Blake Decker of Decker and Associates had handled his father’s third and fourth divorces, and was currently involved in financial negotiations for dissolution of property with the most recent, soon-to-be ex-wife.
“Of course it’s all ready. But a lawyer’s job is also to advise. They don’t call me counselor for nothing. I need to ask if you know what you’re doing.” The guy was in his thirties, tall, black-haired and physically fit. What women today call a hottie. And one of the city’s most notoriously marriage-phobic bachelors. “What are you thinking, man?”
“I’m marrying Maggie Shepherd. What’s your point?”
Blake leaned forward in his chair. “You’re making a legal commitment to the nanny. It’s a hell of a step to take for continuity in child care.”
“Then it’s a good thing you’re not taking it.” Jason knew exactly what he was doing. “But you’re entitled to your opinion.”
“My opinion is that marriage is the worst possible risk. I’ve never seen one work out.”
“With good reason. You’re a divorce attorney.”
“And I’m making an unbelievable amount of money doing what I do, which goes to what I just said. Getting married is a straight shot to legal, financial and emotional complications that you don’t need. Trust me. I’ve been through it.”
“That’s because you, along with most of the rest of the population, go into marriage with starry eyes and unrealistic expectations.”
“And you’re not?”
“Strictly business. I need someone to care for Brady. Maggie is exceptionally good at it. She’s already exceeded my expectations, and your job is to safeguard the financial part. Considering the fact that you negotiate so many breakups, I figured you were the perfect guy to draft a loophole-free prenup.”
“If you insist on going through with this, she won’t be able to touch your assets when it blows up in your face.”
“That’s not going to happen. Maggie isn’t like that.”
“That’s what all starry-eyed grooms say,” Blake pointed out.
“I’ve never had stars in my eyes.” Just the opposite. Jason figured he was born a realist and life reinforced his basic nature.
“What about emotional fallout?”
“Not a problem. We’re not in love.” He liked and respected Maggie. She was smart, funny and pretty in a pure, innocent way that was incredibly appealing. But love? Jason knew better than to go there. “We both have good reasons that don’t include a relationship. All the cards are on the table.”
“So I can’t talk you out of it?”
“No.”
“Don’t say I didn’t try.” Blake shook his head and leveled a “poor bastard” look at him, then opened the file. “I have the prenuptial agreement. And the paperwork is drawn up for a million-dollar trust. I’ll be the administrator for the funds that go to the Good Shepherd Home for Children.”
“Good.”
“Then we’re ready to get all the pertinent signatures.” Blake pushed the intercom button and asked the receptionist to send Maggie in.
Jason had the strangest sensation of wanting to leave before any papers were signed, but he was his father’s son, a witness over the years to the worst in relationship fallout that had shaped the man he was today. No way he’d take this step without safety measures in place because marriage was like sex with a condom—sometimes it breaks. He’d seen that happen, too, and Brady was the result.
But there was something inherently sweet and unspoiled about Maggie that he didn’t want tainted or shattered. Seeing the lawyer had been all about protecting his son and himself. And now he couldn’t shake the feeling of wanting to protect Maggie, too, from all the sordid and sleazy aspects of why they were here.
Still, she needed money. No matter how innocent she seemed, it was always good to have safeguards in place.
Maggie and Jason sat in the back of his town car with the baby strapped in between them sound asleep. His driver was taking them to the courthouse to get married.
Married.
Margaret Mary Shepherd, abandoned baby and almost a nun, was going to marry one of Las Vegas’s wealthiest and most eligible bachelors. It was absolutely and completely surreal. Long ago she’d rigidly and deliberately put any thoughts of a wedding day out of her mind. But when rogue dreams had managed to leak through, there had always been sunshine.
Not today on her actual wedding day. It was cloudy. The forecasters were predicting rain. In the desert. It never rained in the desert. Actually, it did, but when that happened flash floods were the result.
She swallowed any misgivings and reminded herself that there was a greater good here. The home was going to get the repairs so desperately needed, and she was going to be able to stay with the baby boy she’d fallen head over heels for.
And his father?
Jason was staring out the window at the buildings going by. His profile could have been carved from any one of the rocky mountains surrounding the Vegas valley. He hadn’t said anything since leaving Blake Decker’s office. His lawyer was a very handsome man—in her opinion not as good-looking as Jason, but they said beauty was in the eye of the beholder. If that was true, it pointed to her having a crush on her soon-to-be husband. She supposed that was better than not being able to stand him.
As far as the pros and cons in her decision to accept his proposal, all the checkmarks stacked up on the positive side. In a town with huge hotels and resorts that were built on losses, she was getting a legal commitment that would make her a winner. She couldn’t get tossed out in the cold. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous.
“Jason?”
He turned his head, his glance dropping on the baby first. His eyes softened and a heartbreakingly tender smile lessened the craggy angles of his face. “Hmm?”
“I thought Mr. Decker was very nice.” She’d felt the need to talk, but that was a lame thing to say. There was still time for him to back out. None of that paperwork meant a thing if there were no vows.
“Blake? Nice?” He met her gaze. “I’m not sure he’d think that was a compliment.”
“Why?”
“Most attorneys wouldn’t consider that adjective in keeping with their job description. And Blake Decker feels that way more than most.”
“But it’s just a job. I’m sure he’s a very nice person.”
Staring at her, he shook his head slightly. “Do you really believe that?”
“Of course.” She clasped her hands together. “I know lawyers are called all kinds of unflattering names. Shark. Snake. Weasel.”
“You forgot barracuda.”
“That, too. But it doesn’t define his true nature. It’s his job to know the law and advise the rest of us who don’t.”
A guilty look flashed into his eyes, then disappeared. Working with kids at the home she’d seen the expression a lot and was pretty good at detecting it. Although what he had to feel uncomfortable about she couldn’t say.
“Here we are,” he said as the car slowed to a stop. Was that relief in his voice?
Jason opened the door as she unhooked the baby’s car seat. He reached back inside for the handle and lifted Brady out without waking him.
Following him up the concrete steps outside the Clark County Courthouse, her heart started to race, and it wasn’t about hurrying up steps or going through the metal detectors. The official atmosphere was crystallizing. It was