As if sensing her inner turmoil, Luca dropped his arms and stepped back. “You really should get back to back.”

She scowled at him. “I can’t lie around all weekend,” she protested.

His brown-gold eyes sparkled with amusement. “Why not? You need rest, princesa. Lots of it. Doctor MaryAnne’s orders.”

“Doctor who?” she asked suspiciously.

“A friend of mine. She paid a house call and pronounced you in perfect health. Just run down.”

Thanks to all your slave driving. Her scowl deepened.

“Blame me all you want, mi querida,” he muttered. “I deserve it, but that won’t change the fact you need your rest.”

She laid awake long after left the room, squeezing her eyes shut and trying to imagine what it would be like if Luca truly loved her. If he wanted her to stay in town, not because she carried the next member of his family dynasty in her belly, but because he wanted her in his life.

She had no doubt he would care for her and the baby if she remained in town. He possessed a solid sense of duty, especially to his family, but it would never be enough. She would never be able to stand on the sidelines and watch him date other women like the one he’d brought to his office the other day. If she stayed, she would always long for more from him. She would always want him.

Tears stung the backs of her eyelids. She squeezed her eyelids tighter, trying to hold them back, but one slid hotly down her cheek making her angry at herself for her show of weakness. Stupid hormones! She hated herself even more for falling for a man who could never love her in return. Foolishly setting her sights on a man like Luca Calcagni was yet another failure to add to her growing list of failures. And leaving him was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done.

Forget sleep. With Luca finally out of the room, it was her chance to make her getaway. She hurried to the restroom to freshen up one last time then returned to the guest room to help herself to a few items from the morning bar near the door. Bottled water, orange juice, granola bars, and a few pieces of fresh fruit. Hopefully, it would tide her over until she reached her destination, wherever that might be. She would take the bus this time and pay cash for her ticket since her driver’s license was still unaccounted for.

“What are you doing?” Luca’s voice made her jolt.

Jacey paused in the middle of zipping her duffle, irritated to be caught in the act of leaving. She’d tried to be so quiet. Looked like she should have shut and locked the door as well. I’m leaving. What does it look like? She peeked at him from beneath her lashes to gauge his expression.

He was towering over her, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

Her mouth turned dry at the glare riding his handsome features, making it nearly impossible to swallow. He looked so distraught, she wanted to launch herself back in his arms, to assure him everything was okay, to feel his mouth on hers again. But she knew better. The baby was the only reason he was hounding her to stay in town. She needed to remain strong and stick to her original plan.

“I’m going home.” The lie slipped out easily. “Thank you for everything, but I’ve burdened you long enough.”

“Before breakfast?” His mouth tightened into one of his infuriating judge-and-jury expressions. “Do you really think that’s wise, considering your condition?”

“I’m not an invalid.”

“So you keep telling me, yet you’ve collapsed twice in the past forty-eight hours. You really need to start taking better care of yourself.”

It irritated her how he was so right all the time. Couldn’t he be human for once and be dead wrong about anything? She allowed her duffle to sink to the floor. “Fine. I’ll stay for breakfast. What are we having?”

His brows rose. “Anything you like. My chef is very skilled.”

A chef. She closed her eyes for a moment, absorbing the luxury of his offer. Anything I want. Without opening her eyes, she spoke softly. “Tarragon egg salad on slivered cucumbers with a slice of pumpernickel bread on the side. Toasted.”

He repeated her order. “Tarragon egg salad on slivered cucumbers with a few slices of pumpernickel bread on the side. Toasted and dry.”

“How many servings, sir?”

The female voice made Jacey’s eyelids fly open. Luca hadn’t repeated her order to remember it. His thumb was pressing a button on the wall. He was speaking into an intercom system.

“Breakfast for two. Oh, and bring up a carafe of cucumber water and a side of watermelon balls. Thank you, Colette.”

“My pleasure, sir.”

