Bride by Chance

by Marilyn Shank

  Martin loved their easy companionship, relaxed conversations, and the fact that Meg was always interested in his life. But today she’d acted as if this was a first date. An undesirable one, at that!

  He glanced at his watch, realizing he had a talk to prepare and civic duties to perform. As a hands-on kind of guy, speech writing wasn’t his forte -- or Meg’s, either. She could teach ballet to little girls, paint beautiful landscapes, and cook dinner for fifty, but she avoided public speaking whenever possible. So how much help would she be in pulling his speech together?

  Martin went back into his bedroom to grab the brochures, and as he came down the stairs, he saw Meg sitting on the couch. Her shoulders were slumped, and she’d buried her face in her hands. Something was terribly wrong. He just didn’t know what.

  When she looked up and stared out the window, he again realized how beautiful she was. The sun slanting in the den’s tall windows brought out the copper highlights in her hair. Her ivory skin was flawless except for the freckles that dotted her nose. And all that dancing kept her figure graceful and trim.

  He joined her on the couch and slipped his arm around her shoulders. She drew a sharp breath the moment he touched her. “Meg, baby, something’s bothering you. Tell me what it is.”

  She glanced down at her hands clenched in her lap. “Nothing, really. I’m just disappointed about missing a vacation with my sister.”

  If he could get his hands on Liza O’Malley, he’d give that woman a lecture she’d never forget. But if he criticized Liza, Meg would just defend her anyway. “Listen, honey, you and I will have some fun this week. I’ll keep you so busy you’ll forget that Liza O’Malley exists.”

  His words, meant to console her, didn’t. The frown lines on her forehead deepened, but even with the frown firmly in place, she looked lovelier than any woman had a right to look.

  Once again, Martin breathed in her heady fragrance, mesmerized. Everything about her seemed especially alluring today. Like Meg times two -- or times a thousand.

  She turned to face him. “Enough about me. You said you had work to do, so let’s get started.”

  He leaned toward Meg and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. “Let’s go, sweetie.” He took her hands and pulled her gently to her feet.

  Big mistake. The minute Martin touched her, the attraction struck again with such force his knees nearly buckled. He hadn’t felt this kind of passion since he’d been engaged to Melissa Jackson. She’d taught him well that passion could muddle a man’s thinking and lead him to bad choices. He pushed those painful thoughts out of his head.

  But why, after nearly two years of dating Meg, would he feel this passion now? And why did even her gentle touch feel like heaven?

  * * *

  As Liza climbed back into Martin’s SUV, she wondered how much longer she could manage this game of “Let’s Pretend.” She’d barely survived lunch with him at Felicia’s and a visit to his cabin. Next, she would see Martin’s office, wherever that was, and help him prepare for his installation.

  “Does Rachel know that you’re back in town?” he asked.

  The question shocked Liza back into the moment. Rachel, Rachel. Oh, yeah. Meg’s co-owner at Dance Unlimited was named Rachel. “I haven’t called her yet,” she said.

  “If you like, we can drop by the studio before we head for my office.”

  Liza’s stomach knotted in panic. If they did stop by the studio, how would she recognize Rachel? She’d never met the woman or seen a photograph.

  “Um, that would be fine,” she said, figuring she might as well face the music upfront. But she’d be extra careful. If she gave herself away, Meg would lose her only chance to reconnect with Zach.

  Liza paid close attention as Martin drove back. Being Meg required that she know her way around Meadow Springs. When they got back to town, he headed for the square, drove past Felicia’s, and parked in a lot next to a brick building that looked like an old warehouse. The sign out front said Nell’s Coffee Bar. Liza glanced around, wondering where the dance studio was. Good thing that Martin served as her escort.

  As she walked beside him, she again sensed his powerful presence. His broad shoulders and muscular build made her wonder if he’d played football in high school or college. Travis had been several inches shorter than Martin and of slighter build. Liza liked the feel of this powerful man beside her who, in spite of his size, moved with poise and assurance.

