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million dollars?” she asked, amazed that he wanted her so much. She had no idea Jake cared that much about her or their marriage.

      His offer meant he wasn’t unhappy she hadn’t given him an heir. He really wanted to give their marriage a chance. Until now she’d brushed aside all Jake’s compliments. For the first time since proposing, she had a faint glimmer of hope that he wanted her as more than a playmate in his bed.

      She was shocked that their marriage was so important to him. “You’d give me a half a million dollars for charity? You want me to stay that badly? You’re not unhappy with our marriage?” she repeated, feeling weak in the knees. Her head buzzed. The possibility that he truly wanted her to stay longer was stunning, and she could only stare at him.

      “I want this marriage to work,” he replied coolly, caressing the nape of her neck and consuming her with his gaze. His meandering fingers sent shivers down her spine, which distracted her and reinforced his invitation. “I don’t like failure,” he said softly, leaning down to brush her ear with a kiss. His warm breath added more fuel to Jake’s urging—he was using unfair tactics to get his way, yet she couldn’t ignore them.

      “I think we have sound beginnings for a solid, satisfying union, so I’m willing to give you an inducement to stay and give us more of a chance,” he whispered, showering kisses on her temple, ear and throat. He straightened to look at her and placed his warm hands on her shoulders.

      “Half a million—however I want to use it?” she asked, still stunned.

      “Yes. It’s yours with no strings. Buy clothes with it if you want,” he replied with a shrug. He toyed with a lock of her hair, winding it in his fingers. She felt the faint tugs on her scalp.

      He sounded relaxed, but his gaze was intense and a muscle worked in his jaw. “Help those kids you work with in that mentoring program. Give it to the children’s shelter you support. It’s yours.”

      Warmth and joy poured over her. “Jake, this marriage is important to you,” she said, flustered by his magnanimous offer, tears of relief stinging her eyes as she hugged him. “I was so sure you really wished you’d never gotten into it. There are so many beautiful women you could have had! I had no idea you really weren’t unhappy!” she exclaimed, joy bubbling in her. Worries and stress vanished, replaced by eagerness.

      “I think we’re going to have a damn good marriage,” he declared. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t make this offer. With this kind of money you can help others beyond anything you ever envisioned,” he said, combing a tendril of brown hair away from her face and smiling at her.

      “Keep your money, Jake.” The important thing was that he had hope for their marriage. “I’m thrilled. Relieved. The future does look bright!” she exclaimed, excitement making her bubbly.

      “I think we have every potential for success. I don’t want to lose you. I’m putting the money into your account, but I’m gratified that our marriage is what’s so important. You think I’ll miss the half a million?” he asked with amusement.

      She inhaled deeply. “I wasn’t sure how you felt and couldn’t imagine that you were happy with me. It’s a generous offer, but what changes everything is that you want me to stay and make all this work. I really meant it when I said that you don’t have to give me the money,” she said, winding her fingers into his hair and realizing she’d misjudged him all this time. Maybe he wasn’t as materialistic as she thought. She saw the satisfaction in his expression.

      “The money’s yours,” he replied with a smile. “Just stay with me, Em. We’ll be great together,” he said, leaning down to cover her mouth with his in a long deep kiss. She threw herself into the kiss, clinging to his lean muscled frame, seeing hope for their future, after all.

      “The doctor told you that you were stressed out over not getting pregnant. That’s why I took some time off and we came out here for another honeymoon,” Jake reminded her, his voice lowering seductively. “For six more months, just relax and take life as it comes, darlin’.”

      Heat flushed her cheeks when she remembered their first week on the island, when he had taken time off work to stay with her. They had made love constantly and she’d expected to get pregnant, but that had been three weeks ago and she knew she wasn’t expecting a baby. “I’m thrilled you want me that badly,” she admitted.

      He smiled as he gazed warmly down at her. Creases framed his mouth and again he looked his most appealing. “I’m patient and you’re anxious. I’m not disappointed, Em. This has been a great bargain. And you won’t regret your decision. You can’t possibly. You can do good deeds to your heart’s content. As far as being ‘poles apart’ as you said we are, thank heavens. It’s more interesting that we’re not alike. I don’t want to marry someone like me.” His voice dropped while he talked and his gaze lowered to her mouth and she forgot about the future and the money.

      “This is one thing we have that’s special,” he whispered. “The lovemaking is fabulous.” He lowered his head. His mouth brushed hers and as her insides heated, she had to agree with him.

      His mouth opened hers and his tongue went deep, ending all talk as effectively as his half-a-million-dollar offer had. She slid her arms around his neck and pressed against him, kissing him in return as she combed her fingers into his hair.

      She stroked his tongue with hers, tasting him, teasing, dimly hearing his groan over the thumping of her heart. It was paradise to be in his arms, to have hope and to be able to finally let go. She wanted to devour him, consume him, give herself completely to him and pleasure him the way he did her.

      She twisted her hand in his shirt at the small of his back and pulled, tugging it free of his trousers. Then she ran her hand over his smooth back, wanting to feel all of him. As their kisses grew hotter, he slid his hand down her back slowly, lightly over her bottom and then back up to twist free the tiny buttons of her dress and push away the wisp of lace. He cupped her breast in his hand, his thumb stroking her nipple.

      She gasped with pleasure, pressing her hips more tightly against him, kissing him until she pushed lightly against his chest. She hoped to draw this out, to play and pleasure him. She intended to love him for hours. She looked up at him, gasping for breath.

      “Let’s swim first,” she said, gulping to catch her breath. “Let’s make this evening last, Jake,” she whispered.

      “Sure,” he said in a husky voice, desire now a steady blaze in his eyes.

      “I’m going to our room to get my suit. The one I want isn’t in the cabana. I bought a new suit.”

      “Want me to help you change?” he asked, and she shook her head, smiling at him.

      “You meet me at the pool,” she said.

      “I can’t wait,” he drawled, touching the end of her nose lightly.

      Laughing, she left him, shimmying out of the top of her dress as she crossed the room. It fell around her waist, leaving her bare except for a wisp of a bra.

      “Dammit, Em,” she heard him mutter, and she turned, slanting a sultry smile at him.

      “I’ll hurry, Jake,” she promised breathlessly and dashed away as he started toward her.

      Laughing and eager, she raced upstairs. Her heart throbbed with desire and joy and she wondered if she was going to fall in love with her handsome husband, after all.

      Six more months with Jake! He truly wanted her. This marriage wasn’t such a cut-and-dried bargain, after all!

      The knowledge had lifted an enormous burden off her shoulders. And maybe it would help with getting pregnant. Dr. Claywood had assured her that she could get pregnant. He’d told her to relax and given her a list of books to read on the subject.

      Plus she had a half a million to spend as she pleased! Emily could think of projects at her father’s church—a remedial reading program for kids and one for adults. Mission trips to help rebuild old churches. Free breakfasts

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