A Sweet Deal (Crimson Romance) by Monica Tillery

might think I tricked him, or that I was after his money, who knows. I couldn’t have predicted his reaction in a million years though, because he proposed.”
    “What? Oh my gosh!” Veronica squealed and hugged a throw pillow to her chest.
    “Sorry to disappoint you, but I said no.”
    “Why? He’s the father of your baby, he’s rich, and he’s hot—like Channing Tatum-dipped-in-chocolate hot. Why would you turn him down?”
    “Because we’re not in love and he just proposed because I’m pregnant. If this hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have ever seen each other again outside of business. Probably not even for that, if he had any say in it.”
    Veronica folded her hands in her lap, her expression concerned and serious. Not a hint of the joking, drama queen remained. “You could grow to love each other, and people get married all the time for far less important reasons. Being married to the father of your child isn’t a bad idea.” Their parents had drilled the importance of marriage and family into them, and Veronica obviously absorbed the lesson. Being young and not as traditional didn’t mean she wasn’t still a good Catholic daughter.
    “I don’t think marrying a virtual stranger is such a great idea either, regardless of how we were brought up.”
    “Speaking of our upbringing, how are you going to tell Mom and Dad?”
    Yvette sighed. Telling her parents was going to be tough, and Veronica’s reaction confirmed it. “I don’t know. I think I might just suck it up and call them. I can’t keep it from them, so I might as well get it over with.”
    “Yep, like pulling off a bandage, quick and painful, but over in a flash. I can be with you when you tell them if you want.”
    “I can handle it, but thanks. I’ll probably need support afterwards. I’m sure they’ll freak out.”
    “Without a doubt. You know, I love you no matter what and I don’t judge you for this, but they really are going to take it hard. After everything they’ve done for us, so that we could have the life we had, this is going to be tough. Really tough. I can already picture Dad yelling about how he didn’t work three jobs to put you through college so you could get pregnant out of wedlock. You should prepare for the worst.”
    Yvette chewed on her bottom lip. “I know. I feel horrible about how disappointed they’re going to be, like I let them down. No matter what else I do in life, this is going to trump everything with them. I’m afraid it’s going to be like nothing else matters but this one big mistake.”
    “I hate to say it, but you’re probably right—for Dad at least. Mom will probably be upset but understanding. She’ll come around before he does, and she might even help him get through it. She doesn’t think you’re still twelve years old like Dad seems to. You might want to remind him that you’re twenty-seven.” Veronica laughed, short and sympathetic. “Not that it will make a difference to him.”
    “I wonder if I should try to make him see that it’s not the end of the world, or if I should just let him go off and wait until his rant ends. Oh, this is so hard.” She dropped her head into her hands and puffed out a sharp breath. “All right, I’m going to call them tonight. Putting it off and obsessing about it won’t make it any easier. No need to postpone the inevitable.” Once she told them over the phone, chances were good that they’d hop in the car and leave their home in Reading to confront her in person.
    Veronica stood and hooked her purse over her shoulder. “Okay, just call me if you need anything. Actually, call me after you talk to them regardless. I want to hear how it goes.”
    Yvette watched as her sister crossed the living room. “I will. Wish me luck.”
    “Good luck,” Veronica said as she spared her one last, sympathetic look before opening the door. “You’re going to need it.”

Chapter Six
    A full week and a dozen unreturned phone calls from Richard later,