Risky Business

years.”
    He lifted a brow. “You said once you wouldn’t change anything.”
    “And I meant it, but to go back now, after all this time.”
    “Afraid?”
    Her eyes narrowed; her spine stiffened. “Yes.”
    He laughed, delighted with her. “Woman, in the past few weeks, you’ve been through hell and out again. And you’re afraid of a few college courses?”
    With a sigh, she turned away. “I might not be able to make it.”
    “So what?” He whirled her back again. “So you fall flat on your face. I’ll be right there falling down with you. It’s time for risking, Liz. For both of us.”
    “Oh, I want to believe you.” She lifted a hand to rest it on his face. “I want to. I do love you, Jonas. So much.”
    She was locked against him again, lost in him. “I need you, Liz. I’m not going back without you.”
    She clung to him a moment, almost ready to believe. “But it’s not just me. You have to understand I can’t do whatever I’d like.”
    “Faith?” He drew her back again. “I’ve spent the past weeks getting to know her. My main objective when I started was to ingratiate myself. I figured the only way to get to you was through her.”
    So she’d already surmised. “Afternoons at the zoo?”
    “That’s right. Thing was, I didn’t know she was as easy to fall for as her mother. I want her.”
    The hand Liz had lifted to her hair froze. “I don’t understand.”
    “I want her to be mine—legally, emotionally. I want you to agree to let me adopt her.”
    “Adopt…” Whatever she might have expected from him, it hadn’t been this. “But she’s—”
    “Yours?” he interrupted. “No, she’s going to be ours. You’regoing to have to share her. And if you’re set on her going to school in Houston, we’ll live in Houston. Within the year I expect she should have a brother or sister because she needs family as much as we do.”
    He was offering her everything, everything she’d ever wanted and had refused to believe in. She had only to hold out her hand. The idea terrified her. “She’s another man’s child. How will you be able to forget that?”
    “She’s your child,” he reminded her. “You told me yourself she was your child only. Now she’s going to be mine.” Taking her hands, he kissed them. “So are you.”
    “Jonas, do you know what you’re doing? You’re asking for a wife who’ll have to start from scratch and a half-grown daughter. You’re complicating your life.”
    “Yeah, and maybe I’m saving it.”
    And hers. Her blood was pumping again, her skin was tingling. For the first time in years she could look at her life and see no shadows. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply before she turned. “Be sure,” she whispered. “Be absolutely sure. If I let myself go, if I say yes and you change your mind, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life.”
    He took her by the shirtfront. “In one week, we’re going to my parents’ farm in Lancaster, calling the local minister, justice of the peace or witch doctor and we’re getting married. Adoption papers are being drawn up. When we settle in as a family, we’re all having the same name. You and Faith and I.”
    With a sigh, Liz leaned back again against the post and studied his face. It was beautiful, she decided. Strong, passionate, patient. Her life was going to be bound up with that face. It was as real as flesh and blood and as precious as dreams. Her lover was back, her child was with her and nothing was impossible.
    “When I first met you, I thought you were the kind of man who always got what he wanted.”
    “And you were right.” He took her hands again and held them. “Now what are we going to tell Faith?” he demanded.
    Her lips curved slowly. “I guess we’d better tell her you talked me into it.”

Don’t miss these other favorite series by Nora Roberts available now wherever ebooks are sold!
    Stars of Mithra
    Hidden Star
    Captive Star
    Secret Star
    The MacKade Brothers
    The Return of Rafe MacKade
    The Pride of Jared MacKade
    The Heart of Devin MacKade
    The Fall of Shane MacKade
    The Stanislaskis
    Taming Natasha
    Luring a Lady
    Falling for Rachel
    Convincing Alex
    Waiting for Nick
    Considering Kate
    Also Available
    The Art of Deception
    Lessons Learned
    Mind Over Matter
    One Summer
    Risky Business
    Second Nature
    Summer Desserts
    Treasures Lost, Treasures Found
    Unfinished Business
    A Will and a Way

ISBN: 978-1-4592-7387-0
    Risky Business
    Copyright © 1986 by Nora