Jacey shot him a wistful look. “I miss this. All of it.” The words flew from her mouth before she gave them permission to leave. She’d enjoyed a childhood pampered and spoiled by an entire staff of servants, many of whom she adored as much as her family. It had been tougher than she imagined to give it all up and fend for herself in the regular world.

Luca’s answering nod held none of the mockery she expected. “Then maybe you will consider the proposition I’m about to make.”

A whispery sigh escaped her as she wrapped her arms around her body. She already knew what he planned to say. He was going to try to convince her to stay in town, which would never work for them. For every reason she could think of, it was best if she left. She would pretend to listen to what he had to say then follow her own path like she always did.

He beckoned for her to follow him into the adjoining solarium where the rising sun was no more than a distant glow on the horizon. Towering tropical plants graced the corners of the room and curled against the glass ceiling. Creamy leather lounges faced each other in the center with a glass-top coffee table between them. It was a cozy scene despite their coming confrontation.

He motioned for her to be seated first and eased himself down beside her, tossing an arm across the back of the couch and toying with a strand of her hair.

It was an unfair move, swooping in on her like this with all six plus feet of his beautiful frame stretched out next to hers. If she allowed herself to look too long into his golden, soul-searching gaze, she might swoon or give in to whatever he was about to propose. So she looked away instead.

She caught her breath when his thumb traced a lazy pattern on her shoulder blade. “You know I don’t want you to leave, Jacey.”

She flinched and dragged her gaze back to his. Of course, he went for her most vulnerable spot first. The man absolutely didn’t know the first thing about fighting fair. “No, Luca. You only want my baby, your nephew. That’s the real reason you want me to remain in town.”

“Not true. I want both of you.”

She hugged her middle tighter. “Why?”

He leaned closer to push back the curtain of hair she’d let half-cover her face. “Your baby? That’s easy. He’s the last living link I have to my brother, and family means everything to me. You?” he sighed. “I’m afraid I don’t have any clear answers concerning my feelings for you. All I know is I want you to stay.”

Well, wanting her to stay wasn’t going to put food in her baby’s mouth, neither was working a job that barely brought in twice minimum wage. She leaned away from his mesmerizing touch and rose to her feet. “Forgive me for passing on such a compelling list of reasons to remain in town, but I have a baby to raise. I’ll admit I didn’t plan this and I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m sure about one thing. I’m raising my child as far away as possible from all the feuding, corporate missions, professional jealousies, and private agendas of both the Maddoxes and Calcagnis.” There! At least one of them knew what they wanted and wasn’t afraid to say it aloud.

He stood and reached for her hands. “Living on soup and crackers on the cheap side of town might have been okay for a very tough, very determined widow. But it won’t be enough for your baby. Think about it, Jacey. What kind of home can you give your child? What kind of insurance and benefits? What kind of life?”

Mortification flooded her from her hair roots to her toes. “Go ahead,” she choked. “Mock me all you want.” Years of her family’s disapproval had helped her grow some very thick skin in that area.

“Why would I mock you?” He looked shocked.

“I made my bed, and now I get to sleep in it,” she retorted bitterly. “Believe me, I’ve heard it a thousand times.”

“Yes, you did make your bed, and you’ve done a really good job of sleeping in it. Ask me to repeat this in public, and I’ll probably deny ever saying it, but there’s a part of me that admires you.”

The sting of tears was back, but she was too surprised at his words to hide them this time. “Right. I’ve made an absolute disaster of my life. What could you possibly admire about that?”

“Not true.” He glared at her. “For one thing, you made my brother happy.”

Her face fell. Actually, she hadn’t. It was a regret she would take to her grave.

Not knowing her thoughts, Luca plowed onward. “As your boss, I’ve seen your capabilities first hand. And don’t forget I heard you sing.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” She flushed at the memory of blubbering over his monogrammed notepad while she scribbled down the words pouring from her heart. Despite the unwelcome burst of emotion it had elicited in her, it had been a healing and comforting exercise. One more step towards achieving closure from her tragic marriage.

