Page 29 of Reforming Hunt
She followed him and sat as well, but she put two feet of space between them. “I don’t need this kind of trouble, Hunt.”
“But what if it’s not trouble? If we get married, you have my name and influence in this town to back you up.”
“Have you lost your mind? The fiancé bit I could understand to get Vivian to leave, but actual marriage? It isn’t going to get my son back. Not if Vivian finds out we’re lying. And you’ve already admitted you have a loose background with women.”
Damn, that was a valid point. “Even players settle down.”
“Are you seriously telling me you want to marry me to help with Noah?”
“Yes.” And also because he wanted to help Abby. He was drawn to her, and being married didn’t sound so foreign when he thought about it with Abby.
She stared at him for what felt like twenty minutes, but was probably more like two. “I need to think about it.”
“Think quickly. I want to hire a lawyer, and if we’re engaged, my involvement in any custody issues with Noah will make more sense.”
Abby rubbed her forehead. “I can’t afford a lawyer.”
“Maybe not, but I can.”
She closed her eyes. “What in God’s name are you getting out of this?”
“Nothing on the surface, except to help out a mother and a kid I care about.”
“Me? You care about me?”
He nodded.
He wasn’t sure what it was about Abby—maybe a little bit of everything—but Hunt was drawn to her in a way he hadn’t been to any woman. He’d not thought to go to this length to help her and Noah, but once he’d met the she-devil, Vivian, he realized they needed him. It was wrong what the grandmother was doing, and Hunt had the resources to stop it.
“We can keep it a marriage in name only.” Hunt would like more with Abby, but he’d never push it. However, should things happen naturally…who was he to fight nature?
“What happens when you go out with other women?”
He shrugged. “I won’t.”
She looked at him like he was crazy. “You’re willing to give up women, pay for a lawyer, and get married, just to help me?”
He didn’t want to think about how far he was willing to go to protect Abby and Noah, because he couldn’t explain it. “Yes. Until you get your son back and have the custody squared away. I’ll also make sure you and Noah are set up. My brothers and I inherited money from our father. I’ve been meaning to do something with it.”
She laughed and shook her head in disbelief. “You have money burning a hole in your pocket, and this is what you do with it?”
It did sound crazy, but if he couldn’t explain his need to help Abby to himself, he certainly couldn’t explain it to her. “Look, there’s plenty in my account for me to help you and Noah, and a dozen other families. We’ll sign a prenup, if it will make you feel better.”
“Except that we won’t sleep together or consummate the marriage.”
Hunt let out a choke. Truth be told, he’d like to consummate the marriage. Shit, he’d like to consummate the engagement. But he wanted Noah and Abby safe more. “Right. If that’s what you want.”
Her eyes narrowed. “This isn’t some kind of strategy to get me into bed, is it?”
He grinned cockily. “I’ve never had to marry a woman to get her into bed.”
She bit her lip. “That’s probably true. Still, I need to think about it. You can’t expect me to immediately agree to this scheme. It’s totally nuts, you know.”
Again, he shrugged. “Makes sense to me, but sure, take your time.” He rose and walked to the door. “But just so you know, as soon as you give me the word, I’m going to hire the best family lawyer in town. I want to get Noah out of that woman’s clutches.”
Abby’s chest shook and tears fell from her eyes. She nodded. “Thank you. For today. And for considering ways to help me.”
Consider it? His mind was already made up. Now he just needed to convince Abby.