  She felt relieved when she noticed the Dance Unlimited sign made of cedar hanging over the entrance to Nell’s Coffee Bar. Did Martin make that sign in his shop? Another question she couldn’t very well ask.

  He opened the door, and they stepped inside. The aroma of coffee brewing permeated the place. Liza saw a stairway leading to the second floor, but stopped walking. She’d rather not make too many wrong moves.

  “Do you want a latte first?” Martin asked when she hesitated.

  “Um, no, thanks.” Meg was a caffeine addict but strong coffee made Liza shaky and nervous, and she already felt plenty of both. “Lead the way,” she told him.

  He turned and took the narrow stairs, and Liza followed. She bit her lip. Could she bluff her way through another meeting with another stranger?

  They entered a large loft with a well-worn wooden floor. Little girls in pink leotards and matching ballet slippers practiced at a bar on the far side of the room while a petite woman in a black leotard called out instructions. She wore her hair in a shiny black bob and couldn’t weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet.

  “Much better, ladies,” the instructor said. “Now let’s try that again.”

  “Miss Meg! Miss Meg!” One of the girls spotted Liza, and within seconds, the whole troupe rushed toward her and engulfed her with hugs.

  “You said you weren’t coming back ‘til next week,” said a little girl with a blonde ponytail and an infectious smile.

  Liza felt a rush of delight as she looked into one sweet face after the other. Each face was turned toward her, expecting explanations.

  “Well, my plans changed,” she ad-libbed. “Sometimes that happens.”

  “Will you finish our lesson today or will Miss Rachel?” That question came from a chubby brunette with spiked hair.

  The dark-haired woman joined them looking as baffled as her students. “Ladies, go back to the bar and show Miss Meg the new steps we’ve been practicing.”

  “Aw, shoot,” one girl complained. “We want to stay here and talk.”

  “But Miss Meg will want to see what you’ve learned.”

  Reluctantly, the young ballerinas returned to their practice.

  Martin squeezed Liza’s hand. “I’ll grab some coffee, and let you and Rachel talk.”

  He headed for the stairs, leaving Liza alone with her latest challenge. At least she knew this woman actually was Rachel. And not having Martin present helped. If she blew her cover, he wouldn’t be here to see it.

  Rachel hugged her then held her at arm’s length. “Okay, sweetie, what’s the deal? And why aren’t you in Kansas City with your twin sister?”

  As an attorney who probed for the truth, all this deception was making Liza crazy. Tears strung her eyes, and she fought to blink them back. If she could hold up to intense courtroom grilling, why was she weakening now?

  Rachel squeezed her hands. “It can’t be that bad. You didn’t kill Liza, did you?”

  “No. But she deserves to die.”

  “What?” Rachel squealed. “You adore your sister. Do we need to go someplace and talk?”

  Liza shook her head. “No, thanks, I’m fine.”

  “Well, you don’t look fine to me. Now, shall we meet tonight, or have breakfast together in the morning?”

  “Breakfast,” Liza said. Maybe she could dream up some excuse and cancel later.

  “Felicia’s at nine?”

  “That will work.” At least the “Felicia’s mystery” had been solved.

  “Do you like our new steps, Miss Meg?” called the chubby b
runette.

  “You girls look amazing,” she told them. “Totally amazing.” They giggled in reply.

  But Liza meant it. The girls did look amazing. And they worked so hard at perfecting their steps. No wonder Meg loved her job.

  Rachel smiled. “Those kids adore you. Do you want to start teaching right away? Or lay low a few days?”

  Liza didn’t know a curtsey from a plié much less the various dance positions. “I can’t possibly teach right now,” she said, meaning it with all her heart.

  “Oh, dear. Are things that bad?”

  “Worse.”

  Rachel glanced at the clock on the brick wall. “My last class ends at five. If you want to talk tonight, call me--even if it’s late. Deal?”

  “Deal.” The concern in Rachel’s gaze brought Liza some comfort. But the comfort wasn’t meant for her; it was meant for Meg.