“You have a special gift, one that you sacrificed all the benefits of being born a Maddox to pursue. As much pride as it costs me to admit this, I was wrong about you, Jacey. Wrong in my assumption you were just like my wayward brother, may he rest in peace.” His voice cracked.

The emotion in his eyes ripped at her heart. “Luca, please. We don’t need to go there.” The pain was still too fresh, her regrets too raw.

“I’m sorry, carina, but I think it’s time to be honest with each other about him. Easton was a thrill seeker and a rolling stone. I imagine no one knows this better than the woman who married him. Yes, I loved him, but I wasn’t blind to the fact he was unable to accept any meaningful adult responsibilities. My grandparents and brothers weren’t oblivious to the fact either. He was like,” Eyes red-rimmed, he seemed to be struggling for the right words. “Like Peter Pan. The boy who never grew up.”

He description was agonizingly accurate. It was painful to talk about Easton, but he’d summed up their failed marriage in one simple sentence. She’d been married to a boy who’d never grown up. She’d never forget all the lonely nights she’d spent without her husband. She’d tried to convince herself it was because he worked days and she mostly worked nights, but it was more than that. In the end, Easton hadn’t been committed to anyone or anything. Not her. Not her vain attempts to start attending church on Sundays as a married couple. Not even racing. Heavens, he’d been debating joining a skydiving team if he failed to win the race that had ultimately claimed his life. She and her trust fund had simply been the enablers of his flighty temperament.

“You agreed to stay for breakfast,” Luca reminded mildly, squeezing her hands and pulling her back to the present. “Sit with me a few minutes, Jacey. If you don’t like the proposition I have to make, then you’re free to go after breakfast. I give you my word. No tricks. I’ll drive you back to the airport myself if that’s what you want.”

Again, she wanted to believe him, but her heart was wary.

She sat back down on the couch.

“Free to go where?” she asked bitterly. “I already know how this is going to play out. The Calcagnis will sue me for rights to my child. Whether you’ll try to take full guardianship, settle for visitation rights, or pull some other legal shenanigans I haven’t yet considered remains to be seen. Regardless, I fully expect your team of expert attorneys to dog my heals starting today in the attempt to bend me and my unborn child to your will.”

Throughout her tirade, a myriad of expressions wafted across Luca’s features from surprise to anger to mortification. He sucked in a slow, deep breath when she was through.

“Hiring lawyers would be a pointless move, don’t you think, if we’re married, carina?” he asked softly.

Thankfully, she was already in the act of sitting, because her knees gave out. She collapsed atop the couch cushions. “What did you say?”

“Marry me, Jacey. It’s the best solution.” He sat down beside her.

She studied his features, distressed at his cavalier approach to such a serious topic. “Marriage isn’t supposed to be a solution. It’s supposed to be —” A holy union between two people who are in love, and you don’t even love me.

“Eighteen years,” he pressed. “That’s how long I’m asking you to stay married to me.”

Incredulous, she scanned his features, but he appeared deathly serious. He was offering her eighteen years of marriage in the same cold and calculating way he negotiated his business contracts. It was un-romantic and ill-advised of her to even consider something so preposterous, though the practical side of her knew it would mean no child custody or visitation battles. Her son would be an adult by then, never to be fought over in court.

“If you choose to leave at that point, you won’t go empty handed either. I’ll draw up a prenuptial contract to guarantee you a generous settlement. I take care of what is mine. You know that as well as anyone, Jacey.”

His. She wanted to dwell for a moment on the thought of being his, but he’d spoiled the mood by placing a price tag on it. She gulped air instead. “You want me to live here.” She spread her hands to take in the room. “In this house with you for the next eighteen years?” Her voice escalated to a ridiculously high pitch. In exchange for a generous settlement because you think you can buy me. Her insides crumbled like dry, brittle soup crackers.

“I already admitted I want you in my life.” He chuckled, a beautiful baritone sound that resonated across each and every raw nerve ending inside her.

She could only stare, incredulous, drowning in his gorgeous eyes, trying not to tremble beneath the delicious pressure of his fingers clasping hers.

