“Well, honey, you give him my name and number and tell him I’m ready, willing and able.”
“He has twin four-year-old daughters who tend to be a handful,” Toni warned.
Pursing her lips, Beth said, “Forget it. I don’t need that kind of grief.” With that final thought, she left.
Even though Beth was attracted to Zach, Toni realized that the twins would complicate Zach’s marriage quest. And what would their treatment be like at the hands of a woman who married Zach in spite of the girls?
That thought weighed heavily upon Toni.
Toni stood and walked to the window. Zach’s request had blown her away. She had expected him to ask for help over the past few weeks, but not once had he called her with a problem, even with all the domestic help the girls had run off. She had to admire him for his persistence.
Now, he was asking her to marry him so he could keep his daughters. Although what Zach had proposed was strictly a business arrangement, his actions touched her heart. He wanted his children. That spoke volumes for the man.
Another longing rose up in her. Being with the girls had made Toni face a truth she had tried to bury. She wanted children. She’d all but given up the dream of having children, but now Zach was giving her the opportunity to be a mother to two little girls.
And if that wasn’t enough, Zach was a handsome man. It was a dream come true, except Zach was too much like her father, a hard-driving man. And that trait was one of the things that had kept Toni from giving in to her feelings for Zach last year.
There were a million reasons why she should just tell Zach to forget it. She remembered her disastrous engagement. Unlike her father, who had gone through a couple of wives, Mark was supposedly a sensitive man, who was always mindful of her feelings. But in the end, Mark had the same flaw her father possessed. He’d been unfaithful, too. That day Toni discovered Mark in bed with her best friend, Toni decided that there wasn’t a man on earth worth the grief they caused. She hadn’t looked for an involvement since then.
But the bitterness of that afternoon seemed unimportant, compared to her thoughts about the girls. She remembered them asleep in her spare bedroom and later playing with Sam. Their giggles and endless questions.
And Zach’s sexy smile.
She gathered up her purse and went home to a cold meal of leftover chicken and potatoes.
Finally, after hours of stewing over it, arguing with herself, Toni knew she couldn’t walk away from them.
Just as the late evening news started, Toni called Zach at his apartment.
“Hello.” His voice sparked a reaction in her.
“Zach, this is Toni. I’ve decided to take you up on your offer.”
The long silence on the other end of the line made her nervous.
“Are you sure?”
“What, are you trying to talk me out of it?” She tried to make it a joke, but failed.
“I just want you to be sure about your decision.”
“I’m sure.”
“When could we fly to Las Vegas and get married?” he asked.
“You mean right away?”
“I wouldn’t ask it, Toni, but I don’t want to give the court any reason to take my girls.”
She reviewed her schedule. “I have a class tomorrow, but Friday I’m free.”
“All right, then why don’t I make arrangements for us to fly to Vegas? Also, we need to see a lawyer tomorrow to have him or her draw up the prenup. Do you have one you prefer?”
“My sister has a friend in Odessa next to the university, and I think she could do the job.”
“I’ll let you take care of that.”
Things were moving at light-speed. “I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know when to show up to sign the agreement.”
“You’ve got it.”
“Then I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
When she hung up the receiver, she wondered if she’d made a mistake.
Toni squirmed in her chair and looked around the lawyer’s office. She’d called Anna Nunez, a friend of her sister’s, last night and arranged to have a prenuptial agreement drawn up. Anna agreed to do it and have it ready for her and Zach to sign at three this afternoon.
Glancing at her watch, she noted it was already three fifteen. Zach was late. This wasn’t a good sign. Toni glanced at the secretary and smiled tightly at her.
Where was he? Had he decided at the last minute to back out?
Suddenly the door opened and Zach strode in. Energy and power seemed to swirl around him.
“Sorry to be late. There was a problem that popped up at work.”
Toni nodded to the secretary and they were shown into Anna’s office.
After the introductions, Anna looked at the couple. “I’ve drawn up the papers that Toni asked for. It says that you, Zachary Knight, will lay no claim on any inheritance that Toni has from her father if you should ever divorce.” She continued to outline the simple document.
If Toni expected Zach to object, she was disappointed, which only emphasized the fact that all Zach wanted was protection to keep his daughters. Any hidden fantasy Toni had about Zach using the girls to marry her evaporated.
Zach took the document from Anna’s hands and read it quickly, then boldly signed his name to it.
So much for love.
When they finished signing the papers, Anna leaned back in her chair. “If you need further help, I’ll be happy to work with you.”
“Thanks, Anna, for your fast work,” Toni said.
As they were walking out of the office, Anna whispered in Toni’s ear, “I can see why you were in a rush.”
A blush rose in Toni’s cheeks.
Once in the hall, Zach turned to Toni. “I’ve booked us on the two-fifty flight into Dallas tomorrow, where we catch our flight to Vegas. Is that all right with you?”
“Yes. I’ll meet you at the airport about two-fifteen.”
“Why don’t the girls and I pick you up around two?”
Her eyes widened. “You intend to bring the girls?”
“When I told them this morning that we were getting married, I had two very happy children. They told me they wanted to come, and forgave me for refusing to replace the dead goldfish. I couldn’t say no.”
