Marcus stared at her back, regretting his outburst. The last week had been hell. He wanted to be there for Annie, but he wasn’t sure she would allow him. Tonight he couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to see her, to speak to her.
He was crazy. No, perhaps this idea was stupid, but this was the only way he could think of how to help Annie. He took a deep breath and let it out as he followed her to the tiny living area. It was now or never.
“Annie?” he started when he saw her standing in the middle of the living room. When she turned to face him, Marcus wanted to go to her, take her in his arms and comfort her but he wasn’t sure she would accept it.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh. I’m just worried about you,” Marcus admitted. “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” she started and then she shook her head, “No, I’m lying. I’m scared, Marcus. I’m scared he’ll come back. I’m scared he’ll take Maddie as he threatened to do.”
Marcus had to suppress his anger against Kent, but he had other matters to worry about now. Would Annie fall for his suggestion? How he sounded calm, he didn’t know, but his voice was even when he answered, “I thought so. That’s why I wanted to talk to you alone tonight.”
Marcus took a deep breath and continued, “I have a proposal if you’re interested.”
“What kind of proposal?” Annie frowned, confused.
“A marriage proposal.”
Annie’s mouth dropped open as she stared at him, shocked. She didn’t say a word. Marcus explained, “We can help each other, Annie. The boys need a mother, and Maddie needs a father. If we are married, I can protect you. After the trouble we had a few years ago, we installed extra security in the big house and my house, but not here. It’s not safe for you here alone.”
“I haven’t stayed here since Kent… since the attack,” Annie argued.
“I know. But do you want to stay for the rest of your life with the folks? It’s not the ideal situation,” Marcus counter-attacked.
Hell, he hoped he didn't sound desperate, but he wanted her to think about his proposal. It would be his one chance to get her close so she could learn to trust him again. He wanted her to see they could be a family. He wanted an opportunity to love her as he had been dreaming for the last thirteen years since he had to send her away.
“I don’t. I know it’s not the ideal situation. It feels if I do that, Kent would’ve won and I don’t want that,” Annie admitted.
“Just think about it, Annie. My kids love you, and I know Maddie likes me. We would help each other,” Marcus urged.
Annie frowned, and she murmured, “I don’t know, Marcus. Isn’t it drastic?”
“I don’t think so,” Marcus declared. He had accepted years ago that there was only one woman for him, and she was standing right in front of him. It wasn’t the right time to tell her that yet.
“I…,” Annie stopped when her phone rang. She mumbled an excuse and answered it, but her reaction wasn’t what he expected. She shivered, and Marcus could sense her fear and rushed to her. As Marcus pulled her against him, he took the phone from her. Annie didn’t even object when he brought it to his ear.
He listened to the voice on the other side, and hearing the words, Marcus seethed. When Kent stopped rambling, threatening Annie, Marcus hissed, “This is enough, Brodie. Stop threatening Annie and Maddie. I’m warning you, stay away from them.”
Kent snorted, “I should’ve known that Annie would run to you. It will not help. She’s my wife. She should come home where she belongs.”
“Ex-wife Brodie. Ex-wife. And soon to be my wife. So I’m saying again, stay away from them.”
Marcus didn’t wait for Kent’s reply and disconnected. He put Annie’s phone on the table and cradled her against his chest. His hand rubbed across her back until he could feel the trembling stopped.
Marcus breathed in her smell, feeling her heat and he could only hope that because he told Kent Annie had agreed to marry him, it wouldn’t backfire.
He kept his voice low and reassuring when he told Annie, “I won’t let him touch you again, Annie. Give me a chance to help you and to protect you.”
Annie looked up, studying his face. His heart wanted to break when tears still brightened her eyes, drops clinging to her eyelashes.
“Why, Marcus?” was all she asked.
What must he tell her? That he loved her? That he had never stopped loving her? No, this was too soon. He needed time with her. He only said, “Because I want to. Please give me a chance, Annie. No, give us a chance. We could be good together. We can help each other build a stable life for our children. The boys adore you.”
Marcus knew it was low. Annie would do anything for her daughter, but what was the saying? Desperate needs need desperate measures, so he added, “You know I love Maddie. I’ll take good care of her—of both of you. I’ll be the father she needs, I promise.”
“What if you meet someone else and fall in love—someone you rather want to marry?” Annie asked.
Like that would ever happen, Marcus almost snorted. He had tried that in the five years he had been away, waiting for her to grow up and spread her wings. He shook his head, “Not going to happen, Annie, so you don’t have to worry about it. I promise you that if you meet someone else, I won’t hold you in the marriage against your will.”
He hoped it would never come to that. This time he would do everything he could to him to make sure Annie stayed with him.
“And what would this marriage entail, Marcus?” Annie asked, a flush painting her otherwise creamy complexion a delicate pink.
