One Night in Provence--Get swept away with this sparkling summer romance! by Barbara Wallace

Author:Barbara Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-05-13T14:31:05+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

JENNA’S JAW DROPPED. Marry him? That was the next suggestion? Mr. Marriage and Family Require Too Much of a Commitment?

“Don’t dismiss the idea out of hand,” he said, gripping her hand tighter. “If you are my wife, the child carries my name.”

“So would I,” she pointed out. Surely the attorney had noted that she came with the deal.

“Only for a short while. We need only stay married long enough for the baby to be born. Then we can dissolve our agreement.”

“Not dissolve, divorce,” she corrected. Semantics, maybe, but the word mattered. Marriage wasn’t the same as an agreement to grow flowers.

“Very well, we will divorce once the baby is born.”

Jenna took a deep breath. “Tell your lawyer I’ll sign any kind of stipulation he wants,” she said.

Philippe frowned. In his confusion, Jenna pulled her hand free but kept it under the table. She didn’t want him to see how much she was trembling. How could he make such a suggestion? Was he not listening when she talked about her parents?

“I do not understand,” he said. “I am offering...”

“To do the right thing. Yes, I know.” That added to the suggestion’s sting. Philippe believed he was doing the right thing.

“My father did the right thing, too. So did my grandfather. And, while I appreciate your dedication to family traditions, I’d prefer not to repeat mine.” Mentally, she gave herself a pat on the back for speaking calmly.

He shook his head. “But this would be different,” he said.

“How? I’m pregnant, you’re suggesting marriage.” Where was there a difference? “Seems the same to me.”

“Except that both of us would be entering the marriage with the same expectations.”

In other words, their marriage would be different because there was no expectation of it being real. Jenna had to give him credit. He was honest.

What surprised her was to hear him press the issue. Was it an ego thing—shock that someone would say no—or was it because he wanted the baby born in wedlock? Either way, there was one very key ingredient missing. No way she was marrying anyone who didn’t love her. She, and her baby, deserved better.

“Doesn’t matter. The answer is still no.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. Have your lawyer draw up whatever papers he wants.” She looked to her glass, not wanting to see the relief that was no doubt in his eyes.

Or for him to see the disappointment that was in hers.

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