  Rachel took Liza’s hand and squeezed it. “We’ve worked through lots of problems together. We’ll talk this out and make a plan, like we always do.”

  “That sounds good to me.”

  How Liza wished her problems could be solved that way. Rachel would have to devise one lulu of a plan to get Liza out of the fantasy life she’d created. But talking with Meg’s business partner had eased her anxiety. Rachel seemed like a friend, a true and loyal friend.

  She’s your sister’s friend, you moron, her conscience reminded. Rude, but honest.

  “If you don’t let the girls hug you before you leave, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

  Liza squared her shoulders and smiled. “Okay. Bring them on.”

  “Girls? Come and say goodbye to Miss Meg.”

  The troupe raced toward Liza at the speed of light. As she bent to embrace each child, one cuter than the next, she felt a rush of pure joy. Their arms felt wonderful as they hugged her tight.

  “Won’t you stay, Miss Meg? Please, please, please?” begged a girl with rosy cheeks and red ringlets. She looked like Raggedy Ann come to life.

  “I’ll be back soon, honey. I promise.”

  Raggedy Ann tugged on Liza’s sleeve. “Miss Meg? Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course.” She took a deep breath wondering what was coming next.

  “You said you’d be out of town for our dress rehearsal, but now that you’re back, will you come? And will you dance the last number with us like you always do?”

  Liza wished she could slip through the floorboards and disappear. As she gazed into the eyes of this child who so obviously adored Meg, she couldn’t refuse. “Let me think about it, okay?”

  “Enough questions, Madeline,” Rachel said. “Dancers, let’s put those steps to music.” On cue, the little flock scurried back to the bar.

  Rachel turned to face her. “Try and relax, will you, Meg? We’ll figure this out, whatever it is.”

  She sounded so sincere Liza almost believed her. “Thanks a lot. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Liza’s heart lodged in her throat as she walked down the stairs to the coffee shop. While she still believed Martin was all wrong for Meg, could she survive the upheaval she’d set in motion? Or would this little charade of hers cause utter chaos?

  And what if she was wrong about Meg and Zach? Maybe what Meg had felt for him was nothing more than a school-girl crush. As adults, these two might not have any interest in each other.

  That possibility made her shudder. If her plan backfired, it could ruin her sister’s life and Martin Landsburg’s, as well. Should she have minded her own business?

  Liza sighed heavily. It was too late to back down now.

  * * *

  Martin pulled out a stool at the coffee bar and smiled at Nell. The tall, blonde-haired, broad-shouldered woman had befriended him when he first moved to Meadow Springs, and he’d never forget that. “Hi there, Nell. How’s business?”

  “Pretty good, actually. Are you having a donut or just black coffee?”

  “Just coffee, thanks. Meg’s upstairs with Rachel and will be down in a minute. She’ll want a double latte.”

  “Comin’ right up.”

  Moments later, Martin’s coffee arrived. As he sipped it, he thought about the recent changes in his life. For several years, his log cabin business had struggled, but last year it started to boom. And he’d come home from his convention and business trip with contracts to build model cabins in several states. At this rate, he’d be hiring more employees soon.

  Mayor Sam Franklin’s accident had been an unpleasant surprise. The poor guy was in for a long recovery. That meant Martin’s duties as mayor pro tem would quadruple.

  But Meg proved the biggest surprise of all. He couldn’t believe she was at home when he’d dropped by her cottage earlier. And the granddaddy of all shocks came when he kissed her. Was that new perfume of hers an aphrodisiac, or what? And if so, would that explain the sparks of electricity that arced through his body?

  Had Meg felt them too? She’d seemed edgy and distant all morning. Was their relationship changing? And if so, was it heading in a positive or negative direction?

  A short time later, Meg joined him at the coffee bar. “Rachel and I had a nice talk,” she said. “Thanks for waiting for me.”

  “No problem.” Once again her gardenia scent made Martin lightheaded and caused his pulse to pick up speed. He patted the stool beside his. “I ordered your double latte. Nell is fixing it now.”

  “A double latte?” She stared blankly at him as if heavy-duty caffeine wasn’t part of her daily routine.

