The Engagement

Chapter Four

Alex tightened his hands on the wheel at her silence. He dared a glance at her, noting her expression displayed varying degrees of shock. He wasn't certain what he expected her to do; maybe laugh in his face or outright reject him. A silent Emme was a deadly Emme. That sharp brain of hers got to whirling, and Lord knew what she might come up with.

"Did you just ask me to marry you?"

He felt his jaw clench. "Yes."

"Are you nuts?"

"Probably. But you're one of the few women I could think of that wants nothing from me, and can benefit from this."

She snorted. "I'm not sure if that was a compliment or not."

"Yes?"

"You don't even know?" She shoved him. "Sometimes, Alex..."

Alex sighed. "At least think about it, Emme."

"I don't know what I think about it." Shaking her head, she continued, "Did all these marriages get to your brain?"

"I've been thinking about it for a while. You're one of the few people I can trust."

"That's... Kind of sad."

Balking at entanglement, Alex dated women who wanted little but to warm his bed. His concentration on his career was number one, and he made certain they all knew that before it even began. Emme accused him of being a womanizer, but he never took more than someone could give. And he never gave more than he could.

Alex knew he gave Emme somewhat of a hard time when they were growing up. But he hadn't thought it bad enough that she disliked him as much as she seemed to. The woman could hold a grudge, of that he was certain. Trying to get answers out of her though, was like trying to solve an unsolvable riddle. And getting past her prickly exterior proved even more difficult.

Emme let few people into her guarded heart. Alex had thought they were at the very least friends. Sometimes, he didn't think he even qualified as that.

Considering her comment, he shrugged. "It is what it is." Glancing at her, he added, "Think about it."

"Think about what? Alex, this is a crazy idea. I don't need my inheritance to build my business. You have your pick of Seattle for brides."

He suspected her resistance to her inheritance had more to do with pride than marrying him. It didn't take a fool to know her family hurt her when they rejected her chosen vocation. Dalton's were in business, and business was what her father expected her to do. It never occurred to either him or her mother that Emme might want something different.

"Nici said you were having difficulty, Em. I know the inheritance could help."

"Nici shouldn't be discussing my business with you."

"Why? We're friends, aren't we?"

Another glance at her showed a set jaw and deliberate silence.

He sighed. "I want to help you."

"You want to help you," she accused.

"That too. What's wrong with that? You know everything I've worked to build lead to here. You of all people should understand following your own path."

"You're not doing a very good job of convincing me."

He stopped at another red light. "I'm telling the truth. It's what I do, Em. I know you appreciate a straight shooter, and I'm not going to pretend this is for anything it isn't."