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mucked the horse stalls until his muscles were screaming and sweat dripped from his brow. He
pushed himself hard, hoping by the time he went inside, he d be able to fall face first into bed and
pass out.
It didn t work. After a hot shower, he crawled into bed, where he laid for hours, his mind
filled with thoughts of Bree, and wishing she were lying next to him. He would ve most likely caved
and went to her, had she not been sleeping so soundly.
She wanted her own room until she felt more comfortable in their relationship. She d
laughed about it, patting her stomach, but she said it felt wrong for them to sleep together when he
was too much like a stranger still. Though he may not survive it, he hadn t argued with her. But he
didn t think he was going to get any rest with her sleeping only a few short feet away.
Chapter Ten
Chad took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. He wanted to marry her, and preferably
before she got her memory back. She carried his child  he wouldn t let the baby be raised without a
father. He d be there to always protect them both.
Bree was sitting in the kitchen when he came around the corner. She gave him a tentative
smile, unsure of why he d stormed away from her the night before.
 Let s get married now, he blurted, then wished he could take back his words when her
eyes widened and she sat with a stunned look on her face. He should have gently approached the
subject.
He could see a myriad of thoughts running through her mind. He knew she thought he was
probably insane. Hot, then cold. She wouldn t know what to think.
 Did we discuss marriage before the accident? she asked, not taking her eyes from his. He
could lie but he wouldn t go that far.
 No, but things were good between us.
 I don t want a marriage of convenience. I know, I don t know how, but I know I can only
marry for love. I can barely comprehend being pregnant, and I wish I had my memory back, but I m
not going to marry you just because we slept together. Every time I ask you about the past, you hedge
around it. Why?
 The doctor said not to force anything on you.
 That s a cop-out and you know it, she replied, getting irritated with him.
 It s the truth, he insisted.
 Would you have asked me to marry you if I wasn t pregnant?
Chad stood there like a deer caught in headlights. All he needed to say was  yes but he
knew it was a lie. Maybe eventually he would ve asked her, he tried to reason with himself. But he d
always vowed never to get married. Having a baby changed things, though. They needed to put the
needs of their child s welfare ahead of themselves. She should understand that.
 That question doesn t matter  it s irrelevant, he hedged.
 I disagree. I think it s completely relevant.
 I want to raise my child. Does that make me a bad guy?
 You can be active in your child s life without marrying me. I don t even know you, not
really. Maybe I ll feel differently once my memories come back, but you re not helping matters by
acting like a Neanderthal, she scolded.
 You re my responsibility. I don t shirk on what s right.
 So, now I m nothing more than a responsibility. One more daily chore for you to take care
of.
 You re twisting my words, he huffed in frustration. Chad moved around the room, running
his fingers through his hair, trying to figure out how to get through to her. Why did she have to be so
stubborn?
He walked to the fridge and started pulling items out. He had to do something with his hands
or he feared he may place them around her small neck and strangle her. He smirked at himself. He
would never, in a million years, hurt a woman. He wanted to kill the men who d dare to harm her.
Until they were caught, she was still in danger. If she d just agree to marry him, he could protect her
and the baby. Even with amnesia, she was pure Anderson, stubborn, even to the point of self-
sacrifice.
Chad tossed a sandwich in front of her, then sat at the table and took a large bite of his
sandwich. He was angry  and she was frustrated.
 Maybe I should just go and stay with my father. I think he d like that.
 No.
 You can t just tell me no. I m an adult, in case you haven t noticed, she said with a glare.
 You ll stay here, he commanded. He was really ticking her off.
 You insufferable pig. Don t you dare try to tell me what to do! she snapped, standing up so
fast her chair went flying behind her. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]