  Nell slid a cup onto the counter. “It’s extra strong, girl. Just the way you like it.”

  “Oh, um, thanks.” Meg took a sip and Martin could have sworn she grimaced.

  “Too strong?” he asked.

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “So, is Rachel going to teach your classes for you?”

  “I think so. We’re meeting for breakfast in the morning and we’ll settle everything then.”

  “Great. Thank goodness you and Rachel are soul mates. The two of you make quite a team.”

  “That we do.” But as Meg sipped the latte, her usual sigh of pleasure was noticeably absent.

  “Ready to get to work?” he asked when they finished their drinks.

  She smiled, and for once the smile seemed genuine. “I can hardly wait to get to work,” she replied.

  When they left Nell’s, Meg turned and headed for the parking lot.

  “Where are you going?” he asked as she strode on ahead of him.

  She turned back. “To the car, why?”

  “I figured we’d walk since it’s just a block away. But if you prefer, we can drive.”

  Her face flushed a bright cherry red. “Sorry, Martin. It must be the jet lag. I’m a bit muddled today.”

  A huge understatement, he thought. “Maybe helping me in the office isn’t such a great idea.”

  She thrust out her chin, and when those amazing eyes locked with his, another jolt of pleasure hit him hard. “It’s a great idea, and I’m looking forward to it,” she affirmed.

  And there it was again: the smile that sent delight surging through his body. He’d had plenty of these reactions while he’d dated Melissa Jackson. As a couple, they’d hit lots of highs and lows in their relationship. At times, she’d seemed unpredictable, but he’d overlooked the trait. He later learned he should have paid more attention. When Melissa left town the night before their wedding, Martin’s world had collapsed.

  Fortunately, his romance with Meg was gentler. They didn’t hit the highs and lows. It was exactly what he wanted and needed in a relationship: stability, not a runaway romance.

  But today, he’d felt real fireworks when he’d kissed Meg. After kissing her once, he’d kissed her again to see if he reacted the same way. He did. Her slightest touch made him forget to breathe.

  The red flags were definitely waving. He’d taken one roller coaster ride with Melissa—a ride that had ended in disaster. And he didn’t want a repeat performance.

&n
bsp; CHAPTER 3

  “Would you rather sit at my desk or at Rena’s?” Martin asked as he and Meg entered his office.

  “Um, Rena’s is fine.”

  They settled at the adjoining desks. Now that Martin had Meg here, he wasn’t quite sure where to begin. She must have picked up his vibes because she said, “What do you need help with the most?”

  “No contest. Writing my speech.”

  She pulled a pen from Rena’s desk set and tipped back in her chair. “What do you want to accomplish with this speech?”

  “It’s more of a formality than anything. The installation ceremony is a gesture on the town’s part.”

  “What do you mean gesture?”

  “It’s a way for the citizens to acknowledge my role as acting mayor.”

  “I see. By the way, do you have a legal pad I can use?”

  “A legal pad?”

  “Any kind of tablet or paper will do.”

  “Check the top drawer on the right. Rena keeps a lot of stuff in there.”

  Meg pulled open the drawer and took out a notebook. Then she settled at the desk, pen in hand. For someone who claimed to hate office work, she looked very efficient. “So what’s your goal for the speech?”

  “Mainly, I want to thank the citizens for their support. And let them know I’ll do my best to fill the mayor’s shoes.”

  “So your responsibilities are temporary? Just until the current mayor returns to office?”

  “I hope so. But when I visited Sam in rehab last week, he could hardly walk. After half a dozen steps, he headed back to bed. I’m afraid he’s in for a long recovery.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad.” She paused then said, “What happens if Sam can’t come back at all? Will you run for mayor at the end of his term?”

  Martin’s jaw dropped at her question. Meg normally sidestepped any talk about his civic duties. She said he had plenty to do just building his business and that the world had too many workaholics in it already.

  He eyed her cautiously. “Is this is a safe subject? The last time we discussed it you got pretty upset.”