“But…why?”
Dare almost felt sorry for her, she looked so confused. He knew he must be driving her round the bend but how could he help that? He couldn’t explain it even to himself. One day he’d seen her then spent the following night making sweet love to her and, like the fish in the sea, he was hooked. The funny thing was it seemed Erin hadn’t even realized she’d caught the biggest fish in the pond.
“Why, Dare? You threw me out of your bed, remember? Out of your life. So what’s this story about coming back to get me?” She threw her hands up in apparent frustration. “For what? Another one night stand?”
She was glaring at him now, her chest heaving with the intensity of her emotions. And who could blame her?
He’d done everything she’d accused him of, and more. Little did she know that he’d seduced her expertly and deliberately into going back to his villa and making love to him. He’d wanted to make her pay for pursuing him so shamelessly. He'd wanted to take what she was offering. And now he would pay the steepest price. His days of philandering were over. He was about to become a father.
He still could not believe it. Dare DeSouza, family man. When he’d left Santa Marta he’d had no idea that the joke would be on him.
But in the end it could all turn out in his favor. Obsessed with the memory of Erin he’d finally given in and come to see her with the intention of convincing her to return to the island. Now, with this development, there was no way she could say no.
“Erin, calm down. Have a seat.” He walked over and pulled out a chair. When she hesitated he frowned. “Come and sit before you keel over.”
Thankfully, she headed over on shaky legs and sank down on the chair. If she hadn’t he would have gone over and lifted her off her feet. He could see that her emotions coupled with her tiredness from work were beginning to take its toll. She was shaking.
He walked into the kitchen and filled a glass with water then brought it to her.
She gulped it thirstily then rested the glass on the table and looked up at him.
It was only then, in the light cast by the chandelier above the table, that he saw how thin and drawn she was. Her eyes were large molten pools in her face. They were circled with shadows of exhaustion.
He pulled the other chair forward and sat beside her. “Erin,” he said, drawing her eyes back to his face, “you look terrible.”
She looked surprised at his outspokenness then her face broke into a tired smile. “Thanks. You are so kind."
“I mean it,” he said, his voice low and grave. “You need to stop this work you’re doing. It’s too much.”
At that she laughed but there was no mirth to the sound. “Stop this work, he says. And then eat what? Air? And how would I pay my rent and my bills?”
“I have the solution for that,” he said. “I want you to-”
“Oh yes, come back to Santa Marta,” she said, her tone sarcastic. “You forgot. When you came here you expected to take a slender, sexy thing back with you. I’m not any of that. Not anymore.”
“Erin,” Dare said, trying to keep his voice calm, “listen to me. I want you-”
“No, you don’t,” she snapped. “Not anymore. Not when I’m going to look like a pumpkin in three-”
Dare had reached his limit. “Woman, will you be quiet and let me speak?" he bellowed. “I want you to marry me.”
Erin recoiled as if he’d slapped her. Then her face flushed red and her eyes flashed. “I don’t appreciate you laughing at me, Dare. If this is all a joke to you I think you’d better leave.”
“It’s not a joke,” he said quietly. “I’m serious. I want you as my wife.”
“But…why?” Her voice was a mere whisper and she looked back at him with huge eyes.
“I would think that’s quite obvious. You’re the mother of my child.”
“Not yet, I’m not.”
“Oh, but you are. The youngest of the DeSouza line is now growing inside you.”
“DeSouza.” She said the name, a look of wonder on her face. “Can you believe I never even knew your last name?” Her cheeks grew red and she dropped her eyes as if in shame.
“There’s no need to feel bad, Erin. Just forget the past and look toward the future as my wife.”
“As your wife.” She repeated the words but there was no enthusiasm there. Then she looked over at him. “You never even asked me the question.”
“Of course I did.”
“No, you said you want me to marry you. You never asked me.” Her mouth was set in a cute pout.
Dare laughed. If a question was what she wanted then a question she would get. He would not be accused of not being romantic.
Just to make it more touching and more likely to be in keeping with her romantic notions Dare slid off the chair and went down on one knee. He took her slim hand in his then looked deep into her eyes. “Erin Samuels,” he said, his voice firm and full of meaning, “will you marry me?” Then he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
For a moment she only stared at him then her hazel eyes flashed and she snatched her hand from his grasp. “No,” she said, her voice vehement and hard. “Never in a million years.”
What the hell? Taken aback, Dare remained on his knees. Then, never taking his eyes off her flushed face he rose to his feet. Only then did he speak. “What the blazes was that all about?”
She lifted her face and gave him a look of defiance. “I said I’d never marry you.”
“Then why did you make me ask you?” He could feel the anger rise in him. Did she think she was playing with a damn puppy?
“I wanted you to ask me so I could give you my answer,” she said, her tone smug. “And the answer is no.”
“Why?”
She gave a toss of her head and one of her brown curls fell across her face. She lifted a delicate hand and brushed it away. “You rejected me so now it’s my turn to reject you.”