Toni’s eyes misted. His attitude toward the children was like rain after a long drought. His thoughtfulness was unexpected, welcomed.
But above all, it was dangerous.
Toni sat in her kitchen, picked up one of the chocolate chip cookies she’d just baked and took a bite. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Two-thirty in the morning. She’d tried for hours to sleep, but had given up and walked into the kitchen to bake her favorite comfort food.
This was the night before her marriage. Instead of her head being filled with the thoughts of being a new bride and being surrounded by family and friends, Toni was alone, questioning her sanity. And since she’d taken Sam back to her dad’s, she didn’t even have a dog to keep her company.
Why was she really marrying Zach? Was it strictly to be a mother to his daughters? Or was there another motive buried in her heart?
Zach certainly couldn’t be accused of trying to pull the wool over her eyes with his proposal. He needed a wife and had asked her. Period. End of the story.
Too bad she wanted it to be more.
If things were going to work, then she needed to concentrate on the girls. She would try to do that and prayed she could pull it off.
As Zach got the girls dressed for their trip to the airport, he wondered if he was doing the right thing. He wanted to keep the girls, but was it right to use Toni? Had there been another way?
Although he hadn’t hidden his agenda from Toni, he had to admit his proposal had been cold-blooded. But then again, his ex-wife had told him more than once that he didn’t have a heart.
“Daddy, can I take my panties with the days on them?” Lisa asked. They were his daughter’s pride and joy and she had to have on the right one each morning.<
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“Sure.”
Lisa smiled and scampered back into her bedroom. He walked in behind her and checked the suitcase that contained the girls’ things. Lori sat on the bed, hugging her new stuffed animal. He sat beside her.
“Are you excited about our trip?” he asked. Of the two girls, Lori was the one who concerned him the most. He wondered if she was always this quiet, or had the accident made her more reserved?
When she looked up, there was a smile in her eyes. “Yes.” She stroked the fur on the stuffed dog’s head.
“Are you glad that Toni’s going to be your stepmother?” he asked.
When she looked up again, her eyes glistened. “I miss Momma.”
“I know, sweetheart. I wish your mom was still here.”
“Is it wrong that I like Toni?” she asked, her voice small and unsure.
Zach stroked her head. “No. Lori, it isn’t. I know your mom wanted to stay with you, but since she couldn’t, I bet she’s smiling down from heaven knowing that Toni loves you. And that you love her.”
“Really?”
“Scout’s honor.”
Relief shone in her eyes. Zach only prayed that he was right.
Chapter 7
The noise in the Dallas airport had subsided, but Toni had the oddest feeling that she was being watched. She glanced up from her magazine to see her sister J.D. and her brother-in-law, Luke, bearing down on her. The expression on J.D.’s face told Toni she was in trouble—big time.
When Toni put the magazine down and stood, Zach looked at her, then saw the direction of her gaze.
“J.D., what are you doing here?” Toni asked, trying for a calm she didn’t feel.
The expression on her sister’s face was stern and no-nonsense. “I had an interesting conversation with a friend of mine this morning. Imagine my surprise, when Anna congratulated me on your upcoming marriage.”
“Oh.” Toni winced. When her engagement to Mark had gone sour, Toni had driven to J.D.’s house in Dallas and cried her eyes out. J.D. had tried to counsel her sister out of her bitterness, but Toni had vowed never again to put her heart on the line.
“Toni’s going to be my momma,” Lisa piped up, looking up at the adults.
Everyone’s attention focused on the twins. Lon sat in her chair, silently studying the adults, while Lisa jumped to her feet and stood by Toni.
“Girls, you remember my sister, J.D. And this—” Toni pulled Luke forward “—is her husband, Luke.”
After the greetings had been exchanged, J.D. pulled Toni into a bookstore across from the waiting area.
“What do you think you’re doing?” J.D. softly demanded.
Toni tried for a calm which she wasn’t feeling. “I’m going to get married.”
“Since when did you change your mind about that institution?” J.D. demanded.
“Since I met the twins.”
J.D.’s gaze roamed over Zach and the children. “He’s using you, Toni. You do know that, don’t you?”
“And I’m using him.”
Surprise colored J.D.’s face. “You want to explain that statement to me?”
“Sis, I’m tired of Dad trying to set me up with men. Before Mom was killed, there must’ve been a different man each time I came home that Dad tried to set me up with.” Visions of Carl danced through her brain. “And I’m also tired of hearing the ladies at the country club and church sighing over poor Toni, who couldn’t keep a man.”
“Ignore them.”
Toni met her sister’s eyes. “I have. But I can’t walk away from the girls, J.D. They need me. And I can make a difference for them. And nothing you say will change my mind. I’d like some support from you.” Her voice was filled with conviction.
“Have you told Dad?” J.D. asked.
“No.”
J.D. shook her head. “There’s going to be trouble, you know that?”
A sigh escaped Toni’s mouth. “I know, but this is something I want to do.”
J.D. hesitated.
“I have to do this,” Toni added. She didn’t understand why she needed to have J.D.’s support, but she was sure it would make a difference. J.D. had moved bigger mountains than their dad.
