The Ransomes: Matt, Nick and Katherine. Sara Orwig

it came to her what he was possibly doing—giving her a taste of a lifestyle she had never known, but soon would be able to afford if she accepted his offer.

      Anger flashed at the realization of his motive. Of course that was what he was doing! His smiles held all the threat of a crouching tiger. In his own way, Matt was fighting for what he wanted. Yet she couldn’t blame him, because she was doing the same with her threat to walk if he didn’t accept her terms.

      They rode in the back of the limo across from each other and she smiled at him.

      Desire blazed in his eyes, cutting across the battle between them. While she watched, he reached into his pocket. “I bought something for you today,” he said, handing a small box to her.

      Surprised, she glanced at the box and then at him. She was tempted to throw it at him for what he was doing, but then she reminded herself that he was trying to win her over to agreeing to his offer just as much as she intended to persuade him to consent to her proposal.

      She opened the box. Nestled inside was a gold, diamond-studded bangle. Catching the light, the diamonds sparkled. “It’s beautiful!” she gasped, momentarily forgetting his motive or her caution, because she had never dreamed of owning such a piece of jewelry.

      He reached over to pick it up. Taking her hand in his warm, strong fingers, he slipped the bracelet on her slender wrist.

      “Thank you! It’s absolutely gorgeous!” she exclaimed, her emotions churning because all at once, she was both thrilled to receive the jewelry from him and at the same time, she was annoyed. Beneath those warring emotions ran an undercurrent that saddened her that the gift held no meaning whatsoever. It was simply a beautiful bribe.

      “There’s something to go with it,” he said, smiling at her, and her heart skipped a beat. His bone-melting smiles were irresistible, so her guard came up again because she knew she was treading on dangerous ground. In icy clarity, she realized that with this Ransome her heart was more at risk than it had been with his younger brother.

      Matt withdrew another small box and handed it to her. If his motive hadn’t been so underhanded, she would have been dazzled. As it was, she gazed at him solemnly, telling herself she could still refuse his offer. Cinderella for a day. She could turn her back on this and survive. But it was beginning to nag at her whether if she did, and lost her big gamble, would she be cheating her baby of a better future?

      She opened the box and gasped again. Even when she knew it would hold another beautiful, expensive bauble, she stared at the golden necklace with a diamond pendant that matched her bracelet.

      In a smooth movement, he slid onto the seat beside her. “Turn around,” he said, taking the necklace from her hand.

      When she turned her back, his warm fingers brushed her nape. Reaching behind her head, she held her hair up while he fastened the necklace and then she faced him. He sat close enough that their thighs touched and his blue eyes bore into her, causing her heart to race.

      “Thank you. They’re both beautiful.”

      “You’re what’s beautiful, Olivia,” he said softly, brushing a stray tendril of hair away from her ear.

      He was only inches away and desire, like heat lightning flashed, holding them locked in the moment. When his gaze lowered to her mouth, she thought he surely could hear her heart pounding. She should move, but it was impossible. She fought the urge to slip her arm around his neck and pull him the last few inches, to draw him close and lose herself in his hot kisses.

      “I thought we both agreed we weren’t going to do this,” she said, as much to herself as to him. She closed her eyes and turned away.

      He slipped onto the seat facing her. Even while hot desire still burned in the depths of his blue eyes, the tight clamp of his jaw reflected a tense, angry look in his expression.

      “You’re right. We’ll eat and then get the hell back to the ranch,” he said, looking out a window.

      “Regrets for bringing me here?”

      His head swung around and she braced against the force of his gaze. He shook his head. “Not at all. You should have this. Before long, one way or another, you get a tidy sum of money to buy whatever clothes or car you want. You might as well get some things now.”

      She bit back her reply when the limo stopped at the front door of a restaurant.

      Even though the sun was still above the horizon, tiny lights twinkled in the bushes while large lights shone on tall pines. As she emerged from the limo, Matt took her arm.

      They were led through the restaurant past a dance floor where couples already circled to piano music. The waiter seated Matt and Olivia at a table on the patio near a splashing fountain. Brightly colored lanterns were glowing overhead and red roses filled crystal vases on each linen-covered table. In the festive ambience with Matt at her side, Olivia bubbled with excitement.

      Their waiter appeared, placing thick black folders with the menu in front of them. Olivia opened hers. She glanced at Matt who was reading his menu and then she looked down at her own. The dishes sounded exotic and the prices astounded her.

      “I can’t believe we’re eating anything as expensive as these dinners,” she said.

      “The food here is very good,” he said. “Do you like lobster?”

      She shrugged. “Actually, I’ve never eaten lobster so I have no idea whether I’d like it or not.”

      “I suggest you try it and then you’ll know.”

      “The daredevil Ransomes who will always try the unknown,” she said quietly, thinking about Matt and Jeff.

      “Life is exciting.”

      “Maybe from your perspective. From mine, life is survival.”

      “It doesn’t have to be from now on,” he said smoothly waving his hand to include their surroundings and she was aware again of the clash of wills between them. “My offer will open all the doors for you,” he added.

      “Marriage wouldn’t be real and it wouldn’t be permanent,” she reminded him and they paused when the waiter appeared.

      After they had ordered, she gazed across the table at Matt. “The clothes are beautiful, the jewelry breathtaking and my first flight was thrilling. My first limo ride was unforgettable. But you’re not going to hold me with the life you’re dangling in front of me now,” she said softly. Something flickered in the depths of his eyes. Otherwise there was no reaction from him except an arch of his eyebrow.

      “Don’t lose sight of the fact that if you turn down my offer, you’ll be taking all sorts of opportunities away from your baby. Do you want to raise a child in a neighborhood like you grew up in, instead of the Ransome ranch or a house you can afford in a prosperous neighborhood with a suitable school? You’ve got to think for two. It’s not only you,” he reminded her quietly, and her anger soared.

      “Dammit, I’m taking that into consideration, but I’m not selling short of what I know my baby should have,” she said, hurting because Matt was right. Pain was tight in her chest, and she fought back tears that startled her since she rarely ever cried. His accusation had been on target and hurt badly. But she wanted the Ransome heritage locked in for her baby. “You’ll commit to a point and then it stops.”

      “It’s a damn generous commitment, I’d say,” he retorted.

      “I’ll do something to stay out of bad neighborhoods. There are some acceptable jobs out there that I can do and I’ll find one. I’ve gotten farther now than all the odds indicated I would.”

      “That you have. But don’t sell the baby short to try to get me to marry you. Jeff wouldn’t, and I’m not going to either.”

      His words stabbed into her, deepening her hurt. “That’s your answer?” she asked, wondering if he would abandon her on the spot. She held her breath while fear chilled her.

      “No,