“My father has demanded it,” confessed a rueful Gabe. “He’s given my brothers and I an ultimatum to get married and start a family or be disinherited and unemployed. A little archaic but effective.”
“Excuse me?” Britney’s heart plummeted. “Are you joking?”
“I would never joke about something like this,” Gabe told her firmly. “I have three weeks left in which to get married, one week less than a year to impregnate you and must wait five years married to ensure my inheritance. It is a business proposal. You get something you want, and I get what I want.”
“What you want,” Britney echoed again, feeling a little shocked at the conversation they were having.
“Yes, my job and my inheritance,” said Gabe with some impatience.
“Of course,” Britney cleared her throat and stepped away from him, out of his arms. “I need to think about this.”
“What is there to think about?” frowned Gabe. They were drawing looks from the other dancers who had to go around them since they were interrupting the flow of the dance floor. “You get me as a husband, and a future child, I get the money I’m due for working for my father all these years. It is a win-win situation.”
What was there to think about? He was finally here, standing right in front of her, willing to be with her. Willing to give her an amazing gift of a baby. Gabe’s baby. Britney held the thought close. Even if he divorced her in the end and all she got was this little piece of him in the form of a child, it would be worth it. After the birth, the doctors could take her cancerous uterus. Gabe’s baby was worth any risks to her health.
Taking a deep breath, Britney focused on lessening the pressure of her too tightly clasped hands. If she pressed any tighter, her knuckles would crack. Gabe didn’t like it when she cracked her knuckles. At least he hadn’t in high school. Britney hadn’t had much contact with him since college. She would have to relearn all of his likes and dislikes again. She resolved to be the best possible wife she could be. She was not going to mess up this opportunity.
Closing her eyes, she said a silent thank you to Gabe’s dad.
Opening her eyes just in time to see a scowling Gabe fold his arms as he looked at the crowd around them. “Believe me, if I thought I could get another woman to the alter in twenty-one days, I would, but it seems like all my former girlfriends have gotten married.”
The words cut like a knife through Britney’s heart. Then a firm resolve replaced the hurt.Good for them, Britney thought. This was her chance and she didn’t need competition. She knew she was pitifully last on Gabe’s list of marriageable women. He had made it more than clear. Swallowing down disappointment, Britney resolved to keep her eye on her goals. It was important to remain focused on what she wanted to achieve. According to the demands Gabe’s father had made, she would have three weeks to get him to the alter, a year to get pregnant and five years to make him see that being married to her was in his best interests.
“Look, everything is set up. All you need to do is show up in the dress,” Gabe winced slightly even as he said the words. “Mom has everything arranged.”
He said it like it’s going to happen, Britney tried to stop the little flutter of her heart.He’s committed himself.She resolved to get in contact with Gabe’s mother as soon as possible. If it was going to be her and Gabe’s wedding, Britney was going to have a say in it. She had been dreaming of this moment for too long to let anyone else plan the affair. “What about the engagement ring?”
“What about it?” frowned Gabe.
“If we’re to be engaged, you should give me a ring,” Britney wondered what else she should know about her impending wedding. She was getting married! She couldn’t wait to tell Tara about this.
“You proposed to me, remember?” Gabe pointed out before answering. “Go to the family jeweler, I’ll have my secretary call yours for the address. Pick out anything you want and charge it to my account.”
“No,” Britney almost swallowed the word but then straightened her spine and spoke clearly. “No. I would like you to pick out the ring. I’m not going to tell our children and grandchildren I picked out the ring. It’s not romantic.”
Gabe bit off what he might have said before taking a deep breath. “This isn’t about romance. This is an arrangement.”
“Then consider it a condition of our arrangement,” replied Britney. “One engagement ring to seal the contract between us.”
“Fine,” Gabe bit off before abruptly walking away. He moved through the crowd to find Marshall waiting patiently for him.
“Are congratulations in order?” Marshall raised an eyebrow expectantly. “Otherwise you can congratulate me as soon as I talk to Britney.”
Gabe abruptly grabbed Marshall by his tux jacket, hauling him close. Snatching the engagement ring out of Marshall’s breast pocket, Gabe briefly flashed the diamond ring in Marshall’s face before palming it and brusquely turning his back on his brother to merge back into the crowd.
“What was that about?” Parker handed Marshall another drink as he sipped his own.
“I think our big brother is about to pop the question,” grinned Marshall.
Parker gauged his brother’s reaction. “You set him up, didn’t you?”
“Someone had to,” shrugged Marshall, completely satisfied with the turn of events. “He’s been in love with her for years but is too stubborn to realize it. A little push and hopefully they will make a success out of marriage.”
“Or a complete disaster,” mildly noted Parker. “They hate each other.”
“They love each other,” clarified Marshall. “Think about it. What other woman has ever inspired so much passion in Gabe?”
Parker thought about it but came up empty. “I don’t recall any.”
