One Touch of Topaz by Iris Johansen Page B

transport them to Barbados with enough money to set them up quite nicely.” He paused. “In return you have my child and agree to sign a document giving me the custody of the child if you decide to leave me. I’d stipulate that you stay with me at least two years after the child is born. I believe that’s fair. I heard it’s better for the child to have its mother with it during infancy.”
    “I’ve heard that too,” she said, dazed. This was crazy. She felt as if she were caught in the whirling center of a vortex that wasdisplacing everything that was sane and reasonable. She shook her head to clear it. “You must be joking.”
    “No, I couldn’t be more serious.” His gaze moved from her face to the window across the room. “After two years you’d be free to leave. The divorce settlement will be spelled out in detail in the premarital contract. It will be more than generous.”
    “Divorce? Then you want me to marry you?”
    “Of course.” His gaze swung back to her in surprise. “Didn’t I mention that? If I’m going to go ahead with this, naturally I’ll want the child to be legitimate.”
    “Naturally,” she echoed faintly.
    “You’ll have every comfort, complete freedom, and the knowledge that you helped to free your friends. Doesn’t that sound tempting?”
    “Yes.” She closed her eyes. “It sounds … I don’t know. I can’t think.”
    “Open your eyes, Samantha. Look at me.” Fletch’s voice was gentle. “This is theright thing to do. You know it is. You can trust me.”
    She opened her eyes to see his face close to hers. His lips were curved in that rare smile that lent beauty to his harsh features. Yes, she could trust Fletch. He was rock-solid in a shifting world. “It wouldn’t work, Fletch,” she whispered. “I don’t think I could give up my child after two years.”
    “Then you can choose to stay with me,” he said calmly. “Or rather, with the child. No one is going to throw you out in the streets. We got along very well in difficult circumstances on St. Pierre. There’s no reason we can’t be equally companionable on a more conventional plane.”
    “I seem to remember you were upset with me most of the time on St. Pierre.” Her lips were trembling as she tried to smile at him. “We’re not at all alike.”
    “But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a peaceful coexistence.” His gaze returned to the window. “There were a few times when we were in total agreement. You wouldn’thave to see much of me. I told you I’m a very busy man.”
    And he didn’t want a wife who would make demands on his time, she thought. Why did that realization bring such pain? “Yes, I remember.”
    “Perhaps you object to having a child?”
    “No, I think I’d like a child of my own. It’s been a long time since I had anyone to care about. Except Paco and Ricardo, of course.”
    “You’ll be able to study with the best teachers, and when you’re ready, I’ll see that your career is launched with the appropriate fanfare. What have you got to lose?”
    “I don’t know.” Her fingers twisted together nervously. “It all seems so … sterile.”
    His gaze was on her face immediately. “Do I appear to be a man who would be content with a sterile relationship? I assure you that my appetites are very strong. Or have you forgotten?”
    Color flooded her cheeks. “No, but perhaps I won’t be able to satisfy you.” Shetried to keep her voice steady. “You didn’t seem to want me after …” She trailed off. This was very difficult. “You may decide I’m not what you want.”
    “I’ll want you. Don’t worry about that.”
    “But I
will
worry about it. I’ll worry about everything. This is a crazy idea. You’ve oversimplified the entire situation. There are so many things that could go wrong.”
    “I’m not pushing you to make a decision right away.” He stood up. “I realize you’re still weak and disoriented, and when you do make up your mind, I don’t