The Soldier's Baby Bargain

Author:Beth Kery [Kery, Beth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0373657021
Amazon: B008EMCQ9O
Publisher: Harlequin Special Editon
Published: 2012-10-02T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

From her stunned expression of disbelief, Ryan realized it’d been the last thing she’d expected him to say. He felt himself sinking and forced himself to rally. He’d known this particular challenge wouldn’t be easy.

“You can’t be serious,” she said.

“I’m dead serious. Think about it, Faith. If we marry, I’ll have a legal responsibility for the child, no matter what.”

Anxiety leaked into her expression. “You need it to be a legal obligation to be a father to the baby?”

“No. That’s not what I mean. Of course I’ll do my part no matter what. More—if you’ll let me. But my point is, the legal contract of marriage makes things easier all around. The baby will automatically become my dependent. There won’t be any hassles with the Air Force in regard to providing all the benefits that go along with the fact that I’m a veteran.”

He saw her brows pinch together in dubious consideration at that. He pushed on. “Think about it, Faith. You have your own business. You know how expensive buying your own health care is. If we’re married, you’ll have coverage not only for the baby forever, but for yourself, as well. During the delivery.”

She bit at her lower lip, looking bewildered.

“There’s not only the legal and financial considerations,” he continued. “I’d love to say that in this day and age, it doesn’t matter to a child whether his parents have ever been married or not, but I think we’d both agree that just isn’t the case.” When he saw the doubt and anxiety lingering on her face, he threw out his trump card. He hadn’t wanted to use it, but Faith wasn’t going to give him any choice in this.

“We can get a divorce after the baby is born, if you like,” he said. He forced himself not to grimace at the words.

He was desperate for Faith to accept him into her life. If he had to resort to partial measures in order to gain her compliance, he’d take what he could get. His only hope was that if she allowed him in partially, he could eventually coax her into accepting him completely. Faith clearly had doubts about his worthiness as a partner. Given her past with Jesse, he couldn’t say he blamed her.

He just needed a chance. An opportunity to prove himself, once and for all.

He slid his hand into his jacket pocket. Her eyes went huge when he opened up the ring box. The lights from the interior of the restaurant glittered in the center diamond brilliant and glowed like a subdued fire in emeralds surrounding the band.

“I hope you like it,” he said. “I chose the emeralds to match your eyes.”

She looked bowled over.

“Are you really that shocked?” he asked. “I would have thought you were at least partially expecting something like this. It’s not like I haven’t made it clear I have feelings for you.”

He instantly regretted saying that. A panicked look entered her expression.

“Ryan, you’re just saying that because of the circumstances.

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