by Day Leclaire
First on his list turned out to be moving as many of her belongings as possible to his apartment. In no time, they’d practically stripped her place bare and filled his car with personal possessions.
Jingling the car keys in his pocket, he stood by her front door. “Ready?” he asked, obviously impatient to get to the second item on his list.
The marriage license.
“I’ll be right out,” she said, suddenly remembering her answering machine.
Who knew when she’d return to her apartment. She’d better check messages before she left. She didn’t doubt there’d be at least one from her father, considering that in all the confusion, she’d forgotten to recharge her cell phone. Well, at least she’d remembered the cord and could recharge it as soon as they returned to Luc’s apartment.
To her dismay, her machine showed three messages. The first was from her father, urging her to call home, that he had a surprise for her. Well, the surprise would have to wait until her situation returned to normal. Next came her ridiculous conversation with the fictitious William. Shooting a nervous glance over her shoulder, she deleted the nonsensical spiel. Immediately after her monologue came a message from Luc.
“Well, well,” he practically purred into the tape. “How very interesting.”
She stared at the machine in confusion. What in the world? Then she remembered the call he’d made in the study after her own. She didn’t have a single doubt he’d hit redial. Which meant right on the heels of her chat with her “fiancé,” Luc discovered she’d phoned her own apartment, not William.
She shut her eyes, horrified. No wonder he’d questioned the existence of any remaining roadblocks. With her disguise stripped away and his discovery that William didn’t exist, he must have figured the road was perfectly clear. Clear for seduction.
“Grace! Move it, will you?”
She jumped. How could she face him? What could she possibly say? “Coming!” she called.
She’d just muddle through the best she could. He’d left the message deliberately, so she’d know he knew. And now that she did . . . And he did . . . She groaned, covering her face. Maybe she could pretend she hadn’t listened to the messages. She could give him her most innocent look and pray her eyes didn’t go all cloudy or any other such nonsense. Yes. That’s what she’d do. Hadn’t she gotten rather good at these sorts of fibs?
“What the hell is taking so long?” Luc strode into the room.
Uh-oh.
His gaze moved from her answering machine to her bright red face and for the first time that day he grinned. “Something you forgot to tell me?”
“Not a thing,” she declared, leaping to her feet. “Shall we go?”
He stood in front of her, his arms folded across his chest. “Not until you admit there is no William.”
She lifted her chin. “Of course, there’s a William.” Whipping past him before he could stop her, she headed for the door. “I just don’t happen to be engaged to him.”
With a bark of laughter, Luc followed.
Chapter 8
The Great Lie
Day 340: And complications abound . . .
The next few hours passed in a mad dash. After setting the wheels in motion for a quickie wedding should the need arise, Luc purchased a wedding band for Grace, overriding her heated objections with callous determination.
“I don’t have time to argue with you about this,” he informed her, taking great satisfaction in sliding the wedding band on her finger. “You’ve pretended to be engaged for the past eleven months. Now you’re pretending to be married. What the hell’s the difference?”
She glared at him. “Give me a minute and I’ll tell you.”
“We don’t have a minute. The emergency response worker assigned to our case is meeting us at the apartment at noon. That doesn’t give us much time to get everything in place.”
Realizing her arguments were fruitless in the face of such overwhelming resolve, she gave up and returned with Luc to his apartment. At the stroke of twelve she positioned the last of her personal possessions and, as if in response, the doorbell rang. Joining Luc at the door, they welcomed the social worker together.
Ms. Cartwright proved to be a very pleasant, no-nonsense career woman in her late thirties, and it took Luc precisely three minutes to totally charm her.
The first minute they exchanged names and business cards. Luc introduced Grace as his wife and thanked Ms. Cartwright for taking the time out of her busy schedule to visit with them.
The second minute, he fired a thousand questions about Toni’s wellbeing at the startled woman.
