After he’d added her stipulation, she went to take back the desk, but Jasper refused to let her have it.
Instead, he returned to item number three, crossed out the word unnecessary, and replaced it with a more palatable term.
Negotiable.
Then he slid the desk back onto her lap.
While working out their agreement, they’d both scooted closer to one another, and he felt her stiffen beside him.
She did not, however, protest his addendum outright. Instead, she sighed.
“Because you will need an heir,” she said. “My mother explained it to me, the things Dewberry would do, and I understand what is required. I just…”
“Let’s set aside what your mother said for the moment.” Jasper touched his fingertips to her wrist. “Because you aren’t being forced into marrying me, and I sure as hell am not Dewberry.”
“I know,” she said, swallowing hard. And then her gaze dropped to where their hands barely touched one another’s.
Jasper’s stare followed hers while he considered his choice of words carefully. “That is true. But the choice to say yes, or to say no, will always be yours.”
“But what about—”
“It will be my responsibility,” Jasper spoke clearly, “To ensure that you wish to say yes.”
Her hand turned, and her fingertips connected with his, her palm facing up. Jasper looked up to study her profile.
Her features, at first glance, appeared delicate. But she wasn’t as delicate as she appeared. Her chin was rounded but strong, and her nose had the slightest slope that tilted up at the end.
“How…” Perfect white teeth bit down on her bottom lip. “How would you go about doing that?”
A delicious tension settled between them, and Jasper took the moment to turn her hand and draw lazy circles in her palm. The fine hairs on her arm stood up and her breath hitched.
“Do you feel it?” he asked. “The buzzing. The change in the air.” The sounds of the wheels turning beneath them, of the meadows sliding by outside, all disappeared. All that existed was the two of them.
Oh, so very slowly, she turned and held his gaze. “Yes,” she whispered.
“And the kiss,” he added. “You liked it.”
“Yes,” she answered without hesitation.
“I’ve so much more to show you. And this,” he breathed, flicking his glance to where their hands touched, “proves it will be good.”
“For both of us? Not something to be endured?” She sounded…
By God, she sounded hopeful.
“For both of us,” he reassured her. But her answers had reassured him as well. And suddenly, he wasn’t nearly as reluctant to make this journey to Gretna Green. Malum was unlikely to send a messenger with some other scheme for Nia’s protection. Perhaps marriage to Lady Gardenia Hathaway wouldn’t be the hell he’d anticipated with any other woman.
Nia cleared her throat and then nodded slowly.
“I accept the amendment.”
Before Jasper could say another word, she took her hand back, reclaimed the desk, and began writing: The aforementioned participants agree to abide by the above terms as husband and wife. If either person objects to some aspect, the other must abide by their wishes. But also, if one of the participants makes a request, or wishes to add to the agreement, the other acknowledges that they will consider it fairly.
She signed her full name with a flourish and then handed the entire apparatus back to Jasper.
They hadn’t even married yet, and she had him entering into contracts. Jasper scribbled his signature below hers.
What the hell was he getting into?
