by Judy Duarte
“We need to talk,” he said.
He was probably right, but not now. Not until she’d had some time to think. And not until he put on a shirt and covered that broad chest and those taut abs.
She looked everywhere but at him. “There’s not much to say. I shouldn’t have let that happen. I wasn’t thinking clearly.” She still wasn’t. Making love with Steven had jumbled every thought in her head.
What’s worse, it had messed with her heart, too.
He folded his arms across his bare chest, not nearly hiding it from view, and shifted his weight to one hip. “Didn’t you enjoy what we just did?”
Her cheeks warmed, and she winced. He had to have heard her moaning softly, had to have realized she’d connected deeply with him as he’d climaxed along with her. If she told him she hadn’t taken any pleasure in their lovemaking, he’d know she was lying.
“I enjoyed it as much as you did, but that’s not the point.” She combed her fingers through her hair, snagging a nail on a tangle she’d failed to brush out. Why hadn’t she taken the time to pull it into a neat, tidy bun? Her brain worked better when she dressed professionally, and her words came much easier.
But she’d be darned if she could sound the least bit coherent while the man she’d just made love with stood half-naked in front of her. But she may as well spit it out. “Making love, as good as it was, only makes things worse. This is supposed to be a fake engagement, Steven. We had an agreement, and what we just did makes it feel more real.”
“We’re both consenting adults. What’s wrong with acting on the attraction that’s been brewing between us?”
He had a point, but she was about to make another romantic mistake, this one worse than the one she’d made with Mike, because it could lead to heartbreak—hers and obviously not his.
Steven opened his arms, clearly expecting her to walk into his embrace, to lay her head on his shoulder, but she couldn’t seem to move. The Rambling Rose mayor insisted that she stand firm, while the child who lived within, the frightened little girl who’d once had to fend for herself in a run-down apartment, urged her to go to him, to accept the comfort he offered.
But Ellie no longer needed anyone to rescue her. Nor did she let people take care of her, like Steven had been doing the past couple of weeks. His compassion appeased the inner child, but it flustered the hell out of the city leader.
Steven wasn’t giving up, nor did he lower his arms, but their face-off didn’t last long. For some damned reason, she couldn’t resist him. She eased forward and stepped into his embrace, accepting his comfort, just as she’d done when he’d offered his hospitality and friendship.
As she breathed in his woodsy scent, as his strong, warm arms enveloped her, she couldn’t seem to absorb the peace and security she needed, and the whole fake marriage idea seemed more ludicrous than ever.
How could she only pretend to be in love with Steven when she was falling in love with him for real? And to make matters worse, she felt awful about misleading people, deceiving them.
Especially him.
Steven held her close and caressed her back. When he whispered, his warm breath stirred her hair. “Feeling better now?”
“A little.” But not nearly enough.
He pressed a kiss against her temple, which helped a wee bit more. “Then I’ll hold you until you’re back on track and ready to tackle the world again.”
Would she ever be back to normal? There was a big struggle going on in her brain. Love versus friendship. Right versus wrong. Truth versus lies.
She knew what she needed to do. Her parents had taught her well.
It’s always best to tell the truth. It’s easier to keep your story straight.
Papa’s words echoed in her head, spurring her on, telling her exactly how to proceed.
“This whole marriage thing has gotten way out of hand,” she said.
“The wedding is on Sunday, Ellie. It’s too late to backpedal now. But I don’t think that’s the only thing troubling you.”
He was right. But did she dare admit that she no longer knew the woman she’d become? That she was uneasy about being pregnant with another man’s baby, caught up in a marriage of convenience and falling for a fake fiancé who thought sex was only meant for fun?
But their ruse had gathered too much steam already. The flowers and cake had been ordered. Steven’s family from Florida was flying into San Antonio on Saturday evening. Mama had bought the perfect dress.
And so had Daria, who should be saving her money rather than spending it. Even Papa had gotten on board sooner than anyone had expected him to and had asked a guy he knew to play the guitar during the ceremony.
No, Steven was right. It was too late to do anything about it now. Not unless she wanted to turn a big mistake into one hot mess.
Chapter Twelve
Last night, at a quiet dinner party in the main part of the house, Steven had introduced Ellie to his parents, brother and sisters who’d traveled from Florida to attend the wedding. Ellie had been a little nervous about meeting them, but she shouldn’t have been. They’d been nothing but kind, friendly and accepting.
David Fortune, who’d made millions in the video game industry, had silver-streaked hair and wore wire-rimmed glasses. The tall, well-dressed man appeared to be a little nerdy, but he was friendly and seemed genuinely happy about the wedding.
His wife, Marci, was an attractive woman in her mid-fifties. She seemed a bit shy and reserved, but greeted Ellie with a warm smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I wish David and I could stay longer than a couple of days. But we’ll be back to visit in the upcoming months. We’re looking forward to getting to know you.”
