Page 14 of Unbound

I know it was my suggestion, but that was before I knew anything about her story. Now that I do, it’s not an option.

“Listen, I have an idea that might sound crazy. It’s not uncommon for military members to get married for the benefits. Even existing pregnancies are fully covered for spouses. It doesn’t have to mean anything. I’ll be shipped out soon anyway, and if I knew someone was here, taking care of my house, it would give me peace of mind. You’d be doing me a favor.”

Her jaw drops open. She’s truly stunned by my suggestion. Her fingers curl around my hand, a flush spreading over her neck.

“I don’t … I don’t even know how to respond to that. You’ve done too much already, Sterling. I’m a total stranger.”

I scoot closer to her, interlacing my fingers with hers. “You don’t feel like a stranger to me. I know it’s only been a few days, but I feel like I’ve known you a lot longer than that. I’m not at liberty to say what exactly I do, but I’m in the Special Forces. When I leave in two months, I’ll go completely dark, off the grid for months. I don’t have any family in this area, and you need a place to stay. Knowing your baby and the delivery will be covered is just a bonus, really. I’ve been racking my brain, wondering who I could hire to watch my house for me, knowing they couldn’t even contact me. I’d even pay you to do it, just like I would if it were someone else. Plus, I would get an increase in housing allowance. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

I do need someone to take care of my house while I’m gone and off the grid. Convincing Eden this is more for my benefit than hers feels like my only chance at getting her to agree to it. She has every right to resist the idea.

Her eyes widen. “Absolutely not. I refuse to accept any money from you.”

“Last time I was gone for four months, and I came back to mold all over the bathroom because the toilet had leaked. You’d be saving me money.”

She groans, shaking her head. “If you have a fake wife living in your house, aren’t you worried you’d be missing out on a real relationship with a woman who isn’t homeless and knocked up? Don’t you want to date someone and fall in love?”

I shake my head. “I wouldn’t put a woman through being with me right now. It wouldn’t be fair to her with what I do. We can officially divorce after you have the baby and you’re back on your feet. I’ll worry about dating then.”

“Just answer me this, Sterling. Why? Why are you doing this for me?”

Her eyes are wide and focused on my face, unblinking.

“You’re a friend, Eden. I would do this for any friend in need. But we have to pretend it’s real. Obviously, it’s frowned upon to get married for the benefits. You can’t tell anyone.”

She slowly nods, sinking farther back into the couch.

I smile. “Is that a yes?”

I’ll find a way to get her to accept some money—at least enough for food. Or I’ll just set up some continual grocery delivery service once a week while I’m gone. I can’t let her starve.

She purses her lips, closing her eyes as she exhales. “I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this. But at least I wouldn’t be living with you out of wedlock.”

A weight lifts off my shoulders. I didn’t even realize how stressed out I was about taking care of her and helping her figure out how she was going to afford this baby until now.

“Let’s go to the courthouse tomorrow on my lunch break.”

Her head snaps toward me. “Tomorrow?!”

“You need to get to the doctor and make sure everything’s okay with the little guy. How far along are you?”

“Ten weeks, give or take. I can’t believe you don’t want to think about this for a little bit longer. Maybe celebrate a week of knowing each other first? Make sure I don’t rob you blind in the middle of the night?”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Once I make my mind up, I don’t usually change it. Especially about people. I’m never wrong about people.”

I turn to face her, catching her eyes on my bare chest. Her gaze jumps back up to my face, crimson flooding her cheeks.

“And I like you, Eden. I liked you the first minute I saw you.”

6

EDEN

Lust.

I’m struggling with a bad case of sinful, lustful thoughts for a man who is not even the father of the child in my belly.

Sterling Grant Redford, whose last name I didn’t even know until I went through his mail, is the sexiest man on this entire planet.