Marcus swallowed. Intimacy was the tricky part of his suggestion, and he could hope it would not dissuade Annie from accepting his proposal.
“I would like to have a normal marriage with you, Annie, but I’m not sure you are ready for that yet. I’ll give you time to adjust if you want to, but…”
Marcus trailed off. He did not want to think about the possibility of sharing a bed with Annie or making love to her. Not yet, anyway.
He didn’t want to push her, but he would like an answer soon. If she says no now, he needed to find a different approach.
Her phone beeped with an incoming message, breaking the awkward silence between them. Marcus picked up the phone from the table and handed it to her.
Annie read Kent’s message twice. He didn’t bother hiding the threats between useless words. With every word she read, the more attractive Marcus’ proposal sounded.
In her heart, Annie knew that if she accepted it, it would be because of her selfish reasons—not only for his protection, although it would be wonderful to have someone there to support her and protect them.
No, the reason she would say yes to Marcus was that she had never stopped loving him. If they were married, she wouldn’t have to see him married to someone else.
Did that make her selfish? Probably, but she didn’t care.
She knew he only proposed because he needed a mother for his sons, and Maddie would need a father figure in her life. Marcus was a good father, and she knew he would be a good father to Maddie too.
Goodness knew, when she came back two years ago and met Marcus’ two sons, she thought she would hate them. She, like Maddie, had fallen in love with them. She couldn’t help it. They were two adorable little boys, so much like their father, that Annie couldn’t help falling in love. The three kids got along well, and it wouldn’t be a problem for them to live in the same house. They were anyway together the whole day, almost every day, and all three often spent nights with their grandparents.
Would she be able to hide her feelings for Marcus? She doubted that she could do that forever, but when they were married, Marcus might come to love her again. Her heart beat faster with that thought. Being married to Marcus…
How many years had she dreamed about it? More than she would ever admit. When he gave her her first kiss on her fourteenth birthday, Marcus had taken hold of her heart. When she married Kent, her heart had still belonged to Marcus. It always would.
What if…? If they were married, could she do anything to make Marcus fall in love with her? She vowed to try. How, she didn’t have a clue, but she sure as hell wanted to try.
She looked up, into the dark brown eyes now studying her. Tension radiated from Marcus as he waited for her answer, visible from the clenched jaw and the anxious expression in his eyes.
That was Annie’s answer.
Relief flooded his face when she murmured, “Yes.” The smile that had stolen her heart along years ago broke through. Annie could almost imagine that it was a real, loving, caring proposal when he took her hand in his. His skin felt warm against hers and his voice thick with emotion when he whispered, “Thank you, Annie. I’ll make sure you’ll never regret it.”
Her eyes closed when he leaned in to slide his lips over her forehead. She breathed in, catching a whiff of his shower gel, clean and manly, just like Marcus. She didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry. Wasn’t this what she had wanted, dreamed about years ago? Even the tender way he held her, made it almost feel real. And that was what she should hold on to in the future.
Annie only opened her eyes when Marcus pressed her hand and spoke, suddenly all business. “I don’t think we should wait. The sooner we can get married, the better,” Marcus said but faltered, “Unless you want a big wedding.”
Annie shook her head, “No, I don’t. As long as the family is there, and our children, I’m happy.”
Marcus exhaled, almost in relief, which had Annie smiling but before she could remark on it, he continued, “That’s great. Okay, we need to make plans,” he added, pulling her towards the couch. His large frame took up almost half the sofa as he sat and pulling Annie down with him.
He didn’t let go of her hand, but threaded his fingers through hers, just as he had done years ago. He seemed to be unconscious of the act, but Annie felt the effect of it through her whole body. The heat of his body touching hers evoked a pang of longing that only Marcus could ever evoke.
When Marcus spoke again, she turned her eyes from their linked hands to his face. A flush crept up his cheekbones when he admitted, “I’ve done my research the last week, hoping you would say yes. There are a few legalities, of course.”
He took a deep breath and then asked, “Do you have your divorce decree, the original one?”
Annie nodded. “Yes, I keep a copy with me, but the original one is in the safe at Masterson.”
Marcus nodded when Annie mentioned the family lawyers and said, “That’s great. They have Linda’s death certificate. We only need that and our identity documents. I’ve spoken to Parker,” Marcus flushed again when he mentioned the wedding official they often use at Blue Mountain.
“That is all the documents Parker need from us, and the form he would complete. If you agree, and if it gives you enough time, we could get married this Sunday or the following Sunday before lunch.”
Annie’s heart beat faster. She agreed to his proposal, but only now realised that Marcus hadn’t joked. He said he wanted to get married soon, and he meant quickly.
And she agreed with him. The sooner they could get married, the better. Before anything could go wrong again.