“All right, sis. You have my support.” Her eyes narrowed. “And I’m sure glad you had that prenup agreement drawn up.”
“That was Zach’s idea,” Toni admitted.
“Oh?” J.D. arched her brow. “Well, I won’t tell Dad, but you won’t mind if I call Alex and Rafe?”
“Fine, but warn them that I’m the one who needs to break the news to Dad.”
“I don’t think you’ll have a problem getting your wish.” Both sisters smiled at the remark. George’s temper was legendary, and not many people tangled with him.
“Thanks,” Toni whispered, wrapping her arms around her sister.
J.D. pulled back. “What else could I do for my baby sister? Good luck.”
Toni sighed. Having J.D. on her side was a big break. It might make a difference m telling her dad. Then again, maybe nothing would.
The airplane dropped suddenly, causing passengers to gasp. Zach looked across the aisle to where Toni sat, flanked by his slumbering daughters. Both girls had succumbed to their exhaustion. It had been a monumental day for them. They were still asleep.
“What are you studying?” Tom asked.
“I had my secretary pull the service records on the field where we found the dead gauger.”
“What are you looking for?”
“Yesterday I received reports from the field engineer that the reason the reserve tank had gone dry was the pump jack went out.”
A frown gathered her brows. “Hadn’t the field recently been serviced?”
“I’m impressed at your knowledge.”
“Why? Have you forgotten who my dad is?”
That wouldn’t happen any time soon. “You should’ve heard our dinner conversation about viscosity, saltwater, heater treaters, or dead birds in the sludge pit.”
Zach shook his head. “According to this report, the field should have been serviced six weeks ago.”
She frowned. “They should’ve caught the problem—if they actually did the work.”
Zach’s steely smile made Toni glad she wasn’t the one responsible for the field.
“Ah, I see the problem.”
He set aside his papers and changed the subject. “I take it that your sister wasn’t too happy with your news.”
Toni glanced down at the girls to make sure they were still asleep. “She wanted to assure herself everything was okay.”
“Why would she worry?” he asked.
Toni gently brushed back the hair that fell on Lisa’s forehead. “I was engaged briefly a couple of years ago. When I walked in on my fiancé in bed with another woman, I took it—uh—badly. I hit him with his birthday cake.”
He laughed. “He’s lucky that’s all you did.”
Toni smiled. “That’s why J.D. was surprised by my actions.”
“That’s understandable.” Zach glanced down at his daughters. “Why did you agree, Toni?”
She wanted to tell him what motivated her, but she didn’t want to give him that truth at the moment. It was too close to her heart. “Isn’t it enough that I agreed?”
After studying her for a moment, he nodded. “Yes.”
He went back to his reports. Toni closed her eyes and wondered if she had made a mistake. She prayed she hadn’t.
“Is this the place where you’re going to get married?” Lisa asked, glancing at the glittering signs of the Las Vegas wedding chapel. She had her face pressed to the back seat window. The building advertised instant weddings—everything that was needed for a complete ceremony.
They had checked in at the hotel, changed into wedding finery, then went looking for a chapel.
“Yes, Lisa, this is the place,” Zach replied, shutting off the engine.
Zach glanced at Toni. “If you’ll take Lisa, I’ll get Lori.”
; “Divide and conquer, again?” Toni replied with a smile.
“You got it.”
It took less than ten minutes for the ceremony to be arranged and the chapel to set things up.
“Smell my flowers,” Lisa told Toni, holding up the daisies and baby’s breath.
Lori held a similar bouquet. Each girl had on a new white dress with daisies scattered over it. Toni smiled at them and gave each child a hug.
Lori whispered, “I’m glad you’re going to be my momma.” The little girl grasped Toni’s hand.
Tears welled in Toni’s eyes. “I’m glad, too.” And she meant every word.
Zach watched Lisa skip down the aisle, with Lori limping after her. His heart lurched. They were the reason he was here, he reminded himself. Then he saw Tom walking toward them, dressed in a simple cream suit, and suddenly he couldn’t think of anything else.
Antonia Anderson was a beautiful woman. Her chin-length light brown hair swayed with each step, framing an elegant face and deep blue eyes. When her gaze met his, a hesitant smile curved her well-shaped mouth.
He couldn’t think in those terms if he was going to keep his sanity. He should’ve learned his lesson with the twins’ mother, but apparently he hadn’t.
You’re in trouble here. Remember what happened when you let your hormones rule your head, a voice in his head whispered.
Clamping down on his feelings, he turned to the minister.
The ceremony quickly passed. When he took Toni’s hand and slipped on the plain gold band, his eyes met hers. Heat raced through him.
Her fingers trembled as she slipped a matching band onto his finger. As she started to release his hand, Zach’s other hand stopped her. Her startled gaze flew to his.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Zach only meant to give her a brief kiss. But as his mouth skimmed over hers, something changed. His lips molded to hers and felt her response in the clinging of her lips. He was tempted to deepen the kiss, to pull her flush against his body, when he felt a tug on his trouser leg.
“C’mon, Dad,” Lisa complained. “We’re hungry.”
Suddenly a Family Page 8