Wiley, Steven’s younger brother who’d also been adopted by David, had arrived on the same flight. The triplets, however, were moving to Rambling Rose, so they’d rented a trailer and driven out. With the restaurant opening in May, the three sisters were eager to get settled so they could oversee the construction of Provisions, the trendy new eatery, and make sure it was built to their specifications. At twenty-three years old, they were pretty young to be taking on such a big project, but they seemed to know what they were doing.
The triplets were also identical, with straight blonde hair, blue eyes and nicely curving figures. Their parents and siblings had no problem telling them apart, but Ellie doubted if she’d ever be able to do so. Even though they’d had on different outfits last night, she’d still had trouble remembering who was wearing what.
“Megan, Nicole and I would like to hang with you guys this evening,” Ashley had said about twenty minutes after their arrival, “but we need to unpack. We have a lot to do in the morning.”
They would be busy, all right. Steven had asked them to whip up an after-wedding meal, and they’d jumped at the chance to show off their cooking skills.
It hadn’t taken long for Ellie to decide that she liked Steven’s family, and the evening had gone well. They’d wholeheartedly welcomed her into the fold, wishing her and Steven a lifetime of happiness, which left her feeling awkward and guilty. How would they feel when they learned the marriage wouldn’t last?
Still, the sun came up on Sunday morning, and the wedding plans began to take shape.
At three o’clock, Ellie stood at the open sliding door and scanned the lawn, where the wedding guests sat in white rental chairs, facing the gazebo that had been adorned with greenery and yellow roses.
Papa stood on the patio, waiting to walk her down the grassy aisle, his brown eyes glistening as if holding back tears. “You make a beautiful bride, mija,” he told her when she made her way out to him. “I always knew you would.”
“Thank you, Papa.” She kissed his cheek. “You look so handsome in that new suit. You’re the perfect father of the bride.”
“I wasn’t so perfect at first. I’m sorry I wasn’t more supportive.”
“That’s okay. I should have come to you and Mama months ago. I’m sorry, too.”
“That’s all behind us, mija.” He nodded toward the gazebo, where the ceremony would take place. “Wiley walked your mother down the aisle and escorted her to our seats in the front row. And Daria’s taken her place up front, although I can’t believe you let her bring that dog, let alone walk him down the aisle on a leash.”
Ellie smiled. “Don’t you think Tank looks cute with that yellow Western bandanna tied around his neck?”
Papa clucked his tongue, but not in a disapproving way. “At least he matches the wedding party.”
“He should,” Ellie said. “He’s a part of it.”
Papa offered his arm. “Are you ready to do this?”
No. She wasn’t at all ready. She wanted to bolt, to run for the hills and escape. But when she looked at the man who’d rescued her from foster care and provided her with affection, a happy home and everything a child could ever need, tears filled her eyes. “I love you, Papa. I don’t know how to thank you for all you and Mama have done for me.”
He pressed a kiss on her brow. “You’ve already thanked us by growing up to be a beautiful young woman with a heart for your family and for the community.”
As they started across the yard to the grassy aisle, Ellie looked at the gazebo. The yellow roses that adorned it were pretty, but she’d chosen the color that represented friendship. At least there was one wedding prop that reflected truth and reality.
She glanced at the yellow rosebuds in her bouquet, another reminder of the bittersweet situation she’d agreed to, the fake union she was about to take part in.
Her heart stalled for a moment, then it began to rumble, sending a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins.
She ought to stop the madness here and now. Yet she pressed her lips together and clutched Papa’s arm as if it might be the only thing keeping her on the straight and narrow.
As they took the short walk from the house to the grassy aisle, the guitarist began to strum an instrumental melody. Mama stood, and the wedding guests got to their feet, too. Ellie did her best to smile, while she focused on the gazebo, where Pastor Ecklund, a short, gray-haired man with a ruddy complexion, stood front and center, facing her with a happy smile.
Daria, who’d chosen a floral-print sundress with a yellow background, stood to the minister’s right, with Tank sitting at her feet, the Western bandanna giving the black pup a splash of color.
Steven and his father stood on the minister’s left. David Fortune looked classy in his dark suit and yellow boutonniere. But it was Steven, who’d never looked more handsome in his black Western jacket and slacks, white shirt, and bolo tie, who drew her full attention. When an appreciative smile crossed his face, a bevy of butterflies took flight in her tummy.
What were they doing? Was there any way to stop the madness before it was too late?
“Who gives this woman away?” Pastor Ecklund asked.
“Her mother and I,” Papa said as he handed her off to Steven.
The two of them turned to face the minister. They’d asked him to keep things short and sweet. And he did just that. In a matter of minutes, they’d made the vows they’d never keep—to love each other, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health...as long as they both should live.
Tears sprung to Ellie’s eyes. People would think they were tears of joy, rather than sorrow. Because she actually meant the vows she spoke.
“If anyone here has a reason why these two shouldn’t be married,” Pastor Ecklund said, “speak now or forever hold your peace.”
Ellie had a reason. A big one. This wasn’t a marriage based on love. It was based on a lie, and it would end in divorce. Should she speak now? This was her chance—the last one she’d have.
