“Getting married would be the best solution. We’d have the chance to be with both girls without disrupting their lives.”
“No disruptions at all?” Was he even thinking this through? The girls’ lives would be thrown into chaos, particularly Luna’s. Not to mention Willow’s, if he suggested that they all live together on the Triple R.
“Well, only a few. And for us, it wouldn’t be so bad. We’d get along. We’re already almost friends.”
Rather than look at him, Willow tilted her head back, shaking “no” against the headrest. This was not the difference she’d imagined when he’d kissed her.
“You know, Asher, little girls dream of one day receiving a marriage proposal just like that one. What it lacks in romance, it makes up in sheer pragmatism.”
“It’s not like that. It would be a good thing for the girls.”
“Thank you for your lovely offer, but I’ll have to decline.”
“We don’t even have the DNA results yet.”
“No, we don’t,” she said. “But if our girls were switched, and that’s still a big if, we can work out a legal arrangement. We could even have joint custody of Harper and Luna.”
Her idea didn’t sound like the best plan, but it was better than her initial worry that he would try to take full custody of both babies. His suggestion would still net him two babies, plus a bonus bride-of-convenience.
He shook his head, closing his eyes. “We’d never be able to keep the story out of the newspapers.”
“Is that what your big proposal is about? Don’t worry. I won’t go to the tabloids. I don’t need their money. Or yours.”
“I know you don’t. And you wouldn’t. But can you imagine what a great story a hungry young reporter could find in two switched babies in one family? Particularly if it’s the Colton family.”
He had a point. She hated to tell him, but the press would have a field day with that story, whether they were married or not.
“I don’t think you’re looking at this as the perfect solution it could be,” he continued.
“Probably not.”
She had to give him credit for his determination. Xavier had never begged her to marry him; she’d done so of her own volition. Asher might not have needed her to put a roof over his head like her ex had, but he still wanted something from her.
He must have known that he was wearing her down. She’d opened her mouth to tell him that if he’d stop asking, she would at least consider it, when he reached for her hands.
“We could make it work. We’ve already proven that our marriage could be, you know, interesting.”
Willow pulled away from his touch. Earlier images that had been delicious and colorful drained to soot. She knew the moment Asher recognized his mistake because his shoulders jerked.
“That’s not what I meant.”
“What exactly did you mean? Did you kiss me as a test? Were you checking our chemistry? Since you’re proposing a loveless marriage, did you want to make sure that we’re at least entertaining together in bed?”
He wrapped his fingers around the steering wheel again. “I just meant that we could have fun together.”
“Why’d you even worry about that? If you’re suggesting a marriage of convenience, you must know that you could outsource the ‘fun’ part, like my ex did.”
Asher leaned his head forward, his hair falling across his cheeks. “I don’t know what you expect from me.”
“I haven’t asked you for anything. But I can tell you this. I made a mistake once. I won’t marry another man who doesn’t love me.”
Memories of the hurt and humiliation that Xavier caused flooded her thoughts.
“I also won’t marry for security like my mom did, even if it ensures that my child will be with me full-time. I won’t marry the wrong guy like she did.”
He held his hands wide. “I’m not the wrong guy. I’m honest and dependable. And, you said it yourself, I’m a good dad.”
He looked away then. They both knew what had happened after she’d said that. Finally, he turned back.