The third minute, he relaxed, apologized for his abruptness, and offered her one of his most stunning smiles. Grace had long ago realized his smile could melt steel. Melting Ms. Cartwright was a cinch compared to that. Drawing her into the living room, he focused both that smile and his intense golden eyes on the hapless woman.
“You see,” Luc explained, and there was no mistaking the rough sincerity in his voice, “Toni is family. You tell me what I have to do to get her back here until her parents return from Italy and I’ll do it. Anything.”
Ms. Cartwright visibly softened. “Please understand, Mr. Salvatore. We aren’t trying to split your family apart. We just want what’s best for the child.”
He inclined his head in satisfaction. “Then we have the same goal. I think you’ll find what’s best is for Toni to be returned to her family. Let me show you around and then we’ll discuss what needs to be done.”
Ms. Cartwright inspected every inch of the apartment with a nerve-racking thoroughness. Eventually, she wandered into their temporary nursery. “Why, what a beautiful room you have here,” she said, pausing in the doorway. “You did all this for your niece?”
“Not just for Toni,” Luc claimed, shooting an openly smoldering look in Grace’s direction. “I was hoping to give her cousins sometime soon.”
Ms. Cartwright beamed, patting Grace’s arm. “I can tell by that blush you’re a newlywed. Ben Hatcher referred to you as Mr. Salvatore’s fiancée in his report. You must have married recently?”
“Very,” Luc answered for Grace.
The social worker made a brief notation on her clipboard. “I’m glad to hear that. It will certainly help with the approval process. And who would have the main responsibility for Toni during the day?”
“We both would,” Luc said. “I’ve arranged to work out of the apartment until my brother and his wife return.”
“Wife?” Ms. Cartwright frowned. “I understood that Ms. Donati was a single parent. In fact, you told the police your brother and Ms. Donati were married, then later admitted you’d lied. That concerns me, Mr. Salvatore.”
A variety of emotions chased across Luc’s face—frustration, anger, and finally resignation. “To be honest, Ms. Cartwright, I would have said just about anything to keep Toni with her family,” he confessed in a low voice. “I know it’s a terrible admission, but my brother entrusted Toni to my care and I didn’t want to let him down.”
“I understand your feelings, but I must insist on absolute honesty from now on.” The social worker was serious. She tapped her pencil against the clipboard, and Grace knew without question there’d be no charming her into overlooking any future fibs. “Lying to the police, or to us for that matter, is a very serious matter. If we uncover any further discrepancies, you will not be permitted to care for your niece now, or any time in the future. Are we clear on this?”
Grace thought she’d pass out at the woman’s feet. She didn’t dare look at Luc. Instead, she stood as still as possible, fighting to keep from toying nervously with her phony wedding rings. How had she managed to get herself into this mess? Maybe she’d phone her father, after all. She needed a good, strong dose of his common sense and principles. One of his lectures wouldn’t go amiss around about now, either.
Luc weathered the imminent crisis far better. He forked his fingers through his hair and then inclined his head. “We
’re clear,” he said.
Fortunately, Ms. Cartwright didn’t sense Grace’s reaction. She examined the pages attached to her clipboard and said, “I’m also concerned about the mother in this case.”
“Carina is young and rather emotional,” Luc offered, stepping into the breach once again. “She wasn’t thinking straight when she left Toni with us. She’d just had a baby out of wedlock, something both her family and her religion frown on. And she’d just learned her mother is on death’s door. The one smart thing she did was to come to my brother for help.”
“But he left the baby, too.”
“In my custody. I’m the eldest, and my brothers have always come to me when they needed help. Look, Ms. Cartwright. I’m positive they’ll marry very soon and return to straighten all this out. If social services wants to investigate me to ensure I’m a fit temporary guardian for Toni, then fine. If they want to camp out on my doorstep in order to keep an eye on me, they’re welcome. All I ask is that you let me take care of Toni until this is resolved.”