“I’ll help you raise your child. Treat him as my own. He’ll have a safe home, a good education, the best opportunities, Jacey. As my wife, you’ll also have everything you need. All the things you previously gave up.” His voice turned teasing, and he treated her to a wink. “To include the funds you’ll require to continue growing your impressive shoe collection.”

A strangled sound escaped her. This was no joking matter. What he was offering her was everything she’d dreamed of minus one important detail — his heart.

“I can secure you a recording audition with a major studio, as well.” His tone turned cagey. “I know an agent down in Nashville who’s always scouting for new talent. He’s a bit of a carpet-bagger and a little annoying at times, but he knows the industry.”

“Luca!” She found her voice at last. “I don’t understand. Why would you do so much for me when you could fight me in court for the same outcome?”

“Because fighting you in court will not produce the same outcome.” He shot her a wistful half smile. “I want you in my life, cara. In my home. And when you’re ready, I hope for more than that.”

She was feeling lightheaded again. “So you want a marriage of convenience with all the conveniences?”

“When you’re ready.”

She was pretty sure every inch of her turned pink.

Luca moved closer, draping an arm behind her on the couch. “It’s the best solution, and you know it. If you’re worried about whether my attraction for you is real, let’s just say not many women can grace a centerfold the way you did last year.”

She groaned and covered her face with one hand. “We needed the money. Easton’s racing expenses were draining us.”

“I know that now, and I am sorry. More sorry than words can express. It was a decision we made as a family. We hoped freezing his assets would return him to his senses and bring him home to us. We didn’t understand how financially invested you were in the marriage and how our decision was affecting you as well.”

It had bankrupted her, that’s what, but there was no way he could have known.

“We certainly never intended to hurt you in the process.”

His apology wasn’t given lightly. It meant something. It settled over her like a balm on a thousand open wounds.

“So you see?” He glanced away from her. “You aren’t the only one who feels the need to atone. I’ve been drowning in guilt ever since you collapsed in the board room. Not only did I bungle things with Easton but I’ve been bungling things with you ever since you came back to town. I’ve never been much of a religious man, but I begged the good Lord Himself for another chance to make things right with you. I truly want to help you and the baby.”

She shook her head. What he proposed was tempting but preposterous. “You don’t have to marry me to help us. Marrying me might actually make things worse. Both our families would oppose it, you know. Adamantly.”

He offered her a fiercely grim smile that made her heart leap. “Let them.” He bent over her to brush his lips against hers. “Just be mine, Jacey.”

His. Her tenuous control over her emotions melted at the word. She knew deep inside that Luca was capable of championing her every bit as much as he had opposed her the past several weeks. She’d watched him in action often enough to understand once he made up his mind about something, he was a force to be reckoned with. It was tempting, so deliciously tempting, to work with him instead of against him.

“Say something,” he whispered against her mouth.

“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered back.

“How about a yes?”

He brushed his lips against hers again. She suppressed a sigh at the tender caress. Maybe she wasn’t thinking straight. She’d never been able to think straight around him, but for the life of her, she couldn’t fathom how running away from her hometown a second time, this time with a baby in her belly, would be any easier than accepting his insanely generous offer. The biggest risk she could see in his whole proposition was losing her heart to him, and the horse was already well out of the stable on that issue.

“Okay, Luca,” she sighed. “You win. For the next eighteen years, I’m yours.”

With a sound of exultation, he drew her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. They sat wrapped together for several minutes, just breathing each other in.

A woman cleared her throat delicately. Jacey raised her flaming face to the doorway. It was Merl bearing a tray of food.

“Breakfast is served,” she announced somberly, averting her eyes.

“Come in, Merl.” Luca’s jovial offer made the woman blink in surprise. “You can be the first to congratulate us. Jacey has agreed to marry me.”

For a moment, Jacey thought Merl was going to drop her tray. “Oh my, sir!” she said faintly. “That is happy news for sure.”