wouldn’t turn and look at him when she spoke the single word. He didn’t need any clarification - he knew he’d won the battle.

“I’ll get it arranged,” he told her and walked out her front door. She felt like she’d just sold her soul to the devil, but she’d have done much worse if it would keep her niece safe. She joined her on the couch, pulling her close, needing to remember her own life didn’t matter - it was about Molly, who she was responsible for.

Trenton left the house feeling guilty about pushing Jennifer into a corner, but he knew he couldn’t let her go. He didn’t want to give her time to think of any other solution. He wanted her to be his wife, and when he wanted something, he always went after it until it was his.





Jennifer was stunned by how quickly things happened after one simply stated word. She got a call later from Emily Anderson, congratulating her on her upcoming marriage and asking her to come over so they could go over wedding details. She’d reluctantly accepted the invitation, not wanting to make a big deal over a fake marriage, but also not wanting to hurt Emily, who had become a friend to her.

She arrived at the ranch, where all the Anderson women were, along with Trenton’s siblings and cousins. The house was full of people and items. She’d been invited to stay at the ranch, though it had been more of a command, so they could get all they needed to get done in the short amount of time.