He closed the door behind him and followed her to the den. Simone chose a straight-back chair. Hutch decided to stand. “I’m in love with you,” he said bluntly.
Her eyelids flickered, but the look on her face didn’t change. “I see.”
“I don’t care if those babies aren’t my biological children. I want to be their daddy.”
“That’s not going to happen.” At last a spark of blue in those lovely eyes gave him hope. He couldn’t get through to frozen Simone. Angry Simone was another story.
He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “I’ve done a lot of thinking in the last seventy-two hours. I was a fool to think your motives for carrying those babies were anything but pure. It was a knee-jerk reaction. You’ll never know how sorry I am for not trusting you.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel better? You shut me out, Hutch, and not for the first time.” Her anger made him wince.
“I know. My only excuse is that your Maverick guy got inside my head. As far as your inheritance goes, who am I to judge? Money isn’t a bad thing in and of itself.”
“Just people like me...” Her facade cracked. For a moment, he saw how deeply he had hurt her.
“Oh, God, Simone.” He knelt at her feet. “I was an ass. I lost you once. I won’t lose you again. I love you, and I’m pretty sure you love me, too. Marry me, sweetheart. Let’s make a family together. Forgive me, little mama.”
She lifted a hand to touch the scab at his temple. “People would talk.”
“Let them. Nothing matters except you and me and those precious babies. I won’t give up on us. I won’t. This is too important.”
Simone eluded his hold and stood, fleeing to the other side of the room. She had her back to him, so he couldn’t read her expression. “There’s something else you should know,” she said.
His chest tightened. “Oh?”
After a long silence, she turned around. “You wouldn’t be marrying an heiress.”
“I don’t understand.”
“As soon as I deliver these babies, I receive five million dollars. That was the deal. I could only inherit my share of the estate if I produced an heir of my own. Otherwise, all of it went to my father. But my lawyer has drawn up papers to put three million in trust, one million for each of the children when they turn twenty-five.”
“Two million is still a lot of money.”
“That’s how much I’m donating to Homes and Hearts. I didn’t want to keep any of it. Not after the way you looked at me Friday night. I need you to understand why I did what I did.”
“You don’t have to explain. You’re entitled to your own choices.”
Her short laugh held little humor. “Don’t you mean my own mistakes? Here’s the thing, Hutch. I’ve been jockeying for my father’s attention my whole life. He and my grandfather made no secret of the fact that I was a disappointment. They wanted a boy, another Parker male to carry on the family tradition. When I heard the terms of the will, I was hurt. And angry. I’ve never been good enough, you know?”
“Simone—”
She held up a hand, cutting him short. “I don’t want you feeling sorry for me. It is what it is. But I’m keeping the land. Those acres of Texas are my birthright. Generations of Parkers have lived there and ranched and farmed and done whatever they had to do to survive. I won’t apologize for wanting that legacy, not only for me, but for my children.”
He exhaled, his shoulders tight. “Are you done?”
“What else is there to say?”
“You could tell me you love me.” He managed to say the words jokingly, but the fear he had ruined something precious choked him. Simone’s silence was frankly terrifying. “I’ll grovel if need be, my sweet firecracker.”
He saw the muscles in her throat work as she swallowed. “You’ll want children of your own.”
It wasn’t a question. He frowned. “I think it would be more correct to say I will want more children of my own. I already cherish those three little lives you’re carrying. I don’t care if their biological father is blond and blue-eyed. We live in a global world. I grew up understanding that many people drew lines to shut me out. I want to make a family with you, of children who never have to know those limits. We’ll build our lives around love, Simone. You and I were both made to feel less at times, but that’s over. Tell me you believe that. Tell me you love me. Tell me I didn’t destroy our second chance.”
His life hung in the balance.
Tears rolled down cheeks that were too pale. She came to him at last, sliding her arms around his waist and resting her cheek over his heart. “I do love you, Hutch. I never stopped. And, yes...I want to marry you and make a family together.”
“Thank God.” He held her tightly, his own eyes damp. “I adore you. I swear you won’t regret this.”