The Beauty's Groom

by Taylor Hart

  Jeffrey had been the exception. He was her exact height—five foot ten. She’d met him two years ago at a social function that her father had dragged her to. Jeffrey was a high-powered attorney, ten years older than her. He’d been eloquent and dazzling in his compliments. She’d been swept off her feet so easily.

  She slipped into her car as her doorman put her luggage in the back. As she relaxed back into the car, she realized it’d been a long time since she’d gone to the mountains and skied—was it her first year of college? She’d come home and her father had taken her and Lorin to Vail, although Lorin had ditched her. She and her father had skied the bunny hill the whole time. She smiled at the pleasant memory.

  Forest’s face flashed into her mind again. She bet he was good on the slopes. He was a rising face of the league, and there was no denying it was a handsome face. From what she’d read in his file, it’d been a rough life for him. She didn’t want to think about all the pictures of his bruised face—not just from his childhood and the times social workers had been called, but also from his first foster home.

  She let out a breath and turned on the radio. It felt good to leave the city. And she did feel good that she would be helping him and his siblings spend the holidays together. There was no shame, she told herself, in helping someone who needed help. So what if it helped her, too? So what if her motives weren’t entirely pure in helping Forest Hightower? Anyone would understand that sometimes avoiding family at all costs was essential to mental health.

  “So what?” she muttered, taking the exit toward the Eisenhower Tunnel. Getting out of town right now was exactly what she needed, even if she would have to put up with the cocky quarterback. She could handle him.

  She’d been handling egotistical men for a long time.

  Chapter 5

  Forest heard the doorbell ring. He hopped out of the hot tub and reached for his towel.

  The doorbell rang again, and then a third time. He didn’t hear anyone coming in.

  He rushed across the snow-packed deck and flung open the kitchen door. Where was his sister? He looked into the attached living room. “Tricia?”

  Dang it. She’d promised she would open the door.

  He scrambled through the kitchen to the main door and yanked back on the heavy mahogany. The house had sure cost him a pretty penny, but it was solid and it was right on the boardwalk of the ski resort. They were just a hop, skip, and jump from the ski lift.

  “Oh.” Dr. Lane stood there, wearing a white cashmere dress and boots up to her knees. He was surprised to see that her fire red hair was down and curled softly around her shoulders.

  She was gorgeous.

  The woman’s eyes widened and slid down his body, then back up. She turned her head to the side. “Ah, Mr. Hightower, you are in a swimsuit.”

  He wasn’t self-conscious about his body. Why should he be? But he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable either. “Oh, sorry. Just got out of the hot tub, and Tricia was supposed to be around here to open the door.” He winked at her. “But go ahead and take a look.” He flexed the arm that wasn’t holding his towel.

  Hatred burned in her eyes and she bumped past him, holding her bag. “Not ever, Mr. Hightower.”

  Forest slouched. It was a bit immature, but the woman was putting him on edge. He’d been thinking about her for the past couple of hours. “Sorry.” He shut the door and followed her, easily taking her suitcase. “I got it.”

  “Thank you.” She met his eyes.

  He smiled, grudgingly enjoying the aqua of her eyes from this close perspective. He liked tall women.

  She surveyed the house. “Where is my room?”

  He gestured to the stairs. “This way. I’ll show you to the little apartment at the top.” He wasn’t sure why, but even though this was a super nice house and it wasn’t even his, he was nervous about whether she would like it or not.

  He moved past the kitchen and living room then pointed to the office. “There’s an office in there, and I thought we could meet for our sessions in there, if that works.”

  “Great.”

  They climbed the flight of stairs, then passed three rooms. “This is where Marcus, Tricia, and I will be.” He led her down the hall to the right and up another set of stairs. Indicating the north side of the house, he said, “There’s actually an outside entrance, if you ever want to leave and come back without coming through the house.”

  “The outside entrance will be preferable.”

  He opened the door to the apartment and walked in with her, putting her bag on the little seat next to the end of the kitchenette. “It’s not huge, sorry, but I did have the kitchen stocked for you as requested. My sister is making some breakfast foods for dinner if you want some.”

