The Sweetest Deal (12 page)

“About everything.”

Okay, why the cryptic talk? “Were you seeing him before I went to L.A.?” He pictured her sneaking out of the asshole’s bed to run home to Max.

“Of course not. That wasn’t what I was talking about.”

“Then what?” Part of him really did wish he’d stayed home with a pizza and beer instead of subjecting his heart to this torture.

“I’m talking about us, Max.” Her cheeks flushed as she inched closer. “I wish things had been more honest between us.”

Anger curled around his gut, squeezed hard. “Things were great between us,” he said through gritted teeth, “and just because you’re sleeping with some other guy now, don’t denigrate what we had.”

Her nostrils flared. “Tell me why you bought the ring, dammit!”

The woman drove him mad. “Because I love you! Why else would I buy it?”

She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. What had he just done? “Look, let’s just forget it, okay? It’s history.”

“You love me?”

She wouldn’t let it go. He looked away, caught the brunette in the shrink-wrap eyeing him and glanced back at C.C. How could he ever look at another woman after this one?

“Max?”

“Yes. Okay?” This was the worst profession of unrequited love in history.

“And my father did not coerce you in any way?”

Now she had him. “Your father knew how much you wanted a child and he hated how you’d been cheated. He found a way for you to get what you wanted. I was supposed to get you pregnant and give you the baby you wanted. We were never supposed to get involved, past the uh, necessary involvement. But somewhere along the way I fell in love with you.” Regret squeezed his gut. “I’m so sorry. It was a horrible thing to do—”

She threw her arms around him and kissed him on the mouth.

Max pulled away. “What about David? Did he go back to his wife?” Nothing made sense.

She smiled. “I have no idea where he is. I invented the David scenario to save face after Candace visited me. She said Dad told her about the deal you and he made. She felt horrible about it.”

“She must have known Grayson wouldn’t like her interference and there’d be repercussions.” Like an aborted engagement. And yet, she’d done the right thing. She’d almost ruined his life, but he had to give her credit, anyway. Maybe she had changed after all.

“Just when I decided I was okay with Dad marrying her, he broke it off.”

“Candy’s a strong woman. She’ll be okay.” And changed or not, Candy didn’t belong with someone she described as calm, steady and admirable.

C.C. touched his cheek. “I’ve been so miserable without you.” She reached up to kiss him again but he stopped her.

“Why didn’t you just ask without orchestrating this big scheme?” All the pain and sleepless hours she’d caused, for what? Pride?

“Maybe if I had found the ring before you took off, I could have. But I swore off cookies the day we broke up and didn’t find the ring until—”

“Until?”

“Do you still want to marry me?”

“Do you have any other old boyfriends you want to re-invent?”

She brushed her lips against his. “Only you. I love you, Max.”

“Then yes, I still want to marry you.”

He bent to kiss her but she jerked away. “Good, because there’s something I have to tell you. First—” she lifted her left hand, “—I love the ring.”

“You’ve been wearing it?”

She nodded, her eyes glistening. “I’ll never take it off.”

“You can leave it on.” He slid a hand along her back. “There’ll be enough other things to take off.”

“Speaking of taking things off—seems we did a very good job of doing that.”

Her sexy innuendo made him hard. “Damn straight and I’m ready to do it again. Do you think Rhyder will mind if we skip out? I’ll order a pizza and we can get naked and eat in bed.”

“Umm, I can’t really eat pizza right now. It bothers my stomach.”

“Since when? You love pepperoni and mushrooms.”

“Not lately. I can’t eat my cookies either.”

Max stared at her. “Are you okay? Did I cause you some kind of eating disorder or something?” He’d never forgive himself if he hurt her.

“Nothing that won’t correct itself in about seven months,” she said, stroking his cheek.

“Seven months? Why so long?” And then it hit him. “
You’re pregnant?
” He eased his hand along her belly to the tiny swell above her jeans.

“I’m guessing it was one of those few times we didn’t use protection. Max, if you made the deal with my dad, why
did
you use a condom?”

A baby.
Their baby.
“I told myself I’d fulfill my part of the deal later. When we first made love it was about us, not some deal. And then, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

“I love you, Max Jerrnigan. I’ll always love you.”

“What do you think about a Vegas wedding?” He wanted to marry her tomorrow.

“No. I want to get married in front of the fountain in my old house, with your whole family there.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking. They’re an interesting group.”

“I want them there. And Dad and Maggie.” When he raised a brow, she said, “I think she’s secretly in love with him.”

“Speaking of, what are the odds on those two?” He pointed to Roxie and an oddly excited Rhyder. Was the man actually beaming?

“I’d say 99 to 1.”

“Which way?” He’d bet against them.

“They end up together.”

“Really?”

“You’ll see.”

Rhyder dragged Roxie by the arm and stopped in front of Max and C.C. “Finally, we can stop the wailing and gnashing of teeth. Congratulations to both of you. I’ll be happy to be the best man.”

“And the godfather,” Max said.

“What?” Rhyder’s gaze honed in on C.C.’s belly.

“We’re going to have a baby,” C.C. said.

“You did it! My charts worked, didn’t they?”

“Rhyder—”

“I told you they would.”

“Rhyder!”

“What charts?” Roxie eyed Rhyder like she wanted to pounce on him.

“Nothing,” Rhyder said. “Just some analytical projections. So. Roxie and I had a deal and I met my terms. Now it’s time for her to make good on hers.” He cleared his throat and announced, “She’s going to introduce me to her cousin, Roberta.”

“Roxie—”

“No, C.C., a deal’s a deal.”

Max tried to hide a smile. Maybe Rhyder
had
met his match.

“Are you ready?”

Rhyder straightened his perfect tie and adjusted his glasses. “Ready. Where is she? I didn’t see anyone who looked like Roberta.”

“How would you know? Have you ever seen her?” Roxie ruffled her spiked hair and smiled.

“Well, no, but I’m quite certain I could pick her out anywhere.”

“Actually, you flunk on that one. You’ve seen her several times and not once did you spot her.”

“Impossible.”

Roxie laughed. “It’s true.” She took a step closer and stood on tiptoe so she was eye to eye with him. “You big oaf, know-it-all,
I’m
Roberta Revito.” She growled that revelation at him and stalked away. It took Rhyder a few seconds before he sputtered, something he never did, and went after her.

Max pulled C.C. into his arms. “I think your stats were a little off. Anybody who can make Rhyder unravel like that has my vote. I’ll say there’s a one hundred percent chance those two end up together.”

C.C. snuggled against his chest and let out one of those breathy sighs he loved.

“They’re starting off the same way we did and look how we ended up.”

Max kissed the top of her head and nuzzled her hair contentedly. “Who would have guessed such a bad deal would turn into the sweetest one yet?”

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