LITMIR.BIZ

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for us to get the marriage license.” Hawk picked up the birth certificate and put it back into the briefcase.

      “I don’t think any of my family will be thrilled. That’s why I’m counting on you, Hawk. I’m going to call my lawyer, have my will changed. I can sign it after I watch you two get married.”

      “Then I need to go find Renee and see if I can convince her to apply for the license today or tomorrow,” Hawk murmured, thinking out loud.

      “There’s a charity reception we’re holding on Saturday night. That might be a good time to announce your marriage.”

      Hawk wondered if he could talk Renee into marrying him. She didn’t seem to be taken with the idea.

      “Hawk, thank you.”

      “You don’t have to thank me, Emory. I want your company to continue to survive and grow. It won’t happen with any of your relatives at the helm.”

      Emory closed his eyes. “I know.” Defeat rang in his tone.

      As Hawk walked out of the hospital, his thoughts were of Renee and this marriage. Whether or not she wanted to marry him, she was going to need him. Things were going to get rough. The reaction of Emory’s family—his sister Eloise, her husband Thomas, their son Todd, and Emory’s late brother’s daughter Stacy—would be explosive. They were jackals waiting for the old man to kick the bucket so they could pick the bones dry. He didn’t doubt each of them had plans about what to do with the money Emory would leave them. He’d heard talk among them about selling the company. Yes, Renee was going to need help.

      When Emory confided to him about Renee being his daughter, Hawk had been shocked. Emory’s attitude toward Renee when she came to work for him now made sense. When Emory had asked him to marry Renee, Hawk hadn’t been able to deny the old man his request. Emory had been a lifeline for Hawk since he’d been a teenager. Any success in his life had been because of Emory’s support. He couldn’t walk away from the old man’s need.

      Even if Emory hadn’t asked him to do this favor, Hawk would’ve thought of some way to protect the lady, because she was going to be in danger.

      Renee’s hands shook so badly she couldn’t get the key in the ignition. Grabbing her purse, she slipped out of the car, locked it and started walking across the parking lot toward the city park and zoo. Maybe she could outwalk her thoughts.

      The early spring day was perfect, with flowers blooming in the cultured gardens and the smell of honeysuckle in the air. She wished she could appreciate the beauty, but her mind kept replaying the stunning revelations of the morning.

      She stopped by a bench and sank down on it. Emory Sweeney was her father. Not Francois Girouard—the man who’d raised her, loved her, picked her up when she’d fallen off her bicycle—but Emory Sweeney, the brash president of Texas Chic. Emory was an extravagant, outspoken maverick who’d made his millions in the sixties through a chain of retail stores, selling Texas chic apparel before it became popular.

      How could it be true? As she thought further, little pieces of memory seemed to come together. The discrepancy between her birth date and her parents’ wedding. Renee had assumed that Francois had been her father. And then there were no pictures of him holding her as an infant. The pictures only started after she was three. Her mother explained that fact by saying they were destroyed in a fire.

      Thrown into this mess was Emory’s request that she marry Hawk. The dynamic, handsome man had every female at Texas Chic vying for his attention whenever he showed up at company functions or visited Emory. He was the dangerous male who sent their blood racing, but Renee knew he had vowed never to commit to one woman after his disastrous first marriage and ugly divorce.

      Marry a man who despised wedded bliss? When hell froze over, she vowed.

      But there was something else to consider. She was pregnant and Hawk was the father. She took a deep breath. She had eventually planned on telling him, but she hadn’t yet come to terms with her situation. She wanted this baby, but hadn’t decided how she was going to deal with single motherhood.

      Now it appeared she wouldn’t have to. But darn, she didn’t want to be like an unwanted rash that he’d acquired. And that’s what she would be. They had talked about marriage before or, correction, she’d talked about marriage after they’d made love, but he’d grown remote and said he didn’t want to go in that direction. As Renee had dressed that night, he asked why she was upset. She glared at him, asking if he had just wanted to have sex. He hadn’t responded. She told him she wouldn’t be available any longer.

      She hadn’t spoken directly to him since that night two months ago. Whenever he showed up at Texas Chic offices, she made sure they didn’t cross paths.

      Would the child look like his father? Would Hawk welcome the news? Did it even matter? Suddenly she was going to have a husband, a baby and gobs of money. It was a dream situation that should bring joy. But all she felt was trapped. She felt she was on a runaway train and she couldn’t get off until she reached the final destination, whatever that was.

      “I was wondering where you disappeared to.” Hawk’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts.

      She hastily wiped the moisture from her eyes and tried to get her emotions under control before she faced him. “I needed to clear my head before I got into my car.”

      He sat down beside her, and his gaze probed hers. It appeared he wanted to say something, then shook his head and looked out into the park.

      “Emory wants to announce our marriage and the news that you’re his daughter at the reception he’s holding Saturday night.”

      Shock raced through her. “I haven’t decided if I can go through with this request. It’s ridiculous. I don’t need you to protect me. If I’m really Emory’s daughter, he can afford to hire an army of security guards.”

      “True. But Emory wants to drive home the point to his family that they will lose their company if anything happens to you.”

      “What’s your motivation? Why do you want to do this?” she demanded.

      “Your safety.”

      “Oh, please.” She fell silent for a moment, then the doubt popped into her mind. “You think someone would come after me?”

      “I do. Emory’s family wants his money. You being named the heir would mess up their plans.”

      “I can’t believe—”

      Hawk’s hand shot out and he grasped her chin, forcing her eyes to his. “Believe it, Renee. I was there when Emory’s son was kidnapped. All the indications pointed toward someone close to Emory being responsible for the tragedy. The kidnapper knew too many things about David’s habits and schedule. It wasn’t just a lucky break that they caught him alone.”

      Renee’s heart broke. Emory kept the last picture of his son, his sophomore-year school picture, on his desk.

      “We want you to be safe.” When she didn’t respond, he added, “You didn’t have trouble with the idea of marrying me the last time we talked.”

      She wanted to throw her purse at him. “You did.”

      “This isn’t about me. It’s about you.”

      She wondered if her safety was really his main concern, or did the change in her status to wealthy woman have anything to do with his change of heart? But that didn’t make any sense. From his actions, Hawk had never been interested in Emory’s money. “Then why even mention I’m his daughter?” she asked.

      “Because Emory wants to be sure you’ll get the company. I also think he wants everyone to know you’re his child. Looking death in the eye makes you see things differently.”

      She raised her brow in skepticism.

      “That’s my guess.”

      Too many feelings were bouncing around inside for her to know

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