He chuckled. “You seem eager to live on your own.”
“It’s what I’m used to.” I needed to hold on to some sort of normalcy. In a few months I went from being a thirty-five-year-old virgin, to being pregnant, to considering marrying the baby’s father. It was a lot.
“I understand that. We can keep both places, and when you feel you need space, you can always take some time for yourself. How about we play it by ear?”
I nodded. Was I going to marry him, though? Maybe. But I didn’t want a ceremony or reception or anything like that. We wouldn’t have that type of marriage. We would simply sign the papers and be done with it. Keep it simple and private, just the two of us.
Ryan reached out and placed his hand on my knee. I knew he was waiting for me to say yes to the agreement.
“I do not want anyone to know we are tying the knot.”
“You mean ever?” His brow furrowed.
“No, I mean before we do it, and not before the baby is born. My family will want a celebration. I don’t want one. Amara didn’t want a fuss, and look at what happened. They ended up with a huge reception. So that is one of my stipulations.”
“If that is what you want. You said one of your stipulations. What are the rest of them?”
“I’d prefer — no, I don’t want you hooking up with anyone in town while we are married.”
Ryan made a sound that was a strange mix of a chuckle and a grunt, a low, guttural noise that seemed to come from deep within his chest. It was a peculiar combination, as if he were both amused and irritated at the same time.
“If I understood you clearly, you are proposing that I can be with other women.” His other hand stroked his jaw.
“Y—” I began, only for Ryan to cut me off.
“Wait, and you would be okay with it as long as it is out of sight.”
“Well, yes. Out of respect.”
“See, I don’t think that is fair, Sunshine.” His fingers gently squeezed my knee, the fabric of my tights barely a barrier to the warmth and strength of his touch. It was a comforting yet distracting sensation, one I tried to ignore as I concentrated on the conversation. Despite the pleasant warmth, I focused on his shocking declaration, determined not to let his touch sway me. There was no way I had heard that man right.
“Fair?” I parroted. My voice was laced with incredulity, as if the very concept was something foreign. I couldn’t help but let a hint of sarcasm slip through, reflecting my disbelief at the situation.
“Nah, not all. ‘Cause you sure as hell can’t have another man touch you. Not. Ever.”
It felt like my mind went completely offline for a moment as I struggled to process what he had said. Then I pointed to myself, and although I remained silent, he answered me as if I had spoken.
“I meant what I said. There isn’t a damn thing another man can do for my wife that I can’t. No open-marriage shit. That is my stipulation, Jo.”
Why did my heart rate speed up when he put his foot down? Was it fear, excitement, or something else entirely?
“So, let’s say I agree to this. When do you want to get married?”
“Before I answer your question, I want to make sure we are clear on my stipulation.”
I nodded.
“Nah, Sunshine, I want to hear the words.”
“Sure…”
I stopped as he shook his head. Shit, which of us was the lawyer again?
“Yes, I understand.”
Ryan gave me what I can only describe as a self-satisfied smile. “Well, since after you leave here you are going to havedinner with Amara and Chase, how about tomorrow morning? We could take a drive to Edmonton and get hitched.”
Damn, this is what I got for sharing with him. I had been sitting around my office doing nothing all week, and my schedule was clear until Wednesday.
