Her backbone lost some of its steel. She took her hat and set it on her head, then accepted the papers from him.
“Joy.” He gave her hat a slight adjustment, centering it, then smoothed her hair back from her temples.
He was barely touching her, but it sent tickling frissons of sensation through her shoulder blades. The pleasure was at odds with the apprehension she felt when she studied the hard angles of his expression.
“I want your allegiance.” His gaze locked with hers. “I will only know I have it if I’ve purchased it before you meet him. You don’t know yet how badly you need my protection from him, but you do. So give me your promise now. If the test proves you’re his daughter, you’ll marry me before you speak to him.”
“We met two hours ago,” she protested. “You want to marry me intwodays.” Her voice cracked.
His expression didn’t change.
She searched his eyes, wishing she knew whether she could trust him. She wouldn’t know until she did, though.
Which was how she had learned that she couldn’t trust Todd.
Shewantedto believe in Axel, though. That was a very alarming realization when she had pretty much sworn off trusting any man after Todd.
What Axel was proposing could break apart what was left of her life. Or he might help her rebuild it so it was strong and unshakable. He was making her a very alluring offer when she didn’t know how she would manage another few months, let alone years of carrying so much financial baggage and a parent who was growing more dependent on her.
Maybe she wanted her troubles to be washed away with money and maybe she wanted to dance again. But she knew, deep down, that she wanted something else, too.
She was fighting against acknowledging it but had to face it when he touched her chin, urging her to lift her gaze. A hot streak of sensuality ran down her throat.
He was attractive and intriguing and powerful and inscrutable.
She tried to swallow but couldn’t. She wanted to close her eyes and hide. But couldn’t. She wanted him to kiss her with those wickedly beautiful lips.
“Do I have your word?” he asked gravely.
Her heart was beating so hard and fast, she nodded as an escape tactic, so he would release her.
“I’m probably not her anyway,” she repeated in a thin voice.
“We’ll know soon.”
He took her home. They didn’t speak beyond, “Good night,” and, “You have my number.”
Her father was already asleep. She sneaked into her bed and read through everything Axel had given her, then tossed and turned until her phone pinged at three in the morning.
It was an email from Umberto with the test results.
Probability of paternity: 99.9999%
She stared at it for a long time before she sent it to Axel.
Even though it was the middle of the night, he texted back immediately.
I’ll be there at nine to buy our license.
CHAPTER SIX
AXEL REFUSED TOcheck his watch.
Aside from how it would affect his battle with Otto, being left at the altar was not something that would bother him too much. The only guest was his bride’s father, who wasn’t here yet because he was coming with Joy. The ceremony was being held in a quiet, hundred-year-old mansion on the lakeshore. An equally small brunch would be wasted, but most of what Axel had spent on bribing Joy to agree to this marriage could be stopped or recouped.
Axel had never aspired to marry anyway, not until Otto had made it a vehicle to getting something he wanted. Agreeing to marry Mira had been an easy choice. A safe one. Until the last time he’d seen her, Mira had always been even-keeled and cooperative. Axel had liked that about her. She had never riled more emotion out of him than sympathy or a snort of amusement at one of her facetious comments.
Marrying Joy would not be that inert.