His impassioned speech clearly had an effect on Ms. Cartwright. She sighed. “You make a very eloquent case for yourself, Mr. Salvatore.”
“That was my intention.”
She considered the viability of his request, a frown creasing her brow. “Very well,” she said. “I still have to do some routine investigation of your situation. It would help if you’d provide references, both financial and personal.”
“Done. Will that take care of it?”
“Not quite. If you can get a letter of consent from the mother, a copy of the baby’s birth certificate, and a medical permission slip in my hands by the end of the day, then I’ll recommend Toni be returned to you.”
“Returned tonight?”
She smiled. “I’ll do my very best. If she is, a case manager will be assigned to check up on you. You realize that even when Ms. Donati returns this won’t be over, don’t you? In the eyes of the law, she abandoned her child. We take a very dim view of that.”
“She’ll have the support of the Salvatore family. And she’ll have her husband’s support.”
“For her sake, I hope you’re right.”
A few minutes later, Ms. Cartwright left. Luc grabbed Grace, wrapped his arms about her waist, and twirled her around until the room spun in a dizzy arc. Before she could recover her equilibrium, he gathered her close and kissed her. It was a kiss meant to celebrate a success. But for Grace it was so much more. His mouth slanted over hers, consuming her, filling her with a desire so strong she shook with it. She should be thinking about Toni. Instead, far different images filled her head, mainly of Luc sweeping her up and carrying her off to his bed, stealing away her clothes, and mating his body to hers. The kiss deepened, pulling her under until she no longer could tell right from wrong. She just wanted more.
But apparently, Luc didn’t feel the same way. He ended the kiss, laughing down at her.
“We did it!” he announced jubilantly. “Didn’t I tell you everything would work out?”
“Yes, you did,” Grace murmured, clutching his shoulders.
But she wasn’t anywhere near as confident. Time to face the hard, cold facts. Her feelings for Luc had undergone a drastic change. Worse, not only were their lies compounding by the hour, her commitment to Luc and the baby grew exponentially. How could she possibly face Dom and claim she’d kept her part of the bargain when she’d become so involved in this situation with Toni?
With Toni? Hah!
What about Luc? She closed her eyes. If she were honest, and she had to concede that honesty was something in disastrously short supply these days, she’d admit she’d become very involved with Luc.
If she didn’t get out of this situation soon, she’d lose everything. Baby Dream Toys, for one. But far worse, her heart—assuming she hadn’t lost it already.
Toni arrived safely back at Luc’s apartment by dinner time that evening and all Luc’s brothers were there to celebrate her return. Dinner proved to be loud and rowdy, not that Toni seemed bothered by the noise and confusion. If anything, she reveled in it. Wearing a frilly pink dress and a matching bow, she charmed one uncle after another with her full repertoire of baby coos, babbles, and toothless grins. It wasn’t until after she’d been tucked into bed and the gathering started to break up that trouble began.
“This is an interesting addition,” Matteo proclaimed loudly. He snatched Grace’s hand and examined the wedding band decorating her finger. In ten seconds flat, Luc’s brothers had her surrounded.
“Is it real?” Dante demanded.
“You didn’t marry that Will-William guy, did you?” Angel questioned in a disapproving voice. “He’s not good enough for you, Grace. Not if he makes you dress like a bag lady.”
Before Grace could answer, Luc cut through and snagged her elbow. “The wedding band is there because I put it on her finger,” he announced, tucking her close to his side.
Dead silence met his explanation. Then Soren said, “You never answered Dante’s question. Is it real?”
For a moment Grace thought Luc would lie. She poked him with her elbow to discourage any such plan. “Don’t you dare,” she muttered. “I’ve had my fill of fibs.”
He stared down at her, his eyes glittering with devilry. Shrugging, he admitted, “No. It’s not real.”
“Yet?” Soren suggested with a lifted eyebrow.
Luc ignored him. “The people at social services believe it is real. If anyone finds out otherwise, we’ll lose Toni. So keep your mouths shut.”