  Her face soured. “No, I told you I prefer to eat solo.”

  He snapped his fingers. “Right. Vegan. I get it.” Even though he didn’t get it at all.

  She moved around the kitchenette, opening the fridge and inspecting some food, then turning to peer through a window that oversaw the resort. “We’re right here, aren’t we?”

  A lift’s worth of people were whizzing by the window, maybe twenty feet away. “Yes, we are,” he said.

  “Wow, that’s close.” She shut the blinds and turned to him, her eyes traveling up from his swimsuit.

  “It is.” He couldn’t move. All the chemistry from earlier today had sprung back to life. Could she feel it? This thing between them?

  Her eyes darted to his. “Ah, it’s been a long time since I skied.”

  “Offer’s still on the table. Anyone staying at the resort here gets ski equipment for free; just walk down there.” He flipped the blinds back open and pointed to the rental shop next to the lift. “And they’ll hook you up.”

  Her eyes widened. “That’s okay.” She grabbed the blinds and shut them again.

  “Or you could buy a coffee or a hot chocolate at the little café next to the shop. There are also outdoor fireplaces you can sit by.”

  She glared at him. “I’m using the next few days to catch up on my reading.”

  “Great.” Bugging her was fun.

  “It is great, Mr. Hightower.”

  He flashed her a flirtatious smile. “It is great, doctor,” he said with mock formality.

  She looked at his chest. “Do you need clothes, Mr. Hightower?”

  “If you can’t handle me like this, then sure, I’ll go change.”

  “Oh, I don’t care what you’re wearing or not wearing.” But she sounded nervous, and her eyes swept over him again.

  There might be hope for the woman yet.

  “O-kay.” The professionalism returned to her voice, putting distance between them. “Eight o’clock.”

  “Forest! Forest!” His sister, who was seveb years younger than him, rushed up the stairs.

  “Tricia, what’s up?”

  “I didn’t hear the door,” she said, heading toward them. “Is she here? I want to tell her thank you.” Tricia looked him up and down. “Why don’t you have clothes on? You’re embarrassing, bro.”

  “Uh.” Forest followed his little sister back into the apartment and watched the spitfire in action.

  “There you are! Thank you so much!” She flung herself at L.C. Lane, wrapping her in a huge hug.

  The doctor looked startled. “Oh. Well.”

  Tricia pulled back, holding the doctor’s shoulders. “You have no idea what it means to me that you would do this for Forest.” She hugged her again.

  This time, the doctor halfway hugged her. “It’s fine.”

  “Thank you. Thank you.” Tricia looked up with teary eyes. “Will you please let me cook dinner for you?”

  Forest felt bad for Tricia, because she was about to get denied. Hard.

  To his surprise, the doctor nodded. “Okay.”

  Tricia laughed. “Great. Come talk to me while I get it ready.”

  Forest moved out of the way while the women moved past him. “What?” He followed down
stairs, shutting the door behind him. What had just happened?

  But he didn’t have too long to process it, because his brother, Marcus, opened the front door, covered head to toe in snow. “I’m here!” he called out wildly. He threw his bag to the side. “Ah-ah-ah.” He pounded on his chest like Tarzan.

  Forest copied him. “Ah-ah-ah!” He pounded on his chest and rushed by the women, flinging himself at Marcus.

  His brother laughed and held him, making the towel drop. “Dude, why do you have a swimsuit on?”

  “Hot tub!”

  Marcus fist-bumped him. “Hot tub!” Marcus was a junior and on scholarship at the University of Texas for football. Forest hardly got to see him, but he was so, so proud of him.

  Tricia jumped on Marcus. “Bro!”

  Marcus picked her up and spun her as he did the Tarzan call again.

  “Stop!” she yelled, laughing.

  Forest beamed. He loved watching them play.

  After a bit, Marcus set her down and noticed the doctor. “Wow.” He turned to Forest. “Dude, you didn’t tell me you had a new hottie.”