Her lips parted to object, but when she looked at Steven, when she saw the radiant smile on his face and the sparkle that lit up his blue eyes, the words wouldn’t form.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” Pastor Ecklund said.
Like any loving, eager groom, Steven took her in his arms and blessed her lips with a sweet, husbandly kiss, ending the ceremony.
As far as anyone knew, the wedding had turned out to be everything a bride could hope for.
Too bad it had all been a sham.
* * *
After the ceremony, the bride and groom greeted their guests together, thanking them for their support and good wishes. Then they split up to mingle separately.
There’d been times when Steven had wished that he hadn’t proposed to Ellie as a way to help her avoid a sticky political situation. But that wasn’t because he had any regrets himself. Ellie, however, seemed to be plagued with them, and he hated to see her so uneasy. He’d thought making love the other night would have made her feel better, but she claimed it had made things worse.
He supposed that’s why he felt compelled to stick so close to her during the reception. Even now, as he stood off to the side with his brothers and dad, he was so damned focused on the bride that he was having a difficult time following the conversation.
His father made a comment, and his brothers laughed. Steven managed to smile and nod as if he’d actually heard him speak and caught the joke.
As a man who’d always tried hard to earn the name he shared with Callum and Dillon, he usually listened intently and carried his own weight in a family conversation. But he couldn’t seem to do that today.
He scanned the yard again and spotted Ellie talking to Daria, that goofy little pup tethered to a yellow leash and sniffing at the grass. Both the women wore smiles, so he assumed Ellie was holding up okay.
“Steven,” his father said, finally drawing his full attention. “You did well.”
At what? Was he talking about business? If he questioned his dad, everyone would know he’d been lost in thought. And he wasn’t about to explain why.
“Ellie isn’t just bright,” his father added, “she’s beautiful, too. You picked a good one. I hope you’ll both be as happy as your mother and I are.”
“Thanks,” Steven said, his gaze returning to his bride, who was a vision in her white dress, one she’d chosen because it only revealed a hint of her baby bump.
“I’m a little surprised that you didn’t buy her an engagement ring,” his dad said. “You found time to pull of a beautiful wedding in record time. You even went so far as to buy a plain gold band.”
“Ellie wanted something simple.”
His father’s head tilted, and his brow creased. “She doesn’t seem like a keep-it-simple gal to me.”
She wasn’t. She was beautifully complex, and she deserved an engagement ring, even if the marriage didn’t last. “I’m going to surprise her with a diamond at Christmas,” he said.
Would they still be married then? He’d once thought so, but after the past few days, he wasn’t so sure. She might be smiling and wearing white, but she was still on edge, still uneasy. That’s why he hadn’t let her out of his sight.
He’d actually suggested they go on a honeymoon, which would have given them a good reason to cut out early, but Ellie said that was out of the question. She’d been away from city hall for too long as it was. In fact, she planned to return to the office tomorrow morning. Hopefully, she was ready to face the press.
Neither of them mentioned the wedding night, but Steven looked forward to having one. They hadn’t made love since the first time, but he couldn’t see why she’d object.
Either way, he’d like to take her away from the crowd. But that would have to wait. Ashley, Megan and Nicole were in the main kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the post-wedding meal, which was yet to come, along with the cake.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Steven told his father and brothers, “I’m going to get something to drink. It’s been a long day.”
Ellie and Daria still stood off to the side, away from most of the wedding guests and talking quietly. He liked Daria, and she’d proven to be a good friend to Ellie, the perfect maid of honor, it seemed.
Manny, the family cook and caretaker, approached the bar and stood beside Steven. “Nice wedding.”
“Thanks.”
“What can I get you?” the attractive blond bartender asked.
“I’ll have a glass of red wine,” Manny said.
The bartender reached for a bottle of the Mendoza Winery merlot. “And what’ll you have, Mr. Fortune?”
“A cold beer.”
While he waited, Steven glanced over his shoulder and saw his sister Stephanie approach Ellie and Daria. Funny, but instead of returning to his dad and his brothers, he’d much rather join that conversation.
* * *
As Ellie and Daria chatted, Stephanie Fortune approached them. The pretty blonde seemed to glow with excitement over her engagement to Acton Donovan. From what Ellie had heard, she and Acton had recently announced that they’d be having a baby soon.
Stephanie zeroed in on Tank. “Would you look at that sweet puppy. He looks so cute wearing that yellow bandanna.” She stooped to give the rascally pup a scratch behind the ears. “How’re you doing, buddy? I’m so glad you found a good home.”
“He certainly did,” Ellie told her new sister-in-law. “He’s a little spoiled and can be a rascal at times, but he’s sweet and lovable. He’s also doubled in size since Daria adopted him.”
Stephanie straightened just as Becky approached them with a grin. “What’s going on over here?”
Ellie had come to like Callum’s wife and tossed her a smile. “Not much. Just a little girl talk. Please join us.”
“It was a lovely wedding,” Becky said. “And you rock that wedding dress.”
“Thank you.” Ellie’s hand lifted to her belly, but she caught herself before drawing any attention to her baby bump.