Angel’s face was a study in confusion. “When did this marriage business start? I thought you guys were just pretending to be engaged.”
“That’s for the police. Get with it, bro, and follow the logic.” Soren ticked off on his fingers. “They’re boss and assistant at work, engaged for the police, married for the baby people, and just good friends in front of us.”
“You guys ever consider scorecards? This is getting confusing,” Angel complained.
Matteo’s eyes danced with deviltry, his expression reminding Grace forcefully of Luc. “What I want to know is which category they fall into when they’re alone with Toni.”
“Maybe they don’t fall into any category,” Dante suggested. He fixed his dark, bad boy eyes on Grace. “Maybe they fall into the nearest bed.”
“That’s enough,” Luc said, a hint of anger sparking in his eyes. “Get out of here, the lot of you. Toni’s just been put to bed and I won’t have you waking her up again. We get little enough sleep as it is.”
“That answers that question,” Matteo said with a wicked grin. “Maybe you’d get more rest if you didn’t spend your nights—”
Luc silenced his brother with a single look. “Time to go. All of you, out of here,” he said, maneuvering them from the room and out the front door. This time, they didn’t make a sound as they left, though Matteo thumbed his nose at Mrs. Bumgartle’s door before anyone could restrain him.
Alone again with Luc, Grace glanced at him with a troubled expression. “Is it really wise to involve your brothers in this deception? I feel guilty enough, as it is.”
“Really? Did you feel guilty pretending to be engaged to Will-William?” he asked, crossing to stand in front of her.
She looked away, hot color creeping into her cheeks. “That was different.”
He hooked her chin with his finger and forced her to look at him. “Was it? Why?”
“You know why. I wasn’t trying to deceive the police or social services.”
“No, only me.” His watchful gaze sharpened. “You never did explain that.”
She stepped away from him. To her relief, he let her go. “Didn’t I?” she asked evasively.
“No. Care to take a stab at it now?”
“Not really.”
“Afraid?” he mocked. “Shall I guess why you did it?”
“We’ve already played this game, Luc.” She spoke more harshly than she’d intended. “It didn’t end well.”
> “Did I win? I can’t seem to remember.”
“I believe it was a draw.”
“Then, I insist on a rematch.”
Not since their deception began, had she felt this vulnerable. Her attraction to Luc grew with each passing moment they spent together, as did her craving for his touch, his kisses, his passion. How, after holding him at a distance for eleven long months, could she now be on the verge of surrendering?
Catching her by the elbows, he tugged her close. He looked so large and enticing. She rested her hands on his chest, feeling the hard muscles tauten beneath her fingertips. It took every ounce of determination not to let her hands roam, exploring what lay beneath his crisp white shirt.
She bowed her head, fighting her wayward urges. “Luc, don’t,” she whispered.
“I think you disguised your appearance and wore that engagement ring for protection.”
“Protection?” She managed a light laugh. “That’s nonsense.”
He shook his head, eyeing her with a chilling intensity. “No. I think I’m right. My guess is you had a bad experience with your last employer.” His voice held a tender note that completely disarmed her. “Did he harass you? Is that why you went to such lengths to protect yourself? Because you thought I might be like him? I can understand, sympathize even. But why let the pretense go on for so long, once you knew I wasn’t that type of man?”
She felt like a worm. He’d gotten the wrong end of the stick entirely. How could she tell him that far from such a reasonable, sympathetic motivation, she’d gone to such lengths because of his father’s request and her own greed? She’d deceived him, pure and simple. How could she ever make up for that? How could she explain it in a way he’d understand? Or forgive. She couldn’t. “You’re wrong, Luc. I swear it.”
He lifted an eyebrow, a teasing smile tugging at his mouth. “After all the deception between us, I’m supposed to believe you?”
If he only knew! “For your information, until I started working at Salvatore’s I’d told a grand total of six lies in my entire life.”