  Forest winced and looked at the doctor, worried that she would be offended.

  She only smiled at him.

  Forest punched his brother in the arm. “Naw, this is Dr. Lane, the doctor who’s giving me my anger management sessions.”

  Marcus shook her hand, and his eyes widened. “Right. After Dad showed up.” He grunted, and fury tightened his features. “Man.”

  Tricia huffed. “Yeah, Forest got anger management sessions for punching Dad out. I want to ask the judge—what does Dad get for leaving us thirteen years ago?”

  “Nice to meet you, doctor. I’m Marcus.”

  “You don’t have to call me doctor.” Her eyes briefly met Forest’s. “You guys can call me Lu. That’s what my friends call me.”

  Forest cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, so they get to call you Lu.”

  “You’re my patient. You can call me Dr. Lane.”

  Tricia and Marcus laughed.

  Lu gave them a coy smile. Dang, maybe the stiff wasn’t so stiff.

  “You know your hair is, like, out-of-this-world gorgeous,” Tricia said. “I’m in hair school, and yours is legit pretty.” She picked up a tendril of Lu’s hair. “That red is amazing. Is it dyed?”

  “Nope. Thanks.”

  “Could I braid it?” Tricia asked.

  Lu’s eyebrows arched up. “Well …”

  Forest sidled next to Tricia, not wanting to overwhelm Lu. “Don’t let her get you with hair stuff. Last Christmas, she dyed my ends and it looked weird.”

  Tricia smacked him in the shoulder. “You mean awesome.” She stuck her tongue at him.

  Forest winked at her.

  “Lay off, bro,” Marcus said. “Lu, could you settle something for us?”

  She looked confused. “Uh … I don’t know?”

  Marcus put his hand to his chest. “I always thought I was the far better-looking brother. What do you think?”

  Forest put his arm around Marcus. “Didn’t you hear what they’re saying about me? I’m like a young Christopher Reeves.” He pointed at him. “He was the actor in the original Superman, you know.”

  Marcus got upset, just as Forest had predicted. “Who cares about DC? I mean, really?”

  Forest roared with laughter.

  Tricia grunted. “Ignore them. They’re morons.” She waved her hand. “Come in here, Lu. We’ll girl talk.”

  Tentatively, Forest watched as Lu went to the kitchen and stood across the counter from Tricia. Of course, his sister talked at about a mile a minute while she pulled out pots and pans and food from the fridge.

  His brother nudged him and leaned in to whisper, “She’s hot, even if she’s your doctor.”

  Forest widened his eyes. “Right.” He leaned in to whisper back to his brother. “Something seems off about her, though.”

  Marcus squinted at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t know. When I first asked her to come, she acted like she wouldn’t be caught dead in a situation like this. Then, she suddenly agreed to come.”

  “Maybe it’s the Christmas spirit.”

  Forest grinned at his brother. “Hey, you’re here, and this Christmas is going to rock!”

  Marcus high-fived him. “Yeah it is.” He leaned in and whispered, “Did you get all the stuff for our project?”

  “I got it,” Forest said, brimming with excitement. “I have the boxes in the back of my car. One for every night. And our outfits.”

  Marcus bumped into him. “Who knew Forest Hightower, man assigned anger management sessions, would be the most giving person I know?”

  “Shh,” he said, putting his finger to his lips and making sure the women weren’t listening to them.

  “I don’t know why you don’t use all the stuff you do to change your image. It would, you know. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about stuff like what happened with Dad, because people would know how good you are.”

  Forest put an arm around his brother and tapped his chest. “That’s kinda the point, dude. It’s always just between you and God.” He pointed up. “That’s the only person you ever care about knowing the real you, okay?”

  Marcus nodded. “Except Tricia and I know the real you.” He pushed him. “We know how stinky your farts are!” he said loudly.

  Forest chuckled, feeling better than he’d felt in a long time. He turned and caught Dr. Lu watching them. Or Lu. Or … whatever. This all felt so weird now.

  His sister smiled at him. “Go shower, Forest. Dinner will be ready soon.”

