Wrestling Desire 2 (A Contemporary Romance) by Michelle Cary

eyed she stared at him.  “It’s part of me.  It’s part of Holt.  No matter how surprised I might be, how could I not want it?”
    Derek nodded and turned his attention to Holt.  “And how about you?  How do you feel about this situation?”
    Holt reached over and squeezed her hand.  “I’ll admit to being shocked when she told me, but there isn’t a second that goes by that I don’t want this baby.  In fact, if you don’t believe me, let me prove it to you all.”  He slid off the couch onto his knees in front of her. “Sweetheart, you know I love you and I’d do anything for you, right?”
    “Of course.”
    “Then will you marry me?”
    “Oh, give me a fucking break,” Bryan grumbled.  He pushed off the chair grabbed his jacket.  “This is absolute bullshit and I refuse to entertain anymore of it.”  Without looking back he yanked open the door and stormed out. 
    Bryan’s reaction hurt, but she couldn’t manage to focus on him with Holt’s proposal hanging over her head. Her eyes went wide and she ripped her hand out of Holt’s.  “You’re crazy.”
    “Crazy in love with you,” he replied.
    She pushed up from the couch and walked over to look out the big bay window.  Why did he have to complicate things further by wanting to get married?  “I love you, Holt.  You know that, but I can’t marry you right now.”
    “Why?”  The look of hurt that crossed his face sent a wave of guilt crashing over her.  The last thing she’d ever want to do was bring him pain.
    “I don’t want you marrying me just because I’m pregnant.”
    “That’s not the reason.”  He placed his hands on her shoulders and began to rub.  “I would have married you anyway.”
    She glanced over her shoulder at him.  “I believe you, but others may not.  As soon as people find out I’m pregnant and that we’re getting married they’ll think you were forced into it.  I can’t live with that.”
    “Then let’s go to Vegas right now and get married.  We can announce a month from now that you’re pregnant and nobody would know the difference.”
    Sadness filtered through her. He was trying so hard to do the right thing that he couldn’t see the damage marrying her right now would cause to his career.  “I love you, Holt, but I won’t marry you right now.”
    With a sigh h e let go of her and she felt a sudden coldness at the loss of him. “Would you please talk some sense into your sister?”
    “Emma,” Derek started, but before he could continue she turned to face him and shook her head. 
    “Don’t waste your breath, Derek.  I’ve made up my mind.  I won’t let Holt risk damaging his reputation with the fans just to make an honest woman out of me.”
    “I don’t understand,” Derek argued.  “What’s the big difference between now and later?”
    “It won’t look as bad after the baby is born.  If I’m getting along fine on my own raising the child and we decide to get married then we’re doing it because we want to, not because it’s the ‘right thing’.” She used her fingers to air quote the words.
    “I don’t care what the fans or anyone thinks,” Holt argued.
    “But I do.”  She placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him.  “Ask me again after the baby is born and I promise I’ll say yes, but I just can’t right now.”
    “Well,” Derek sighed.  “Whatever you two decide just know you have my blessing.”
    Emma spun around to face him.  “We do?”
    Derek’s face slid into a grin.  “We all know I’ve never really liked Holt, but he loves you and he makes you happy.”  He reached for her and pulled Emma into a hug.  “Ultimately that’s all that really matters.”
    Relief swamped her.  She’d been worried about Derek’s reaction and for him to accept this situation, even support her, meant so much.  As quickly as joy arrived it left again as her mind moved on to her other brother.  He’d been so angry lately.  As if