"Are you crazy?" Brooke stared at Lucas while a voice in her head screeched, This isn't happening! This can't be happening. "Lucas you don't have to do this."

"Brooke, its not like we don't know each. I mean we made a baby for Christ sake. Marriages have been built on a lot less."

"I'm not going to pity marry you. I don't wanna be in a relationship without connection and love. I've been there and it wasn't a whole lot of fun."

He rose. "What if that's for the best? What wrong with getting married for the sake of our child?"

"Everything. In eighteen years or so this baby will be ready to create a life of her own. What then? Will we stay married after she goes off to college or a job in another state? Will we stare at each other across the breakfast table with you wishing I was Peyton, all for the sake of our child?"

He glanced down at his boots. When he looked up again, his gaze was bleak. "I hadn't thought that far ahead."

"But we have to." She should have figured out what he was planning when he appeared this morning in clothes that looked almost new and a clean-shaven face. Yet she'd never dreamed that he'd go from proposing to Peyton just a few months ago to proposing to her now.

"Okay, you make a good point about the marriage thing, but I still want to be part of my daughter's life"

"Why?" She gazed up at him.

"She's my daughter, I won't be like Dan."

"Look obligation and duty have no place in this scenario. I won't have someone around my daughter who resents her."

"I would never resent our daughter."

"No but you might resent the situation… you might resent me. I know you had plans for your life, and we aren't apart of that."

He blinked at her, not able to find the words.

She sighed. "Look we are just going around in circles. Let's just go."

"But we haven't settled anything."

"I know that." What a maddening man – a gorgeous, stubborn man who still had the power to make her heart beat faster.

She had to watch out for those pesky feelings. She'd read enough books on pregnancy to know the hormones coursing through her body could make her susceptible to a virile guy who kept giving her hot glances.

"Are you willing to stick around for another day or two until we can come to some kind of agreement on how this will go?"

"I'm willing, but I don't like imposing on Haley and Nate."

"I seriously doubt they consider it imposing. Haley is really excited to be an aunt."

"I know. I'll be happy to keep her in the loop."

His expression darkened. "But not me?"

"That's not true, you can be in her life. But we can't play happy family Luke. You and me we just don't work together."

A dangerous light flashed in his blue eyes. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember making this baby the old-fashioned way. And if I remember correctly we worked pretty well together then."

He stepped closer, his chest heaving. "I distinctly recall having some very satisfying, sex with you, complete with orgasms that made you cry my name so loud I was afraid someone would call the hotel security. I absolutely remember waking up with you in my arms. And I remember you saying that we couldn't do this and rushing out before we could even talk."

Heat scorched her body and she clenched her fists at her sides to keep from reaching for him. She swallowed. "You know that's not what I meant."

He turned and headed back to the truck.

She prayed her legs would carry her as she followed him. He'd snapped her self-control with that speech. If he hadn't turned away, she probably would have launched herself at him and begged him to take her right there. But he had turned away and she'd pulled together the pieces of her shredded pride.

Somehow she'd managed to keep her mouth shut, but her body still yearned for his touch. She gazed with longing at his broad shoulders and the movement of his powerful back muscles. Yes, she was guilty of ogling, but she'd dare any woman with a pulse to ignore the way his jeans cupped his backside.

When they reached the truck Lucas opened her door for her. No significant glances or lingering touches. After he got behind the wheel, he opened the console and took out his phone. "I call Haley and let her know you will be staying a little longer."

"All right. Tell her I'd be glad to check into a hotel, if she prefers."

He pushed the phone to his ear. "Hey Hales Brooke will be staying a little longer, is that okay." He nodded. "Okay, thanks. See you soon." he place the phone on the seat next to him and turned the key in the ignition. "She says you're welcome to stay as long as you like."

"Thanks."

He checked for traffic before making a quick U-turn. "Since I'm the one who set up this discussion, I'll let you call the shots for the next one. Tell me when and where and I'll make sure I'm available."

His self-possession amazed her. She was a bundle of nerves. The combination of his sex appeal and his determination to be a part of the baby's life had torpedoed her original plan. She'd have to create a new plan before she saw him again. "I need a little time. I'll text you."

As they pulled up to the house he looked over at her. "Hang on. I'll help you out."

Brooke put a hand on his arm. "That's not necessary."

The muscles in hid forearm tensed and she removed her hand as if she'd touched a hot stove. "I can get out by myself." She turned toward him. "I'll text you this afternoon." That should give her enough time to create a new plan.

"Okay. I have some work to do on the house but I will have my phone on me." He turned and walked back around his truck.

She'd shot down his proposal. That couldn't have felt good, even if it was a pity proposal. But if she'd hurt him, he wasn't showing any signs of it. Maybe she should apologize for how their conversation had ended up. But he'd already put the truck in gear and driven away.