  Chapter 6

  “So which would you pick?” Marcus scooped up a plate of eggs. “Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel?”

  Tricia offered Lu a plate of eggs and sausage. She’d been talking about different ways she could braid Lu’s hair as she cooked.

  Tentatively, Lu took the plate and sat. Even though she’d made a huge stink about eating vegan, she hadn’t been a true vegan in a while. And, she mused as she watched Marcus steal a piece of sausage off of Tricia’s plate, it was really nice to be around people. To be around a family. “I don’t know who Captain is, sorry.”

  Tricia sat next to her, her face frozen. “Stop the presses. You haven’t seen Wonder Woman or Captain Marvel?”

  Lu grinned as she quickly ate. She could see why Forest would fight to be with them at Christmastime.

  Unlike how she felt about Lorin, she brushed the thought out of her mind. And no, she didn’t feel guilty, because Lorin had decided to come of her own accord. It wasn’t her fault that no one would be at her apartment when Lorin and the twins got there.

  The twins. She’d only met them once, at her father’s funeral.

  “Lu?” Tricia asked.

  “Oh.” She hated getting distracted to the point where she wasn’t present. She really tried not to do that. “Sorry, what?”

  “So, which one would you want to watch?” Tricia asked.

  “Yeah.” Marcus thumbed through his phone. “’Cause I have both of them, and I’ll hook it up to the television here and we’ll all just watch tonight.”

  Tricia smacked his shoulder. “Until nine.” She looked guilty and turned away.

  “Right.” Marcus glanced from Lu to his phone. “Until nine.”

  “Do you guys go to bed at nine?” Lu asked.

  Tricia and Marcus both started laughing.

  Marcus smacked his leg. “No, we don’t go to bed. Like, never when we’re together. We party. So no, we’ll keep watching. We just have a … thing we have to do at nine.” He glanced nervously at Tricia.

  “Last-minute Christmas shopping.” Tricia stood and took the dishes to the sink.

  “Right, last-minute shopping,” Marcus repeated, but he had already checked out, focusing on his phone.

  Lu moved around the kitchen island and joined Tricia. “I can dry.”

  Tricia scrubbed a pan. “Great. I don’t know what’s taking my brother so long.�
�

  Lu picked up a dishtowel. “So how’s California?”

  “I love it. And I love the beach. I mean, skiing is fun in Colorado, but California dreaming, baby.”

  Lu smiled. She’d thought about going somewhere else after college, but in truth, there was nowhere else she could have imagined herself. Mostly because her father had insisted that he would set her up with her own practice, and that had been appealing. “That’s great. I’ve always wanted to learn to surf.”

  “You’ve never surfed?” Marcus paused and looked up at them. “Seriously?”

  “I snow-skied a little bit growing up, but my father wasn’t into the beach.”

  Tricia laughed. “Well, at least he was around.”

  She nodded, thinking about their situation. “True.”

  “Was your mom around?” Tricia asked.

  Lu wasn’t used to having people ask about her, and it’d been a long time since she’d spoken to a new acquaintance so casually. “My mother passed away when I was a baby.”

  Tricia stopped scrubbing. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine. It’s how it always was.”

  Tricia put a hand on her arm. “I lost my mom when I was so young, and I miss her so bad, but I can’t imagine never knowing her.”

  Now that someone else was looking at her situation, Lu was seeing it in a different light. “Oh, well …”

  Marcus leaned over the counter. “Okay, Trish, so we have a virgin superhero watcher. Virgin.” He over enunciated the word.

  She couldn’t stop her grin.

  Marcus laughed. “And so we need a full-on marathon the next five days. I’m thinking we start with Captain America, because he’s the Cap, and then we move on to Captain Marvel, then—”

  “No, Captain Marvel first,” Tricia interrupted, rinsing the pan and putting it on the counter.

  “What? No.”

  “You just don’t want to watch Captain Marvel because you don’t like the ones about women.”

  “Not true. You know I love Wonder Woman. I fall asleep to Wonder Woman when I can’t sleep.”